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Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

Mats Alvesson

Professor

Portrait of Mats Alvesson. Photo.

Sandwiched : Exploring role and identity of middle managers in the genuine middle

Author

  • Susann Gjerde
  • Mats Alvesson

Summary, in English

This article explores middle managers in the professions from their position in the sandwiched middle. Based upon interviews with senior academics in management roles and their subordinates in UK business schools, we investigate this experienced middle through a metaphor that informs one particular subject position: to be an umbrella carrier. This position entails protecting subordinates from what is seen as unnecessary and/or damaging initiatives and information from top management above, in order to allow for good professional work to take place below. This form of countermanagement, which aims to weaken hierarchical pressure rather than enforce or uphold it, is informed by a stronger identification with the profession and subordinates below than with the leader role or the superiors above, and aids the middle managers in their identity work.

Department/s

  • Department of Business Administration

Publishing year

2020

Language

English

Pages

124-151

Publication/Series

Human Relations

Volume

73

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Business Administration
  • Sociology (excluding Social Work, Social Psychology and Social Anthropology)

Keywords

  • identity and protection
  • leadership
  • middle management
  • professions
  • role

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0018-7267