
Mats Alvesson
Professor

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