Posted by Prac on March 19, 2003 at 03:44:22:

In Reply to: Management is Manipulation posted by Graham on March 18, 2003 at 05:38:23:

Hi Graham

It is true. Management is manipulation. However, it is not manipulation in the negative sense. It is more of a factorial maipulation, in order to achieve a desired outcome. I am sure your research will support this statement. In some cultures management would not dare perform negative manipulation, as they would lose their jobs.

In other cultures, management is all about how to get subordinates to do the work for you, without having to be personally exposed as a manager. It often results in a personal risk-management exercise. If anyone goes, then the subordinates would be the first, and they know it.

In my experience, Western employees often see management as a negative factor as opposed to a specific role and responsibility on a par with any other role and responsibility. These attitudes create their own social struggles, and more often than not those stuggles are of a negative nature.

I worked for two international companies in the Middle East. In both cases the manager was seen, and treated, as a support role for the production teams. The manager also bore full responsibility for that production team's performance. Managers often changed positions more frequently than other employees.

In both these cases there was little time for "manipulation" in a negative sense, as their jobs depended on their successes. There was hardly time for meetings, as the managers had too much work to do, and their "subordinates" could not be used to do that work for them. Each manager had his/her own job, and was rated on how that job was performed.

They needed the team more than the team needed them, as the team members posessed the skills managers usually did not have, or had all but lost. The manager was expected to possess skills and capabilities the "subordinates" did not have.

Within the definition of "management", you will find all the standard disciplines. Within disciplines, you will probably find different methods of manipulation.

I recently read a strategic-management book, where the "guilt trip" on manipulation is being debunked. Unfortunately, I cannot recall the title or author.

If managers cannot "manipulate"/manage people and/or things as factors within their domain, to achieve benefits for the whole and that particular section of business, then they cannot survive.

Management is not a requirement, it is an imperative. The ethics of management is totally another issue though, which may, or may not, fall within the scope of your project. The culture of management is also a huge factor in determining acceptable-management practices.

Good luck!

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