An investigation into the work of managers in Great Britain: with particular reference to the management of human resources; and the skills and knowledge used

Monk, Robert Edward (1994) An investigation into the work of managers in Great Britain: with particular reference to the management of human resources; and the skills and knowledge used. PhD thesis, Middlesex University. [Thesis]

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Abstract

The Study is in four parts. The first part provides a background to the original
research through a short twentieth century history of management and synopses of
the work of selected earlier writers and researchers.
The second part provides the results of a new empirical study of managerial work
in Great Britain in the early nineteen-nineties. This study follows the lead of
earlier researchers such as Carlson, Stewart and Mintzberg and invstigates
managerial work using three methodologies. A quantitative study through a
questionnaire survey is complemented by a smaller diary study and thirty face to
face interviews with a range of managers from widely differing organisations and
jobs.
A statistical analysis of the data provides a very detailed review of how managers
spend their time, requirements for effective performance, how performance is
measured, major changes which have affected them, and the skills and knowledge
used. Analysis of the diary data provides a very detailed profile of managerial
work. Factor analysis is used to identify a new managerial typology; and using
data from the various elements of the study a series of detailed managerial models,
identifying both similarities and differences, is provided for an average manager, a
general manager, five types of functional manager and five hierarchical levels of
manager.
Using information from the interview case studies, together with the statistical
analysis, the management of human resouces, or "getting things done through other
people", is addressed and a range of abilities, skills and knowledge required for
effective people management identified. This section, particularly, contributes to
the field of knowledge and provides guidance for the development of management
education and training.
Part three provides a comparison of the present study with earlier researches and
shows that whilst the fundamental nature of managerial work changes relatively.
little, the environment within which it takes place is constantly changing. Recent
changes identified include greater customer orientation and demands for quality,
new legislation, "de-layering" and the very rapid development of new technologies
within both offices and factories. The evidence suggests that the work of managers
is becoming continually more demanding and increasingly difficult.
Part four provides a range of very detailed appendices in support of the main text.

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