When Professionals Have to Manage

Managing a professional organization involves: 1. finding professionals to manage the people and business problems when most professionals are not hired, trained, or rewarded for managing, 2. developing a growing staff without becoming unduly hierarchical, 3. achieving strategic coordination in a dy...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Harvard business review 1987-07, Vol.65 (4), p.78
Main Authors: Lorsch, Jay W, Mathias, Peter F
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Consultants
Management
Management reviews
Managers
Organizational behavior
Organizational structure
Professional
Professionals
Roles
Services
Skills
Strategic planning
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Summary:Managing a professional organization involves: 1. finding professionals to manage the people and business problems when most professionals are not hired, trained, or rewarded for managing, 2. developing a growing staff without becoming unduly hierarchical, 3. achieving strategic coordination in a dynamic environment in which effective strategy must be made by those close to the action, and 4. growing in size but remaining nonbureaucratic. A very real solution is the use of a production manager who is both actively involved in the production of client services and formally responsible for managing activities. Development of the producing manager is suggested by using those already in the organization and reinforcing the concept throughout the firm's structure and operating policies. Successful implementation includes: 1. choosing individuals wisely, 2. teaching them to balance clients' and collegues' needs, and 3. rewarding performance.
ISSN:0017-8012