Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
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Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
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Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#2When you create the most valuable company in the world you can comment on effective management
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#3When you create the most valuable company in the world you can comment on effective management
Empirical studies (which were cited) are worthwhile. Maybe more worthwhile than reality distortion fields. Of course, you can still argue that Steve Jobs created an exceptional environment where the usual rules don't apply. But just because Jobs wore a turtleneck doesn't mean we all should.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#4When you create the most valuable company in the world you can comment on effective management
Apple isn't a company without a middle management layer and never was, of course. The quote is used to illustrate a point.
Middle management is a structural requirement in an organization past a certain size. If it's not working out, it's more likely just _poor_ management skills that's the cause.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#5Steve didn't believe most of the stuff he said. I used to work for him, and he got monthly reports from his PR firm. One section each month was filled with pages of quotes for him to say to be perceived as a visionary. He used them regularly, and most of his most well known quotes came from those pages. They were completely unrelated to the way we were doing things. And, obviously, we had plenty of middle managers.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#6> Middle managers are in the unique position where they are close to production, but not producing themselves
No, those are line managers. Middle management is the layer between top management and line managers. Their reports are managers.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#7Steve didn't believe most of the stuff he said. I used to work for him, and he got monthly reports from his PR firm. One section each month was filled with pages of quotes for him to say to be perceived as a visionary. He used them regularly, and most of his most well known quotes came from those pages. They were completely unrelated to the way we were doing things. And, obviously, we had plenty of middle managers.
This is a an exceptional claim. Not saying that I don't believe you, but do you have any evidence that might help us verify this suggestion?
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#8Steve didn't believe most of the stuff he said. I used to work for him, and he got monthly reports from his PR firm. One section each month was filled with pages of quotes for him to say to be perceived as a visionary. He used them regularly, and most of his most well known quotes came from those pages. They were completely unrelated to the way we were doing things. And, obviously, we had plenty of middle managers.
This is a an exceptional claim. Not saying that I don't believe you, but do you have any evidence that might help us verify this suggestion?
None at all. Just sharing my experience as somebody who was there.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#9When did Steve made the claim they have no Middle management? I don't recall one. He said lots of middle management, and lack of authority in decision making. Time and Time again all the bio and interviews coming out was Steve gives lots of Autonomy to people, as long as they gets things done. He said there is a DRI ( Directly Responsible Individual )
And more often what Steve hate was the process, people are too stuck with the process and forgot the most important thing was the content, or the Product, or the end user.
Of course that is only half true because if you don't have a proper process, your content may not sell, made, shipped in the best possible condition, maximising profits. Steve knew this the 2nd time he was back to Apple and that is why he bought in Tim Cook to keep up in tact.
Re: Steve Jobs was wrong about middle management
#10Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is a an exceptional claim. Not saying that I don't believe you, but do you have any evidence that might help us verify this suggestion?
None at all. Just sharing my experience as somebody who was there.
Exceptional claims require exceptional evidence
You could just be someone with an axe to grind