Top management team and middle managers: Making sense of leadership
Journal
Small Group Research
ISSN
1046-4964
ISSN-Digital
1552-8278
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2007-06-01
Author(s)
Raes, Anneloes
;
Glunk, Ursula
;
Heijltjes, Mariƫlle G.
;
Roe, Robert A.
Abstract
This study provides insight about the process of top management teams' (TMTs') sensemaking about leadership of middle managers-a process that has so far been neglected by researchers. In a longitudinal case study design, the authors analyzed observational data from 23 TMT meetings and transcripts from interviews with TMT members. Results indicate that TMT sensemaking consisted of images of middle managers, the TMT self-image, and reflection on action and action planning. Furthermore, the importance of TMT unity in actions toward middle managers is highlighted as an important aspect of TMT leadership. It is suggested to incorporate TMT sensemaking about leadership, as well as actual leadership actions toward middle managers, as processes for explaining how TMT composition influences organizational performance.
Language
English
Keywords
Top management team
middle managers
sensemaking
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
No
Publisher
Sage
Publisher place
Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Volume
38
Number
3
Start page
360
End page
386
Pages
27
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
45549