Due to an increased importance for organisations to act according to ethical leadership, we identified the need to extend the perspective of how ethical leadership practices are developed, enhanced and spread among leaders horizontally. Since previous literature has focused on ethical leadership from a top management perspective, it is of interest to examine how ethical leadership is discussed and practised among middle managers as they encounter ethical dilemmas to a greater extent. By conducting a qualitative content analysis of interviews and documents, we declare a case study on middle managers in a tech company. Suggesting social learning as a proper lens to investigate our issue, we found that middle managers learn ethical conduct prominently via identification and knowledge sharing including feedback and reflection. By identifying important elements of ethical leadership, we could further interpret what practices were spread and reinforced among mid-level managers. These were the ability to be transparent, authentic, available and to value diversity, inclusion, and risk-taking for the sake of employees. However, it was evident that the horizontal learning of ethical conduct occurs in a reactive manner, triggered by events in a complex web of social learning. Therefore, in order for ethical leadership to regularly be learnt between the middle managers, a formal structure and the ethical culture can reinforce the way in which ethical leadership practices are spread horizontally.

Cette thèse examine le travail des cadres intermédiaires, leur expérience subjective du travail et leur construction de réalité(s) organisationnelle(s). Le matériau empirique provient d’un travail de terrain ethnographique réalisé sur plusieurs sites au sein d’une entreprise Brésilienne d’audit et de consulting de taille moyenne. Le cœur de cette thèse est constitué de trois articles indépendants. Le premier de ces articles conceptualise l’émergence et la nature du travail-frontière des cadres intermédiaires comme un moyen de favoriser le travail collaboratif entre des acteurs organisationnels multiples, aux perspectives et intérêts souvent divergents. Le travail-frontière est à la fois un transfert de connaissances, une traduction d’interprétations et une transformation d’intérêts au départ incompatibles entre différents groupes organisationnels. Un cadre conceptuel – composé de huit conditions structurelles, sept types de travail-frontière des cadres intermédiaires et neuf conséquences structurelles – est proposé et mobilisé, illustrant par ses implications pratiques et théoriques la compréhension de l’effort de stimulation de la collaboration trans-fonctionnelle réalisé par le cadre intermédiaire. Le deuxième article de cette thèse étudie l’expérience subjective des cadres intermédiaires lorsqu’ils ont à réaliser un tel travail-frontière d’adaptation mutuelle de différents groupes organisationnels. Nous réalisons cette étude en nous appuyant sur le concept de « sujet-frontière » proposé par Huzzard et al. (2010), lequel intègre les responsabilités professionnelles des cadres intermédiaires, et nous montrons les répercussions ambivalentes de la situation d’entre-deux du travail des cadres intermédiaires dans leur expérience subjective du travail. Le troisième article se penche sur la plus importante des branches de l’entreprise observée afin d’étudier comment les travailleurs intermédiaires de cette branches se détournent des directives du siège. Nous avons recours au concept Baudrillardien (1983) de simulacre afin de mettre en évidence trois pratiques de simulation mises en œuvre dans cette branche, chacune d’entre elles appartenant à un ordre dont le degré de prise de distance est toujours plus élevé relativement aux pratiques du siège auxquelles elles se réfèrent. Cet article met en lumière les rôles et les buts des cadres intermédiaires dans la création et le maintien de pratiques simulées, et avance que le management simultané de « réalités » alternatives peut fournir aux cadres intermédiaires un moyen d’augmenter leur champ d’influence, à la fois symboliquement et matériellement. / This dissertation investigates middle-managers’ work, experience of work, and construction of organizational reality. It draws its empirical material upon a seven month multi-site ethnographic fieldwork within a medium-sized Brazilian auditing and consulting firm. The core of this dissertation is constituted of three independent papers. The first of these papers sets out a conceptualization of the emergence and nature of middle-managers’ boundary work as a means of fostering collaborative work among distinct, and often divergent, organizational actors. Boundary work consists of the transference of knowledge, the translation of understandings, and the transformation of interests that are mismatched across organizational groups. A conceptual framework composed of eight structural conditions, seven types of middle-managerial boundary work and nine structural consequences is advanced and mobilized, illustrating its theoretical and practical implications for understanding middle-managers’ work of fostering cross-functional collaboration. The second paper of this dissertation studies the subjective experience of middle-managers while performing such a boundary work of interfacing different organizational groups. This is done by building upon the concept of ‘boundary subjects’ proposed by Huzzard et al. (2010), which encapsulates such work responsibilities, and by demonstrating the ambivalent repercussions of the in-betweenness of middle-managers’ work in their subjective experience of performing this work. The third paper focus on the most important of BAMA’s branches to study how the middle-managers from this branch deviate from headquarters directives. The Baudrillardian (1983) concept of the simulacrum is drawn upon to structure the demonstration of three distinct simulated practices engaged in at the branch, each pertaining to an order defined by an increasingly distance from the corresponding headquarters practices. This paper highlights middle-managers’ roles and purposes in creating and maintaining simulated practices, and posits that the simultaneous management of alternative ‘realities’ may provide a way for middle-managers to expand their power, in both symbolic and material terms.

The purpose of this study was to examine how middle managers within the social services in Sweden perceived their working conditions. The study group included 475 middle managers who were registered in the labour union akademikerförbundet SSR. The study group answered a digital questionnaire based on Karasek’s control and demand model which contained questions concerning their working environment. The result showed that 80 percent of the managers worked more than 40 hours a week and 60 percent of the managers experience high job strain. Four groups with different working conditions were identified through Karasek's control and demand model and the one that showed the most alarming working conditions were analysed further, the high strained group. Within our studygroup we also identified a utterly small group that could be defined as ISO-strained. This working condition is the most harmful working situation for your health since it contains high risk of psychological strain and physical illness.

Abstract not available

Denna explorativa studie utgår från ett intresse för samspelet mellan den kliniska vardagen och det omgivande samhället. Sju mellanchefer på vårdcentraler och vuxenpsykiatriska öppenvårds-mottagningar har intervjuats i syfte att undersöka deras föreställningar och attityder runt psykoterapi som behandlingsform, exempelvis deras tankar om psykoterapins verkan och tillgänglighet liksom deras medvetenhet om och attityder till en ökande betoningen på evidensbaserad vård. Frågeställningar: 1. Hur beskriver cheferna psykoterapi som behandlingsform och vilka attityder har de till psykoterapi.2. Hur upplever cheferna psykoterapins villkor, exempelvis beträffande gränsdragningar och evidensbaserad vård, och vilka attityder har man. Via semistrukturerade intervjuer har en kartläggning av utfallsrummet gjort genom att svaren har kategoriserats i de områden som framträtt under intervjuerna. Cheferna hade en positiv syn på psykoterapi och ansåg att psykoterapi behövs som behandlingsform. Deras kunskap om psykoterapi och dess villkor skilde sig åt. En misstro mellan beslutsfattare och kliniker beskrevs, liksom en önskan om en mångfald av behandlingsmetoder. Slutsatser var bl.a. att former för att integrera olika typer av kunskap för att öka tilltron mellan sjukvårdens aktörer behövs. / This exploratory study is based on an interest in the interaction between clinical routine and the surrounding community. Seven middle managers in health care centers and psychiatric clinics were interviewed to examine their beliefs and attitudes about psychotherapy as a treatment, such as their thoughts on psychotherapy effectiveness and availability as well as their awareness of and attitudes to a growing emphasis on evidence-based care. Questions: 1. How do you describe the heads psychotherapy as a treatment and what attitudes they have to psykoterapi.2. How managers experience psychotherapy conditions, for example on the boundary issues and evidence-based care, and what attitudes they have. Through semistructured interviews, a survey of the sample space made by the responses was categorized into the areas that emerged during the interviews. The managers had a positive view of psychotherapy and found that psychotherapy is needed as a form of treatment. Their knowledge regarding psychotherapy and its terms varied. Mistrust between policy makers and clinicians were described, as well as the desire for a variety of treatment methods. Conclusions included the need to find ways to integrate different types of knowledge, to build trust between healthcare stakeholders.

This study investigated the effects of globalisation on the empowerment of women in middle management positions. The first aim of the study was to determine the effects of globalisation on the empowerment of women in middle management. The second aim of the study was to establish if there is a correlation between perceptions of globalisation and empowerment for women in middle management. The third aim of the study was to describe the perceptions of women in middle management of globalisation. Globalisation and empowerment scales were used to achieve the objectives of the study and to measure the impact of globalisation on women. The measuring instruments were administered to groups of women in middle management. Fifty questionnaires were analysed. The sample consisted of twenty-five (25) respondents of women from private and twenty-five (25) from public organisations. The results of the factors analysed according to the aims of the study were as follows: • That there were significant differences between women in the private and the public sector with regard to perceptions of both globalisation and women's empowerment and that there were more women in the private sector than in the public sector who were positive about both the globalisation and women's empowerment. • That there was a significant positive correlation between women's perceptions of globalisation and empowerment. • That women from both sectors agreed that globalisation had a positive effect on their social, political and economic lives. That there was a need to provide women with self empowerment and training programmes that will equip them with the necessary skills so that they may occupy senior positions and be able to a make a meaningful contribution to the decision making process. / Thesis (MBA)-University of Natal, Durban, 2001.

Det är betydelsefullt för chefer att samverka med deras medarbetare och stödresurser för deras hållbarhet och funktion som chef. Stödet har en stor relevans för ett bra chefskap. Just målgruppen mellanchefer besitter en komplex position då de är under ett högt tryck av krav, både från de undre och de övre nivåerna. Studiens syfte var att undersöka mellanchefers upplevda behov av stöd i deras funktion som mellanchef, samt om det är möjligt att urskilja likheter i deras uppfattningar av stöd på deras respektive arbetsplats. Studien tillämpade en kvalitativ metod där data samlades in genom semistrukturerade intervjuer. Resultatet påvisade att mellanchefer, oberoende av vilken verksamhet de arbetar inom har ett behov av stöd. De stöd som visade sig vara det mest betydelsefulla var deras egen chef, en samverkan med andra människor inom verksamheten samt ett bra arbetsklimat. Utifrån resultatet kunde likheter urskiljas. Slutsatsen är att mellanchefer är i behov av stödresurser. / It is important for managers to interact with their employees and support resources for their durability and function as manager. The support has a great relevance for good leadership. Middle managers possess a complex position through high pressure of requirements, both from the lower and the upper levels. The study's purpose was to examine the middle managers' perceived needs for support in their function as a middle manager, and see if it is possible to discern similarities in their perceptions of support, independent of their respective occupation. The study applied a qualitative method where the data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The result showed that middle managers, regardless of their occupation, have a need for support. The most significant support was their own boss, collaboration with other people within the occupation and a good working atmosphere. Based on the results could similarities be discerned. The conclusion was that the middle managers are in need of support resources.

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the experiences of healthcareadministrative-educators and middle managers from three Midwestern hospitals about employer-provided management education for middle managers. The vision of the Chief Healthcare Administrator (CHA) of each hospital is reflected in the vision, mission andstrategic plan. The availability of formal training and development programs for middle managers is evident in the CHA's commitment to education. Using individual interviews of one-hour, the study examined the behaviors of managers and reactions to the experience of ongoing formalized middle-management education.Non-profit institutions selected had over a 250-hospital bed size with a formal department or division of management education. Hospitals chosen were HCIA Sachs designated "100 Top Hospitals" for 1999 or 2000. Each participant signed a consent form. The sample size was a minimum of one administrative-educator responsible for delivering middle manager education, two clinical managers, and two non-clinical managers from each hospital. The administrative-educator selected the interviewees. Managers interviewed had at least three years of management experience. Attitudes and practices varied due to social, political and contextual variables.Respondents were free to withdraw from the study at any time. For verification and enrichment, participants reviewed their individual interview transcripts. Managers described experiences with management education, reported increased levels of confidence, listed helpful resources, and named driving forces to support management education. Findings revealed clinical and non-clinical managers have common learningneeds. For successful management education, administrative-educators address the hospital's social, political, and cultural needs.Interviews were electronically recorded and kept confidential, as well as the verbatim transcriptions of the interviews. After the research process was complete, all tapes were destroyed. Each institution received a summary of the final document.In future years, the anticipated benefit to the participants will be that hospitals utilize the collective information to plan and deliver improved educational programming for the middle manager. This study found common themes among the respondents to develop new ways of thinking to improve managerial performance. Results may direct others to set a standard of managerial competency in healthcare. Healthcare middle managers' learning needs warrant further investigation. / Department of Educational Studies

The purpose of the study was to examine the career paths of women managers in the service area of higher education and women managers in the hospital industry service area. A secondary purpose was to identify factors that influence the advancement of women managers in those areas.This research outlined the career paths of women managers in the service industry in educational and in non-educational organizations. It identified encouragements and impediments to the promotion of qualified women in the areas of management within the service industry.Findings from the study show that there is no significant difference between the career paths of women managers in higher education and women managers in the hospital industry. There are no differences between the education, training, length of tenure, motivation for employment, mentoring, emotional support or career impediments of women managers in service area of both higher education and the hospital industry.The following conclusions were drawn from the study:1. Women in the service field of higher education and the hospital industry face very similar histories.2. Entry into the profession can be found through a variety of sources and it is through the investigation of these sources that a woman will find entry into this field.3. Very few women reported career impediments and many reported having the emotional support of family and friends.4. The true reason why the experienced, educated, trained woman manager has not progressed up the career and salary ladder until the past several years has not been found. Both groups are being motivated by opportunity for advancement and salary.5. Most women managers in the service have been the determinants of their own career advancement. The women desiring to become managers in the service field must realize that the future of her career and its advancement lies with her own decisions and her own initiative. The woman manager must be responsible for her own future. / Department of Educational Leadership

Titel: Den kommunalt fängslade mellanchefen: En kvalitativ beskrivning av mellanchefers utövande av ledarskap.  Inledning: Kommunal verksamhet är starkt påverkbar av sin omgivning och måste kontinuerligt anpassa sig till denna samtidigt som den strävar efter en förutsägbarhet. Denna komplexa miljö inverkar på mellanchefers möjlighet att utöva sitt personliga ledarskap, och därför ställs det krav på att man som chef är anpassningsbar och medveten om sitt personliga ledarskap. Problemformulering: Hur ser chefer i olika hierarkiska positioner på sin möjlighet att utöva sitt personliga ledarskap? Syfte: Syftet med vårt arbete är att undersöka, beskriva och skapa en förståelse för chefers möjlighet att, på olika hierarkiska nivåer, utöva sitt personliga ledarskap i ett sammanhang påverkat av inre och yttre faktorer. Metod: För att besvara vårt forskningsproblem valde vi att använda oss av en kvalitativ metod. Genom ett hermeneutiskt tolkningssätt och ett abduktivt angreppssätt så analyserade vi de sex semi-strukturerade intervjuer vi utförde. Slutsats: Den slutsats vi drog är att ledarskapsutbildningens utformning och den begränsade rörelsefrihet som ges, resulterar i en konflikt mellan organisationens mål och en chefs möjlighet att utöva sitt personliga ledarskap. / Title: The municipally captured middle manager: A qualitative description of middle managers exercises of Leadership. Background: Municipal agencies are strongly influenced by the environment and must continuously adapt while striving for predictability. This complex environment impact middle managers possibility to practice one's own Personal leadership, and therefore demands are places upon managers for adaptability and a consciousness regarding ones personal leadership. Research Question: How do middle managers at different hierarchical positions view their opportunity to practice their own personal leadership? Purpose: The purpose of our study is to investigate, describe and create an understanding for how managers, on different hierarchical levels, practice their personal leadership in a context affected by internal and external influences. Method: To answer our research question we chose to utilize a qualitative methodology. Through a hermeneutic interpretation method and an abductive approach we analysed the six semi structured interviews we conducted. Conclusions: The conclusion we derived to is that the design of the leadership education and the restriction of freedom of movement that exists create a conflict between the goals of the organisation and managers ability to practice their own personal leadership.