Management under Camouflage

A Set of Self-Interests in Disguise

What we see as ‘Management’ today at our business places is nothing but a procedural set of personal self-interests in disguise.

Well, this self-interest could be and should be revered or deplored is just another issue into which I have none of my business. The thing that makes me interested is to watch and differentiate one manager from the other through behavior and policies to identify the intensity and direction of the self-interest that I am talking about.

Yes. I know you are perplexed to read this pessimistic idea of a ‘disguised management’. It surely creates a negative impression of such an acclaimed discipline. This is the same as we disregard the value of ‘Aab-e-Hayaat’ (the elixir of live) instead of appreciating it. For a flourishing business, we must appreciate a good management the same way as we appreciate the elixir of life. But think of the possibilities if the drink is consumed by an imp instead of a pious saint !!!  The consequences obviously, would be disastrous.

Let me ask you the other way: What happens when the management goes into wrong hands? Off-course, your answer would be that a single wrong decision by higher management may bring down the business and even make the enterprise extinct.

Yes I do agree. But let’s keep it in mind that no manager would like to do that because in this case, not only other’s interests are at stake but his own personal earnings are lost (at least for several weeks, if not forever) !!

This means that mismanagement or poor management can be intentional only as long as it safeguards one’s own interests. Such mismanagements are short-termed and usually have roots in the personality traits. It has nothing to do with the management skills. However, the positive aspect is that it can be traced and corrected.

We should not confuse at this stage with exceptional cases such as  ’wrong decisions of good managers’, or the ‘good strategies of poor managers’……The result in this case has anomalies and almost anything can be predicted.

Contrary to it, let’s see another scenario wherein two or more managers come together to cooperate each other and safeguard their personal interests giving next or the last priority to the welfare of their enterprise. It crosses the boundaries of true professionalism and loyalty for the enterprise and therefore, can be one of the most dangerous scenarios.  Some of the major implications being:-

1. Dissatisfaction among other employees (particularly, subordinates)
2. Since the number of subordinates in a company is always greater than the number of managers, the extent of dissatisfaction is imaginable.
3. The Higher Management (at the level of CEOs) is usually unaware of such designs and ‘disguised management’ giving it a chance to extend its roots further, deeper. This makes the losses permanent and perennial.
4. The curve of customer dissatisfaction gains a non-uniform downward swing due to poor support and services by the disappointed employees.
5. Competition finds its way in, and ultimately, the business share in the market segments start diminishing.

( to be continued )