Managing the neo-bureaucratic organisation: lessons from the UK's prosaic sector

Catherine Farrell, Jonathan Morris

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This article evaluates the extent to which `post-bureaucratic' organisational forms have been introduced to the UK organisations, the implications for human resource management (HRM) policies and practices in the sector and, finally, for middle managers in these organisations. The study draws from interview data at 42 organisations from the UK's `prosaic' sector, including both private and public sectors, manufacturing and services, and `old tech' and `new tech'. It further draws from interviews with middle managers in those organisations. It concludes that certain structural changes have been made, but that older functional lines of authority still exist and that post-bureaucratic claims are misleading. However, a harsher working environment has arisen for managers in these organisations, with longer hours and a more complex working environment. Older certainties such as job security, a safe career path and seniority-based pay have all been eroded.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1376 - 1392
    Number of pages16
    JournalInternational Journal of Human Resource Management
    Volume24
    Issue number7
    DOIs
    Publication statusE-pub ahead of print - 1 May 2013

    Keywords

    • hrm
    • organizational forms
    • prosaic organizations
    • neo bureaucracy
    • middle managers

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