Strategic T&L Management

The Challenge of Change The Challenge of Change

……. . oror …. ….““Challenge Everything, Baldrick!”Challenge Everything, Baldrick!”

With apologies to Richard Curtis and Ben Elton

The Challenge of Change The Challenge of Change

……. . oror …. ….““Challenge Everything, Baldrick!”Challenge Everything, Baldrick!”

With apologies to Richard Curtis and Ben Elton

Challenge of ChangeChallenge of Change

• What can we learn from the past that is What can we learn from the past that is in any way indicative of the future?in any way indicative of the future?

• Are management theorists and gurus to Are management theorists and gurus to be trusted?be trusted?

• Do we have the right, the ability - the Do we have the right, the ability - the duty even - to challenge the status quo of duty even - to challenge the status quo of learning and understanding?learning and understanding?

FociFoci

• Work and the workerWork and the worker

• Management and the ManagerManagement and the Manager

• The relationship between the above and The relationship between the above and the organisational context in which it the organisational context in which it occursoccurs

• Trends around a discontinuity ( like the Trends around a discontinuity ( like the Millennium)Millennium)

WORK: Back about as far as we can go...WORK: Back about as far as we can go...

“ “ And to Adam he said ... : cursed is the And to Adam he said ... : cursed is the ground because of you - ground because of you - in toilin toil you shall you shall eat of it all the days of your life …. in the eat of it all the days of your life …. in the sweat of your facesweat of your face you shall eat bread till you shall eat bread till you return to the ground.”you return to the ground.”

Gen 3 v 17Gen 3 v 17

WORK: Back about as far as we can go 2.WORK: Back about as far as we can go 2.Archaeologists tell us that uncivilised cave man ‘worked’ for

perhaps 2.5 hours a day to feed, clothe and shelter himself. He:– did what he wanted,

– when he wanted,

– how he wanted,

– where he wanted,

– …… if he felt like it.

Apparently we are now ‘civilised’ and as such we routinely: – Commute an hour or more to work at our own expense

– work 7 hours a day plus reasonable (unpaid) overtime as professionals with little or no choice or control over the what, when, where, how (and no authority to question the ‘why’ either.)

– ‘work’ perhaps 2 hours a day at home (Food, cleaning, DIY)

Remind me again will you… who’s civilised….?

Self- EmploymentSelf- Employment• For most of pre-history & history, man For most of pre-history & history, man

worked for himself.worked for himself.

• Man had choice and control over all aspects of Man had choice and control over all aspects of work from conception to execution:-work from conception to execution:-– whenwhen– wherewhere– howhow

• Man normally utilised the product of his own Man normally utilised the product of his own work and knew the true cost and value of work and knew the true cost and value of whatever he produced.whatever he produced.

The recent rise of EmploymentThe recent rise of Employment

• The industrial revolution as late as the 18th The industrial revolution as late as the 18th & 19th century and the concomitant & 19th century and the concomitant development of capitalism dramatically development of capitalism dramatically changed the ‘landscape of work’.changed the ‘landscape of work’.– USA 1800 - 80% population self-employedUSA 1800 - 80% population self-employed– USA 1870 - 35% ………………………….USA 1870 - 35% ………………………….– …… …… 1970 - 10% (and falling) ……………1970 - 10% (and falling) ……………– 2000 --> Possible trend reversal? Why????

Rise of Employment 2Rise of Employment 2

“… “… the extraordinary power of the tendency the extraordinary power of the tendency of capitalist economies to of capitalist economies to convert all other convert all other forms of labour into hired labourforms of labour into hired labour …the …the worker enters the employment agreement worker enters the employment agreement because social conditions leave him or her because social conditions leave him or her no other way to gain a livelihood.”no other way to gain a livelihood.”

Braverman (1974) Labour & Monopoly CapitalBraverman (1974) Labour & Monopoly Capital

Rise of Employment 3Rise of Employment 3

• A consequence of:A consequence of:– Technological innovations:Technological innovations:

• the harnessing of productive powerthe harnessing of productive power– hydro , steam & electricityhydro , steam & electricity

• transport technologies (--> mass market access)transport technologies (--> mass market access)– railways and canalsrailways and canals

– Scientific advancementScientific advancement• new materialsnew materials

• new processesnew processes

• new scales of engineering productionnew scales of engineering production

– The concept of CapitalismThe concept of Capitalism

Winners and losersWinners and losers

From this new ‘employment’ relationship :From this new ‘employment’ relationship :

The capitalist gets:The capitalist gets:

• a malleable and almost infinitely a malleable and almost infinitely adaptable component to be used at any adaptable component to be used at any point between raw material and outputpoint between raw material and output

The worker loses:The worker loses:

• personal control (over when, where, how)personal control (over when, where, how)

The worker is compensated for this loss by:The worker is compensated for this loss by:

• some degree of securitysome degree of security

• the monetary recompensethe monetary recompense

ConsequencesConsequences• The reward for work is no longer the enjoyment The reward for work is no longer the enjoyment

of the production or the ownership of the of the production or the ownership of the product of that work (the right to use, enjoy and product of that work (the right to use, enjoy and benefit from the output) but money. (Pavlov’s benefit from the output) but money. (Pavlov’s Dog syndrome?)Dog syndrome?)

• The individual’s acute knowledge of the personal The individual’s acute knowledge of the personal cost of production disappears to be replaced only cost of production disappears to be replaced only by price. by price.

(Goodbye sustainability? What did Oscar Wilde (Goodbye sustainability? What did Oscar Wilde say of ‘The Cynic’?)say of ‘The Cynic’?)

ControlControl

• The human component needed to be organised to The human component needed to be organised to produce, and, being as much a bought item as a produce, and, being as much a bought item as a machine or raw material, such organisation machine or raw material, such organisation tended to become total controltended to become total control

• This need to exercise control, coupled with This need to exercise control, coupled with quantum leaps in scale brought about by mass quantum leaps in scale brought about by mass production and joint stock legislation often production and joint stock legislation often meant that ownership and control were no meant that ownership and control were no longer vested in the same personae --> a new longer vested in the same personae --> a new creature, a new cadre: creature, a new cadre: the employed manager.the employed manager.

Degree of ControlDegree of ControlThe degree of control could be severeThe degree of control could be severe::

““..everyone was put under the same roof purely for ..everyone was put under the same roof purely for the purpose of discipline so that the workers could the purpose of discipline so that the workers could be effectively controlled under the supervision of be effectively controlled under the supervision of foremen…foremen…

..under one roof they could be started to work at ..under one roof they could be started to work at sunrise and kept going until sunset barring sunrise and kept going until sunset barring periods for rest and refreshment…and under periods for rest and refreshment…and under penalty of loss they could be kept going almost penalty of loss they could be kept going almost throughout the year.”throughout the year.”

Gras : Industrial Revolution (1930)Gras : Industrial Revolution (1930)

Scientific Management & the Scientific Management & the Need to ControlNeed to Control

In the early part of the last century, dominated In the early part of the last century, dominated by the ethos of FW Taylor & ‘Scientific by the ethos of FW Taylor & ‘Scientific Management’, the need for such control was felt Management’, the need for such control was felt to be paramount :to be paramount :

“ “ Effective management implies control - the terms, Effective management implies control - the terms, in a sense, are interchangeable as management in a sense, are interchangeable as management without control is not conceivable.” without control is not conceivable.” ……Still true...??Still true...??

Leffingwell (1925)Leffingwell (1925)

The Sundering of Conception The Sundering of Conception & Execution& Execution

The sundering of task conception and execution was The sundering of task conception and execution was effectively performed by the ‘Division of Labour’ which effectively performed by the ‘Division of Labour’ which sought to overturn the power and control of the age-old sought to overturn the power and control of the age-old Craft Guild system:Craft Guild system:

“ “ The detailed The detailed division of labourdivision of labour into its constituent elements, into its constituent elements, which which destroys occupationsdestroys occupations and renders the worker and renders the worker inadequate to carry through any complete production inadequate to carry through any complete production process …The main process …The main benefit of this to the capitalist was the benefit of this to the capitalist was the revision to the payment systemrevision to the payment system which could now be made. which could now be made. No longer was a skilled craftsman paid the skilled rate for No longer was a skilled craftsman paid the skilled rate for all elements of the job - but a all elements of the job - but a particular rate could be particular rate could be assigned to very small task areas according to skillassigned to very small task areas according to skill level.” level.”

Braverman 1974Braverman 1974

TheDivision of LabourTheDivision of LabourAdam Smith v Krapotkin 1.Adam Smith v Krapotkin 1.

Kropotkin (1906) in Kropotkin (1906) in ‘The Conquest of Bread’‘The Conquest of Bread’ said said of the Division of Labour and Adam Smith:of the Division of Labour and Adam Smith:

• Having found it profitable ... capitalists set it up as a principle.

• Smith hastened to the conclusion:"Divide labour, specialize, go on specializing; let us have smiths who only know how to make heads or points of nails, and by this means we shall produce more. We shall grow rich…. Long live the division of labour. This is the real gold-mine that will enrich the nation!"

TheDivision of Labour (DoL)TheDivision of Labour (DoL)Adam Smith v Krapotkin 2.Adam Smith v Krapotkin 2.

In contrast to Smith, Kropotkin observed DoL rather In contrast to Smith, Kropotkin observed DoL rather differently and saw it as offensive: differently and saw it as offensive: ““The ideal of modern industry is a child tending a machine that he cannot and must not understand, and a foreman who fines him if his attention flags for a moment. The ideal of industrial agriculture is to do away with the agricultural labourer altogether and to set a man who does odd jobs to tend a steam-plough or a threshing-machine. The division of labour means labelling and stamping men for life--some to splice ropes in factories, some to be foremen in a business, others to shove huge coal-baskets in a particular part of a mine; but none of them to have any idea of machinery as a whole, nor of business, nor of mines. And thereby they destroy the love of work and the capacity for invention that, at the beginning of modern industry,

created the machinery on which we pride ourselves so much.”

Managers: more equal than workers?Managers: more equal than workers?

Determining the nature of work, who should do Determining the nature of work, who should do it, how it should be done and the rate of pay it, how it should be done and the rate of pay according to skill level was now become the according to skill level was now become the province of province of ‘management’‘management’ : :

“ “ All planning that was done by the workman as a All planning that was done by the workman as a result of his personal experience must, of necessity, result of his personal experience must, of necessity, under the new system, be done under the new system, be done by management by management in in accordance with the laws of scienceaccordance with the laws of science…. It is clear …. It is clear that in most cases one type of man is needed to that in most cases one type of man is needed to plan ahead and an entirely different one to execute plan ahead and an entirely different one to execute the work.”the work.”

FW Taylor - Scientific Management FW Taylor - Scientific Management

Complete sell-out / complete control 1.Complete sell-out / complete control 1.

The need to co-locate work, the worker andThe need to co-locate work, the worker and management management and to exercise complete control was never more clearly and to exercise complete control was never more clearly exemplified than in the ‘Company Town’ : exemplified than in the ‘Company Town’ : Ambrose Ambrose Crowley IronworksCrowley Ironworks had 1000 employees and a company had 1000 employees and a company ‘Book of Laws’‘Book of Laws’ which cited that the firm provided: which cited that the firm provided:

“ “ A doctor, clergyman, 3 schoolmasters, poor relief, pension A doctor, clergyman, 3 schoolmasters, poor relief, pension & funeral scheme … and by his instructions and & funeral scheme … and by his instructions and exhortations Crowley attempted to dominate the spiritual exhortations Crowley attempted to dominate the spiritual life of his ‘flock’ and to make them into willing cogs in his life of his ‘flock’ and to make them into willing cogs in his machine. …..machine. …..

It was his intention that their whole life - including their It was his intention that their whole life - including their sparse spare time (they worked 80 hours a week) should sparse spare time (they worked 80 hours a week) should revolve around making the works profitable.”revolve around making the works profitable.”

Complete sell-out / complete control 2.Complete sell-out / complete control 2. Against Crowley’s Company Town...what of today’s:Against Crowley’s Company Town...what of today’s:

– Dress down FridaysDress down Fridays

– Office canteen (free / subsidised)Office canteen (free / subsidised)

– Free sports club membershipsFree sports club memberships

– Private health insurancePrivate health insurance

– Continued Professional DevelopmentContinued Professional Development

Do they seem so new or quite so philanthropic now???Do they seem so new or quite so philanthropic now???

What are the following ‘modern’ initiatives all about?What are the following ‘modern’ initiatives all about?– Multi-skilling ….. job enlargement... job rotation & sharing Multi-skilling ….. job enlargement... job rotation & sharing

– quality circles --> TQMquality circles --> TQM

– EmpowermentEmpowerment

How much of all this is modern ‘innovation’ and how much How much of all this is modern ‘innovation’ and how much ‘rediscovery’ or righting management wrongs/failure???‘rediscovery’ or righting management wrongs/failure???

Complete sell-out / complete control 3.Complete sell-out / complete control 3.

Flexitime: …and the winner is????...Flexitime: …and the winner is????...The Employee:The Employee: • acquires a limited degree of flexibility and control over when acquires a limited degree of flexibility and control over when

hours of work are delivered. hours of work are delivered.

• allows hours in credit to be exchanged for time in lieu (subject allows hours in credit to be exchanged for time in lieu (subject to carry-over limits and management permission). to carry-over limits and management permission).

• Total hours remain unchanged. ….Total hours remain unchanged. ….(Good eh???.)(Good eh???.)

The Employer: The Employer: • retains guarantee of work in critical ‘core time’retains guarantee of work in critical ‘core time’

• workers tend naturally to run up credit hours when workload workers tend naturally to run up credit hours when workload is high and is high and take time off when load is lowtake time off when load is low..

• overtime is not paid for critical extra, pressurised hoursovertime is not paid for critical extra, pressurised hours

• workers are not paid to ‘sit around’ workers are not paid to ‘sit around’ …. THE BOSS!!…. THE BOSS!!

Accidents of History?Accidents of History?

Essentially, what we have today in the corporation Essentially, what we have today in the corporation and organisation, is the result of a history of choices, and organisation, is the result of a history of choices, innovations, changing management theories applied, innovations, changing management theories applied, learning and correction - some of it with rather learning and correction - some of it with rather ‘dark’ overtones:‘dark’ overtones:

“ “ Modern management came into being … to ensure Modern management came into being … to ensure that as a ‘craft’ declined, the worker would sink to the that as a ‘craft’ declined, the worker would sink to the level of a general and undifferentiated labour power, level of a general and undifferentiated labour power, adaptable to a large range of simple tasks, while as adaptable to a large range of simple tasks, while as science grew it would be concentrated in the hands of science grew it would be concentrated in the hands of ‘management”.‘management”. Braverman. (1974) Braverman. (1974)

Summary of ChangesSummary of ChangesWk. Nature

LocationSkillControlPace

Self-employed to employed & now reversing?Rural home to urban factory & now teleworking?Division of labour learning & multi-skilling?Own to oversight – now by outcomes?Self to Management – now machine-determined?

Wkr Reflection of work A/A..Powerless empowered?

Mgt. Created as a specialist form of employee:differentiated from ‘blue collar’ yet still 'executive'.Now blurring (self-mgt / empowerment etc)?

Org NatureSizeStructureLocationComplexyFocusMode

Physical and discrete virtual & networked?Small to large – now ‘down/right–sizing’Flat to tall - now flatter… to virtual?Local to global ‘glocal’ / ‘point of need’Simple to complex de-layered / simplerProduct marketCompetitive & independent co-operative & interdependent?Status Fixed to shifting

A Thought?

Is sustainability on a ‘losing wicket’ because the capitalist system has created a situation where our ability to produce (and the need to sell to provide profits and growth) exceeds our ‘natural’ inclination to consume? The only way to achieve such production goals / growth is for the ‘system’ to fuel ‘unnatural’ consumption activity by getting us to willingly discard and replace perfectly serviceable items.

How? By designed-in physical obsolescence coupled with endemic, ever-shorter-lived fashion and more powerful marketing.

The ChallengeThe Challenge

• It doesn’t have to be this way …It doesn’t have to be this way …– Mintzberg & Handy guru reversalsMintzberg & Handy guru reversals– Volvo antidote to production lineVolvo antidote to production line– IT in TUI ( Kim Juhrbandt)IT in TUI ( Kim Juhrbandt)

• In the future filled with infinite In the future filled with infinite information, the power and the glory will information, the power and the glory will be with those who can:be with those who can:– think and analysethink and analyse– challenge and troubleshootchallenge and troubleshoot– be creativebe creative

The Challenge (contd).The Challenge (contd).

• Just as the past represents the ripples of choices Just as the past represents the ripples of choices made and opportunities foregone which lap upon made and opportunities foregone which lap upon the shore of our present … the future is not given the shore of our present … the future is not given and pre ordained:and pre ordained:– we may have more powerful, faster chips, but in what we may have more powerful, faster chips, but in what

ways can we use them in theory and will we use them ways can we use them in theory and will we use them in practice? (Diffusion and adoption issues)in practice? (Diffusion and adoption issues)

• We may have the canvas and the paints, but We may have the canvas and the paints, but what we chose to paint is up to us :what we chose to paint is up to us :– we can learn from the ‘old masters’ but sticking to we can learn from the ‘old masters’ but sticking to

their style and slavishly copying is neither creative their style and slavishly copying is neither creative nor fulfilling, and is likely to be out of touch with the nor fulfilling, and is likely to be out of touch with the audience. audience.

The Challenge (contd 2).The Challenge (contd 2).

Remember this?Remember this?

There is no right and wrong :There is no right and wrong :it’s all a question of how youit’s all a question of how youread it and whether you canread it and whether you canjustify and gain support forjustify and gain support foryour viewpoint.your viewpoint.

Progress depends upon Progress depends upon youyoudoing this.doing this.

You have the right to read it You have the right to read it YOUR way…if you have the YOUR way…if you have the justification and to lead if you justification and to lead if you have the power, position & have the power, position & persuasion.persuasion.

The Challenge (contd 3).The Challenge (contd 3).The millennial discontinuityThe millennial discontinuity

Not only is it the role and duty of successive generations to test Not only is it the role and duty of successive generations to test and question ‘received wisdom’ with a view to adding to and and question ‘received wisdom’ with a view to adding to and improving upon it where appropriate, your generation, perhaps improving upon it where appropriate, your generation, perhaps as no other in time, has come to the zenith of its powers at the as no other in time, has come to the zenith of its powers at the turn of the millennium where societies worldwide for turn of the millennium where societies worldwide for psychological, sociological, historical, cultural and religious psychological, sociological, historical, cultural and religious reasons are seeking change accompanied by justice and equity.reasons are seeking change accompanied by justice and equity.

There is, for this reason, perhaps a seemingly greater pressure for There is, for this reason, perhaps a seemingly greater pressure for such change to be forthcoming than ever before … and in this age such change to be forthcoming than ever before … and in this age of expectancy and instant gratification people will be looking toof expectancy and instant gratification people will be looking to your generation to provide it.. In that sense, perhaps your duty In that sense, perhaps your duty and responsibility to challenge the prevailing order and way of and responsibility to challenge the prevailing order and way of thinking creatively and constructively is the greater.thinking creatively and constructively is the greater.

Ben Okri : extracted from his ‘Mental Flight : Ben Okri : extracted from his ‘Mental Flight : An anti-spell for the 21st century’ Sunday Times 3/1/99An anti-spell for the 21st century’ Sunday Times 3/1/99

..Will we allow ourselves merely to drift / into an era of more of the same / An ..Will we allow ourselves merely to drift / into an era of more of the same / An era drained of significance, without shame / Without wonder of excitement / era drained of significance, without shame / Without wonder of excitement / just the same low-grade entertainment / An era boring and predictable / Flat just the same low-grade entertainment / An era boring and predictable / Flat stale and unprofitable / In which we drift / In which we drift along / Too bored stale and unprofitable / In which we drift / In which we drift along / Too bored and too passive to care / About what strange realities rear / their heads in our and too passive to care / About what strange realities rear / their heads in our days and nights / Till we awake too late to the death of our rights / Too late to days and nights / Till we awake too late to the death of our rights / Too late to do anything / Too late for thinking / about what we have allowed / to take over do anything / Too late for thinking / about what we have allowed / to take over our lives / While we cruised along in casual flight / mildly indifferent to storm our lives / While we cruised along in casual flight / mildly indifferent to storm or sunlight.or sunlight.

Or might we choose to make / this time a waking up event / A moment of world Or might we choose to make / this time a waking up event / A moment of world empowerment / To pledge in private, to be more aware / more playful, more empowerment / To pledge in private, to be more aware / more playful, more tolerant and more fair,/ More responsible, more wild more loving / Awake to tolerant and more fair,/ More responsible, more wild more loving / Awake to our unsuspected powers, more amazing. / We rise or fall by the choice we our unsuspected powers, more amazing. / We rise or fall by the choice we make / It all depends on the road we take / And the choice and the road each make / It all depends on the road we take / And the choice and the road each depend / On the light that we have, the light we wend / On the light we use / or depend / On the light that we have, the light we wend / On the light we use / or refuse /. On the lies we live by and from which we die.refuse /. On the lies we live by and from which we die.

Every moment thus carries / the monumental in the ordinary / Transcending Every moment thus carries / the monumental in the ordinary / Transcending the political / Hinting at the evolutionary …..the political / Hinting at the evolutionary …..

Parting Gesture

“ If not me: who?

If not now: when?”