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Modern Managerial Myths

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Seminar 2: Modern Managerial Myths
Introduction
There have always been many myths surrounding management as a profession. During the 1800s, the manager was portrayed as a “foundry proprietor”, whose task was to build solidarity among the employees, and get everyone to “pull together” (Nilson & Åberg, 2007). This changed drastically during the 1900s, and the industrialization came to require a completely new type of leader. A manager generally possessed a high degree of technical knowledge (ibid.). However, the tayloristic view of management was soon out rivaled by the “human relations movement”, thus once again requiring a new type of managers, now more focused on building interpersonal relationships with the employees (ibid.). At least, this is what the large plethora of management literature has taught us. Hill (2003) discusses what “it really means to manage”, questioning some of the classical myths surrounding the notion of management. Myths like the managers’ source of power (formal authority), focus (managing one-on-one) and essential competencies (technical) are contrasted with evidence from the reality. However, as mentioned by Hill (2003) in the preface, “increasing globalization and significant demographic changes in the workforce” has lead to drastic change, affecting both managerial myths as well as their reality. The aim of this paper is to discuss Hill’s (2003) managerial myths and reality (se exhibit V-2 “What It Really Means to Manage”, p. 268), and whether Hill’s reasoning is still relevant. The paper primarily focuses on essential competencies, key players, and key challenges. The research question is relevant both due to the fact that it is cumulative, as well as relevant in relation to the assigned course literature.

Theoretical framework
In her book “Becoming A Manager”, Hill (2003) elaborates around what it really means, and what it

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