Micromanagement and lack of trust are cries often heard in todays business environment. In this age of accountability, downsizing and job uncertainty, all managers are faced with getting results through people.
I think that too often management throws out responsibility without clarifying what are the limits or parameters in which employees can and may make critical decisions. When boundaries are not clear employees naturally think the manager is sending mixed messages. When employees feel micromanaged, theyre basically saying, "Stop looking over my shoulder I can do this, stop checking upon me and why must I report in every step of the way?"
Management must make clear with the employee, what is the performance outcome you need. The more detailed, the better. Note the word "outcome". This is not the same as "do it my way". As long as you get the outcomes and results keep the team and ethics intact, who cares how they got the job done.
Another thing about micro management is that the person undertaking it will usually find themselves overwhelmed with work and not be able to keep up. The usual tactic in this case is to keep asking for ad-hoc reports and information in a vain attempt to know about everything thats going on in great detail.
These tactics tend to rob the people doing the job of valuable time and increase the chances of failure. Then its a vicious circle, if they do fail the micro manager feels he/she needs to monitor them more closely, takes more of their time etc. etc.
Lets start by stating that no-one would admit to being a "micro-manager". It is a trap many people fall into when not getting the results they expected.
More often than not, it would be as a result of the PMs poor communication of a projects objectives. This leads the project team to work on the wrong thing and the PM to have no trust that they can do the job properly, so he interferes, gets into too much detail and "micro-manages".
Can you claim for it ? Interesting ! let us know how that one works out. Ive not seen it before.
Gentlemen, thank you for the valuable information.
Am I right to understand that micro manager basically does not work with the plan (project schedule)? If the owner(project management team),applied micro management into the project and causing delay and discruption (plan not being followed,frequent changes on the sequencing of work,etc.) Is the contractor has a right to claim for compensation?
Your view please.
Member for
22 years 11 months
Member for22 years11 months
Submitted by Bernard Ertl on Wed, 2003-06-18 13:20
Micromanagement - The notion, perceived or real, of closely detailed scrutiny of a programs activities by ones superiors in the chain of command, or by the Congress. May result in second-guessing, reviews, changes, or further program justification. A usurpation of authority or responsibility.
“Micro Management” is a bad thing. It means that someone is managing a project or people as if they and everything that they do is ‘under a microscope.’ Every action is ‘supervised’ and corrected by the manager as for proper and efficient procedure.
People don’t like to be treated like puppets, told how and when to move. They appreciate good advice when they ask for it but prefer to be given the proper training and tools and then be measured by their output.
Most Micro Managers try to do everyone’s job for them except for their own job, which is to plan and manage.
Member for
22 years 3 monthsRE: and another thing...
Hi,
I think trend Micro Management is developing Applications based on Internet and Communication.
Member for
22 years 3 monthsRE: and another thing...
Hi,
In the fact , ownwork idea in the hi-tec industries created Micro management idea in the others industries.
M.Rashidi
Member for
22 years 3 monthsRE: and another thing...
Dear Rayco,
Micromanagement and lack of trust are cries often heard in todays business environment. In this age of accountability, downsizing and job uncertainty, all managers are faced with getting results through people.
I think that too often management throws out responsibility without clarifying what are the limits or parameters in which employees can and may make critical decisions. When boundaries are not clear employees naturally think the manager is sending mixed messages. When employees feel micromanaged, theyre basically saying, "Stop looking over my shoulder I can do this, stop checking upon me and why must I report in every step of the way?"
Management must make clear with the employee, what is the performance outcome you need. The more detailed, the better. Note the word "outcome". This is not the same as "do it my way". As long as you get the outcomes and results keep the team and ethics intact, who cares how they got the job done.
Regards
M.Rashidi
Member for
16 years 9 monthsand another thing...
Another thing about micro management is that the person undertaking it will usually find themselves overwhelmed with work and not be able to keep up. The usual tactic in this case is to keep asking for ad-hoc reports and information in a vain attempt to know about everything thats going on in great detail.
These tactics tend to rob the people doing the job of valuable time and increase the chances of failure. Then its a vicious circle, if they do fail the micro manager feels he/she needs to monitor them more closely, takes more of their time etc. etc.
It drives me mad!!
Duncan
http://www.projectsmart.co.uk
Member for
24 years 4 monthsRE: Micro Management
Lets start by stating that no-one would admit to being a "micro-manager". It is a trap many people fall into when not getting the results they expected.
More often than not, it would be as a result of the PMs poor communication of a projects objectives. This leads the project team to work on the wrong thing and the PM to have no trust that they can do the job properly, so he interferes, gets into too much detail and "micro-manages".
Can you claim for it ? Interesting ! let us know how that one works out. Ive not seen it before.
Member for
16 years 9 monthsRE: Micro Management
Gentlemen, thank you for the valuable information.
Am I right to understand that micro manager basically does not work with the plan (project schedule)? If the owner(project management team),applied micro management into the project and causing delay and discruption (plan not being followed,frequent changes on the sequencing of work,etc.) Is the contractor has a right to claim for compensation?
Your view please.
Member for
22 years 11 monthsRE: Micro Management
Micromanagement - The notion, perceived or real, of closely detailed scrutiny of a programs activities by ones superiors in the chain of command, or by the Congress. May result in second-guessing, reviews, changes, or further program justification. A usurpation of authority or responsibility.
Defense Systems Management College - Definition of Terms
Bernard Ertl
InterPlan Systems Inc. - Project Management Software, Project Planning Software
Member for
22 years 10 monthsRE: Micro Management
“Micro Management” is a bad thing. It means that someone is managing a project or people as if they and everything that they do is ‘under a microscope.’ Every action is ‘supervised’ and corrected by the manager as for proper and efficient procedure.
People don’t like to be treated like puppets, told how and when to move. They appreciate good advice when they ask for it but prefer to be given the proper training and tools and then be measured by their output.
Most Micro Managers try to do everyone’s job for them except for their own job, which is to plan and manage.