Who doesn’t want to ditch pre-meetings and the long clearance chain of middle managers? Let's be clear that the future of work is not just about how lean a company is, says NUS Business School’s Sriram Iyer.
Who doesn’t want to ditch pre-meetings and the long clearance chain of middle managers? Let's be clear that the future of work is not just about how lean a company is, says NUS Business School’s Sriram Iyer.New: You can now listen to articles.
Amazon announced in September 2024 that employees would be called back to the office five days a week and that it would cut manager roles. The move toward flatter organisational structures could significantly impede these efforts, as fewer managers may have less time and capacity to support their teams effectively. Managers overseeing more team members may face increased workload and burnout as they shoulder a wider range of responsibilities. This might also lead to a decline in employee satisfaction, especially for those who value mentorship and professional guidance as a core aspect of their work experience.
Rather than rendering middle management obsolete, AI could enhance their roles by freeing time and precious bandwidth from tedious administrative tasks to focus on higher-value activities like strategic planning, fostering innovation, and developing their teams. In countries where flexible work arrangement laws have been implemented, this company policy could be scrutinised. For instance, implementing thein Singapore, with effect from Dec 1, will require Amazon to handle employee requests for flexible work options more carefully. Organisations will be expected to justify denying such requests, which could lead to friction between management and employees and complicate the implementation process.
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