A lack of managers
A sociological research study looks at enterprises and territories with enough entrepreneurs yet too few organisational leaders
Enterprise presupposes the presence of entrepreneurs, but also of managers. The relationship between the two is both an important and delicate one, as it entails a partnership that can be the making, or the undoing, of a company. As such, this is a relation that needs to be thoroughly understood even when entrepreneurs find themselves increasingly deserted by women and men wanting to take charge of their corporate organisation. Vincenzo Fortunato’s research study, “Classe dirigente, cultura manageriale e sviluppo nel Mezzogiorno” (“Ruling class, management culture and development in Southern Italy”), recently published in the journal Sociologia del lavoro (The sociology of work) focuses precisely on such circumstances.
The article analyses some of the main results identified by a recent investigation on the presence of managers and executives in Southern Italian companies and, more in general, on the low prevalence of managerial culture on the territory. Indeed, this is a topic that has never drawn much research interest and that, more often than not, has mainly been looking at the role of entrepreneurs, trade unions and institutions. Mistakenly so, as managers and executives actually constitute an exclusive research topic that can be useful to the understanding of the dynamics that take place within companies, the tension felt between entrepreneur and management, its more backward and innovative elements, its potential and the constraints preventing the development of modern, competitive enterprises able to successfully tackle the challenges of global markets. The presence, more or less authoritative, of managers is something that strongly characterises both businesses and territories and, amongst other things, it can also affect their growth.
Using data deriving from a real-life investigation, Fortunato sets himself the aim of exploring the role of management in the South of Italy, as well as of better understanding how widespread managerial culture is, a factor able to affect the development of companies and, as a consequence, of the territories in which they operate. Fortunato then goes on to analyse which policies and interventions might succeed in removing existing obstacles and promoting the growth of a managerial culture in the South of Italy.
Vincenzo Fortunato’s research study is important, not only because of its original theme – which, by the by, particularly illustrates a specific production culture – but also because it clearly elucidates both the theory and practices related to it, as well as opening up possible development paths for an entire territory.
Classe dirigente, cultura manageriale e sviluppo nel Mezzogiorno (”Ruling class, management culture and development in Southern Italy”)
Vincenzo Fortunato , Sociologia del lavoro, volume 162, 2022, pp. 184-207
A sociological research study looks at enterprises and territories with enough entrepreneurs yet too few organisational leaders
Enterprise presupposes the presence of entrepreneurs, but also of managers. The relationship between the two is both an important and delicate one, as it entails a partnership that can be the making, or the undoing, of a company. As such, this is a relation that needs to be thoroughly understood even when entrepreneurs find themselves increasingly deserted by women and men wanting to take charge of their corporate organisation. Vincenzo Fortunato’s research study, “Classe dirigente, cultura manageriale e sviluppo nel Mezzogiorno” (“Ruling class, management culture and development in Southern Italy”), recently published in the journal Sociologia del lavoro (The sociology of work) focuses precisely on such circumstances.
The article analyses some of the main results identified by a recent investigation on the presence of managers and executives in Southern Italian companies and, more in general, on the low prevalence of managerial culture on the territory. Indeed, this is a topic that has never drawn much research interest and that, more often than not, has mainly been looking at the role of entrepreneurs, trade unions and institutions. Mistakenly so, as managers and executives actually constitute an exclusive research topic that can be useful to the understanding of the dynamics that take place within companies, the tension felt between entrepreneur and management, its more backward and innovative elements, its potential and the constraints preventing the development of modern, competitive enterprises able to successfully tackle the challenges of global markets. The presence, more or less authoritative, of managers is something that strongly characterises both businesses and territories and, amongst other things, it can also affect their growth.
Using data deriving from a real-life investigation, Fortunato sets himself the aim of exploring the role of management in the South of Italy, as well as of better understanding how widespread managerial culture is, a factor able to affect the development of companies and, as a consequence, of the territories in which they operate. Fortunato then goes on to analyse which policies and interventions might succeed in removing existing obstacles and promoting the growth of a managerial culture in the South of Italy.
Vincenzo Fortunato’s research study is important, not only because of its original theme – which, by the by, particularly illustrates a specific production culture – but also because it clearly elucidates both the theory and practices related to it, as well as opening up possible development paths for an entire territory.
Classe dirigente, cultura manageriale e sviluppo nel Mezzogiorno (”Ruling class, management culture and development in Southern Italy”)
Vincenzo Fortunato , Sociologia del lavoro, volume 162, 2022, pp. 184-207