Middle managers score fewer goals and make more fouls: Finding from a computerized top management simulation

Abstract

Managerial effectiveness in dealing with ill-structured decision situations is compared across hierarchy level using a long-duration, multifaceted and complex computerized simulation. Forty five managers from a large Indian metal-processing unit employing more than 4000 managers in 11 levels and 50000 staff in 9 levels and offering lifelong employment participated in the study. Data of 20 managers were finally analyzed. Results revealed that middle-level managers faced several crises while dealing with a simulated task and ended up with with highly unfavourable outcomes and were significantly less effective as compared to frontline and senior managers. Frontline managers were as effective as the seniors and even better than them with respect to some of the measures employed. Examining the career profile of participant managers reasons for the observed performance pattern are explored.