The decline of authority and the rise of managerialism

Abstract

Managerialism, as an ideology and management practice, is grounded on a theory of authority. Such grounding has been neglected in the relevant literature since scholars have generally treated authority as a form of power and have ignored the view that authority is also a source of power. Following a review of the construct of authority as it appears in the works of noted social psychologists and critical management authors, this essay argues that Carl Friedrich’s theory of authority as reasoned elaboration reveals two manifestations: authoritativeness and authoritarianism. It is argued here that managerialism draws on authoritarian ideas and practices, whereas management, as traditionally conceived, draws on authoritativeness. To promote authoritative management, therefore, is to resist (authoritarian) managerialism since authority redirects power to technical experts and professional colleagues and thereby limits managerial power.

Justifying ethical values: A purposive ethics for managers

“…The approach to business ethics offered here is consistent with the view that managerial authority is, and should be, authoritative and thus based on rational argumentation (Spillane & Joullié, 2021). When managers move beyond first‐person singular statements of ethical value to second and third‐person statements, they have power and authority at their disposal.…”

“…The mutation of management based on rational argumentation into managerialism based on authoritarian practices (Clegg, 2014; Doran, 2016; Klikauer, 2013, 2019; Shepherd, 2018; Spillane & Joullié, 2021) has magnified the problem of how to justify ethical values in business. Indeed, in an authoritarian regime, managerial power is concentrated in the hands of “professional” managers—the managerialists (Abbott, 2015; Barberis, 2013; Clegg, 2014; Parker, 2002).…”