The Need for a New Management Approach
In the absence of a clear strategy and thoughtful leadership, today's company management, prisoner of its old reflexes and outdated methods, risks causing a real downward leveling within the organization. It's time for companies to break away from Taylorism.
Understanding the Current Challenges of Management
To comprehend the current challenges of management in Tunisian companies, which operate in a changing and unstable context requiring strong adaptability, and are marked by the arrival of a new generation of employees with a very different approach to work, it is essential to revisit the primary mission of a manager. Their main role is to define the organization and means that enable the company to achieve its objectives with available resources, in other words, to make it collectively effective.
However, many companies still operate according to a management model inspired by Taylorism. Frederick Taylor, the founder of the theory of scientific work organization (OST), believed that management should aim to improve productivity through increased control over workers' activities. The goal was to combat their "idleness" and determine the most efficient production method. This thinking led to a horizontal and vertical division of labor.
The Limitations of Taylorism
After years of practice (Taylorism was born in 1911), these organizational methods have imposed rules often inspired by the behavior of a minority, favoring compartmentalization and control. Bureaucracy, inefficiency, and demotivation of employees have appeared as symptoms demonstrating the limitations of this model, especially in the current context.
The Need for Change
At the dawn of the 21st century, major upheavals have transformed the organization of companies, challenging this inherited management style. While maximizing productivity remains a central objective, other values and skills have become essential to reconcile the company with its employees.
New Paths Ahead
Taking into account the social and human dimension of employees, the mechanization of work, and today the advent of artificial intelligence, which is reshaping the professional world, has led researchers and specialists to rethink organizational models. In short, the modern company must promote autonomy and encourage creativity.
The Importance of Creativity and Autonomy
Although often trivialized, employee creativity is a key factor in the success of an agile company seeking to maintain its market position. In 2017, the CEO of Netflix, concerned about the impeccable success of his streaming service, urged his teams to "take more risks, try bolder things, and have a higher cancellation rate."
This anecdote reveals the rupture between management models based on creativity, adopted by innovative companies, and those that are rigid and hinder change. As for employee autonomy, it has been shown to liberate energies within the company. Today, a good manager encourages their collaborators to trust themselves. Such behaviors reinforce staff involvement and nourish the sense of belonging to the company.
Conclusion
In conclusion, companies must break away from outdated management models and adopt a more modern and agile approach that prioritizes creativity, autonomy, and employee well-being. By doing so, they can unlock the full potential of their employees and stay competitive in a rapidly changing business landscape.
