Broken Ladders: Managerial Careers in the New Economy Book

Broken Ladders: Managerial Careers in the New Economy provides the first comprehensive view of how the role of managers in organizations is changing.

The business press is full of stories about managers as an endangered species. Though there is some truth to this, the actual state of affairs is more complex and important to understand. One myth--that the number of managers is declining--is clearly wrong. There continues to be a slow growth in the number of managers in the workplace. But the job tenure of middle managers is more precarious. They can no longer expect steady promotions up the ladder; nor can they expect life-time employment with the same firm.

Surprisingly, though managerial pay has declined in recent years, it has not declined at the same rate as other workers, including white collar and factory workers. The book illuminates the dilemma facing firms of how to gain the commitment of its managers at the same time that they are demonstrating a reduced commitment to them.