Young media managers and the effect of age to the challenges in work. Case: Yleisradio and 360-degree evaluation
UIMONEN, MIKKO (2013)
2013
Tiedotusoppi - Journalism and Mass Communication
Viestinnän, median ja teatterin yksikkö - School of Communication, Media and Theatre
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Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2013-06-04
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-23766
https://urn.fi/urn:nbn:fi:uta-1-23766
Tiivistelmä
This study investigates the effect of age on characteristic challenges experienced in managerial work in comparative terms between young managers and aging managers. The challenges are studied through evaluations given by subordinates and self-evaluations of the managers. The data was collected from media managers working at Yleisradio, the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation (Yle) in middle-management positions. The main data consists of 360-degree evaluation managerial assessment reports, where subordinates evaluate the performance of their immediate superiors. The opinions of managers' own performance in the fulfillment of their duties was collected through a web-based questionnaire.
The managers participating in the research are divided between a target group (39 years and younger) and a control group (44 years and older). Comparisons are made according to the challenges they experience in basic work tasks and the development of subordinate and team performance, as well the working atmosphere. A comparative statistical analysis was conducted using both the self-evaluation and subordinate evaluation data in search of correlation between age and experience in challenges. In addition, the data formulated by open-ended comments given by the subordinates in the 360-degree evaluation reports is categorized in different managerial areas of expertise for further comparison of the challenges between the target and the control groups. The results are examined through Karl Weick's organizational sensemaking process, with particular emphasis on the action-driven manipulative trigger factor. The results are also examined through Michael McCaskey's characteristic obstacles that hinder managers' work in problem-solving in ambiguous situations.
Results reveal that the target group performs slightly better in action-driven, manipulative sensemaking situations compared to the control group, although the results are not statistically significant. The effect of age was found to be statistically significant for two aspects; significant correlation was found to support belief that young managers have difficulties in implementing best ideas in their work communities compared with aging managers. Further, according to the self-evaluation of the managers, the ability to use information technology in work was considered less challenging by the young managers than the aging managers.
Considering the whole sample in the light of 360 data, the main challenges in managerial work are related to the development of subordinates performance and team performance as both age groups got weaker values in these sections compared the maintaining of working climate and equal work community.
Keywords: management, age, challenges, 360-degree feedback, multi-rater feedback
The managers participating in the research are divided between a target group (39 years and younger) and a control group (44 years and older). Comparisons are made according to the challenges they experience in basic work tasks and the development of subordinate and team performance, as well the working atmosphere. A comparative statistical analysis was conducted using both the self-evaluation and subordinate evaluation data in search of correlation between age and experience in challenges. In addition, the data formulated by open-ended comments given by the subordinates in the 360-degree evaluation reports is categorized in different managerial areas of expertise for further comparison of the challenges between the target and the control groups. The results are examined through Karl Weick's organizational sensemaking process, with particular emphasis on the action-driven manipulative trigger factor. The results are also examined through Michael McCaskey's characteristic obstacles that hinder managers' work in problem-solving in ambiguous situations.
Results reveal that the target group performs slightly better in action-driven, manipulative sensemaking situations compared to the control group, although the results are not statistically significant. The effect of age was found to be statistically significant for two aspects; significant correlation was found to support belief that young managers have difficulties in implementing best ideas in their work communities compared with aging managers. Further, according to the self-evaluation of the managers, the ability to use information technology in work was considered less challenging by the young managers than the aging managers.
Considering the whole sample in the light of 360 data, the main challenges in managerial work are related to the development of subordinates performance and team performance as both age groups got weaker values in these sections compared the maintaining of working climate and equal work community.
Keywords: management, age, challenges, 360-degree feedback, multi-rater feedback