Assessing the desktop manager

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present the results of an empirical study identifying desktop managers who spend all of their time engaged with the computer and the effects this has on organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was administered to 30 organizations in a southwestern US state to determine the presence of desktop managers.

Findings

The paper finds that desktop managers in an organization negatively impacted job satisfaction, organizational commitment, organizational citizenship, and the zest and vitality of subordinates.

Research limitations/implications

Only employees from 30 organizations were surveyed, and all were located in a specific geographic area of the USA.

Practical implications

The negative impact of desktop managers on organizational members points to a disturbing trend, that knowledge workers are not having their interactive communication needs with managers met.

Originality/value

The original scale developed for the study shows promise in identifying the presence of desktop managers in organizations.

Citation

Lester, D.L., Parnell, J.A. and Carraher, S. (2010), "Assessing the desktop manager", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 246-264. https://doi.org/10.1108/02621711011025777