Bossless Companies: "Some People Are Made to Lead"
25 January 2012
Read by 1870 persons
Should we fire all the bosses? No, answer most L'EXPRESS.fr users, not keen on the bossless company model.
Dream or nightmare? The model of the hierarchy-free company, recently defended by an American management professor, leaves the L'EXPRESS.fr users generally skeptical. For some, an organization cannot function without a leader. "It seems to me that in every community, there must be a leader. As in any society, there must be rules," proclaims Christine Payet.
Without a boss, how do you give orders or make decisions? Jean Jacques Ewe also wonders. "For the moment, the vision of tomorrow seems to be embodied by the top decision-maker. With several people, I wonder how a roadmap is validated. When I see decision-making, I automatically think of a plethora of analyses to be done and risks to be taken. And it's not easy to be both very operational, a good giver of orders, a good manager..."
Others are reassured by a boss who can handle difficulties in times of trouble. "There are bosses AND bosses," assures sodalefou, convinced that, without his, he would surely be unemployed. "There are people who are made to lead and others to be led," states M'sieur Souchi, with an example to support his point. "I saw a pizzeria across from my house progress and decline in 10 years, managed by 3 different bosses. The location and conditions were the same, and yet this business was doing well with the first boss, made strong progress with the second boss and ended up closing with the third. A person really influences the management of a team and a business. Disregard those who think bosses only serve to enrich themselves!" he says.
The only discordant note is Thierry Maurel's analysis, with quasi-Marxist arguments. "In theory, we can do without bosses, but not the means of production or those who make it work. Moreover, let's not forget that a company is modeled on an assumed dictatorial structure, and it is normally considered good to fight dictatorships elsewhere. No, the "boss", with all the authoritarian Napoleonic values they convey, is not desirable," he pleads.
Most agree that the model cannot be applied to all companies. "It depends on the employees' motivation" but also "on the salary," comment Bons plans pour gagner and Franck Fernandez.
Others consider the model applicable... elsewhere than in France. "I'd like to see what this concept would produce in our country, already with bosses people are slackers," ironically says danlib69, joined by gaston: "It's possible in the United States because there is a business mentality, but not in France where the mentality is rather (with few exceptions) a civil servant-permanent contract-unions mentality..."
Palic14, however, wants to believe: "A bossless company is indeed possible, but it requires a selection of collaborators because taking one's own responsibilities is not within everyone's reach." The user gives the example of SCOPs, a mode of organization that is close to the principle of the bossless company: "It works rather well."
Floriane Salgues.
L'express.fr
Published on January 13, 2012.
Posted online on January 25, 2012.
Dream or nightmare? The model of the hierarchy-free company, recently defended by an American management professor, leaves the L'EXPRESS.fr users generally skeptical. For some, an organization cannot function without a leader. "It seems to me that in every community, there must be a leader. As in any society, there must be rules," proclaims Christine Payet.
Without a boss, how do you give orders or make decisions? Jean Jacques Ewe also wonders. "For the moment, the vision of tomorrow seems to be embodied by the top decision-maker. With several people, I wonder how a roadmap is validated. When I see decision-making, I automatically think of a plethora of analyses to be done and risks to be taken. And it's not easy to be both very operational, a good giver of orders, a good manager..."
Others are reassured by a boss who can handle difficulties in times of trouble. "There are bosses AND bosses," assures sodalefou, convinced that, without his, he would surely be unemployed. "There are people who are made to lead and others to be led," states M'sieur Souchi, with an example to support his point. "I saw a pizzeria across from my house progress and decline in 10 years, managed by 3 different bosses. The location and conditions were the same, and yet this business was doing well with the first boss, made strong progress with the second boss and ended up closing with the third. A person really influences the management of a team and a business. Disregard those who think bosses only serve to enrich themselves!" he says.
The only discordant note is Thierry Maurel's analysis, with quasi-Marxist arguments. "In theory, we can do without bosses, but not the means of production or those who make it work. Moreover, let's not forget that a company is modeled on an assumed dictatorial structure, and it is normally considered good to fight dictatorships elsewhere. No, the "boss", with all the authoritarian Napoleonic values they convey, is not desirable," he pleads.
Most agree that the model cannot be applied to all companies. "It depends on the employees' motivation" but also "on the salary," comment Bons plans pour gagner and Franck Fernandez.
Others consider the model applicable... elsewhere than in France. "I'd like to see what this concept would produce in our country, already with bosses people are slackers," ironically says danlib69, joined by gaston: "It's possible in the United States because there is a business mentality, but not in France where the mentality is rather (with few exceptions) a civil servant-permanent contract-unions mentality..."
Palic14, however, wants to believe: "A bossless company is indeed possible, but it requires a selection of collaborators because taking one's own responsibilities is not within everyone's reach." The user gives the example of SCOPs, a mode of organization that is close to the principle of the bossless company: "It works rather well."
Floriane Salgues.
L'express.fr
Published on January 13, 2012.
Posted online on January 25, 2012.
