Det splittrade chefsuppdraget : En litteraturstudie om mellanchefens förutsättningar att hantera ledarskapets komplexitet

Sammanfattning: The purpose of this essay is to investigate the factors that influence the middle-managers' way of handling challenging situations at work. The questions include in which way managers handle the demands and expectations of the professional role, but also what factors they consider as important to be able to cope with these challenges. The material that forms the basis for this study is four dissertations which all deal with issues concerning the leadership that is conducted at the operational level. The theoretical basis of the study includes various theoretical concepts such as social action, coping strategies and social support. Also, parts from the dramatic perspective have been retrieved where Erving Goffman's theory about “the mediator” is relevant to current essay. Previous research explains how middle managers get in a difficult position between the different actors' interests within the organization. The research also describes the complexity of middle-level leadership. The results of the present study shows that managers handle difficult situations at work by balancing loyalties, seeking support at work, and relate to the leadership role in a certain way. The factors that affect whether managers can handle challenges are due to personal or organizational factors, such as the orientation of the organization, the amount of social support or the influence of the personal life.