In Gary Hamel's book, The Future of Management, “Self Management” was described innovative efforts to enable employees to define their own jobs and shape their work at companies
Self Management is not a new concept in management, but not a widely used concept. It has been there since long. Many big companies like Taco Bell, Google, Whole Foods Market, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., etc have applied this concept and yielded great results like:
- Increase in productivity
- Motivation of employees
“Making Innovation Everyone’s Job” has been the motto of this concept. This concept has now again come into picture with Zappos, trying to apply it in its organization culture. Resistance is there, but will Zappos get the same results like Taco Bell did or will it not be able to sustain this concept in its organization for long- this only time will tell.
But, after being brought into spotlight again, this concept surely reminds managers a different way of managing things, that was thought to be lost in oblivion.
To know more about this concept and its benefits, please read the following article by Professor James Heskett at HBS Working Knowledge: