The Middle Manager as Innovator (HBR OnPoint Enhanced Edition)

This is an enhanced edition of HBR article 82407, originally published in July 1982. HBR OnPoint articles include the full-text HBR article plus a summary of key ideas and company examples to help you quickly absorb and apply the concepts. A study of 165 effective middle managers in five leading corporations explores creative managerial contributions and the conditions that stimulate innovation. Enterprising, entrepreneurial middle managers share a number of characteristics: comfort with change, clarity of direction, thoroughness, a participative management style, and persuasiveness, persistence, and discretion.