Identification of the First Level Managers’ Relevance in the Management Chain: Case Study of West Lithuania Companies

Abstract

Assessment of the first level managers only in respect of their compliance with the requirements set for a particular job position is not sufficient. A tool facilitating identification of the relevance of the first level managers in certain management chain is required as it would ensure effectiveness of their performance and harmony in the management chain. The present article aims at emphasising the feasibility of identification of the relevance of the first level managers in the management chain (MLM-FLM-SUB) through personality traits. The research analysed the following members (links) of the management chain: first level managers (FLM), their direct supervisors -mid-level managers (MLM) and subordinates (SUB) -working in five furniture manufacturing companies of the West Lithuania Region. "The Big Five" method was applied as research instrument to assess personality traits of the first level managers. Quantitative analysis enabled modelling of a graph, which represents a derived mean value of the assessment of the first level managers' personality traits, designated to identify disharmonious chains in companies. When identifying the first level managers' relevance in the management chain, only individual evaluations performed by the members /links of the chains were referred to and used as a basis for evaluation of personal traits of particular first level manager only. The obtained data supplements direct indicators of FLM performance assessment.