How Organizational Downsizing Affects Management

Management is often one of the hardest-hit areas when organizational downsizing occurs. They are often considered expendable by companies, thus those in this field with less of a practical function may experience the loss of their jobs, especially in a slower economy.
Middle managers are often the first ones to go. The remaining managers may then find themselves with double the workload. This may be stressful for them, as they may be handling more work with no more time and often fewer employees. Some workers may find themselves with less people to report to. Certain management functions may be slower or less efficient. You may also see less oversight in some companies.
Organizational downsizing can also create managers with more than just management functions. The companies may be looking to get as much as they can from each individual employee. They may expect that a manager provide not only a management role but a physically productive one as well. For instance, in a car dealership, there may be a manager who did not sell cars but only oversaw others who did. Because of organizational downsizing, the manager might go back to selling cars himself or herself. This would take him or her away from the managerial duties for at least some of the time.
Organizational downsizing can affect the entire structure of management within a company. Instead of a person reporting to a lower manager who then reports to a middle manager who then reports to a higher manager and so on, there may be much fewer links in the chain. Lower employees may be able to talk to higher management and thus affect more. The higher managers making the decisions may end up having more to do with the daily running of the company.
Organizational downsizing can also affect the culture and atmosphere within the management of an office. People may be worried that they will be next to be downsized. The atmosphere may be more stressful. They may be harder on their workers or push them more because they want to look good for their own bosses. They may also be charged with laying off people in the organizational downsizing, which may be difficult and uncomfortable for them. There may be less of an amicable relationship between the managers and the workers.
Management can be very much affected by organizational downsizing, but it will of course depend on the particular company and the situation. The above points showcase just a few of the effects that you may see.