IADS White Paper: Middle Managers, remnants of the past or unicorns?
In the era of AI and all things digital, middle managers will remain pivotal to department store performance and innovation.
Often seen as mere cogs in the machine, middle managers have historically been central to fostering operational efficiency and maintaining organisational cohesion in department stores, notorious for their long-standing complexity and sophistication. Now that department stores are evolving, are middle managers destined to become remnants of the past? The annual IADS White Paper explores the complex relationship between middle managers and retail companies and highlights their pivotal role in maintaining operational efficiency, driving innovation and spearheading organisational transformation in a challenged retail landscape. It offers actionable insights on how department stores can empower these leaders for the future. It provides recommendations on attracting, retaining, and developing middle managers who can navigate the challenges of a modern retail environment. The IADS white paper, “Middle managers: remnants of the past or tomorrow’s unicorns?” serves as a call to action for retail executives to invest in and empower their middle management teams by creating a supportive environment where they are trusted to take on greater strategic responsibilities and lead transformative initiatives.
The report includes or quotes the following businesses and retail companies:
Amgen, Apple, Breuninger, Carrefour, Central Group, Chalhoub Group, Dillard’s, El Corte Inglés, El Palacio de Hierro, Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, Galeries Lafayette, Habitat, Harrods, Hewlett-Packard, JC Penney, John Lewis Partnership, KaDeWe, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Magasin du Nord, Manor, Marks & Spencer, Minelli, Pixar, Randstad, Ross, Samaritaine, Selfridges, Shoprite, Starbucks, Telstra, TJX and Wegmans.
