Editor’s Introduction
Today’s post is entitled The Abrogation of Duty of Care.
Its subject is the managerial philosophy of David Munday, Managing Director.
Readers familiar with Charlotte Kok’s Wicked Winning Ways may already have formed their own views regarding Mr Munday’s leadership style. That, however, is not our purpose today.
Rather than inviting Mr Munday’s critics to speak for him, we have elected to ask him directly.
Specifically, we wish to explore a deceptively simple question:
What, if anything, does a senior executive owe to those who serve under his authority?
Not merely to those who report to him directly.
But also to those whose employment, reputation and livelihood may ultimately be affected by decisions made in his name.
To assist us in that enquiry, we invited 5-D Chess – Esoteric, Deep State and Highly Perplexing HR Strategies to conduct the interview.
Their questions were straightforward.
The answers, perhaps, rather less so.
The interview begins
5-D Journalist: Mr Munday, is there a difference, if any, between your management style and the approach taken by Bec Payne, People & Culture professional?
David Munday: Certainly.
I think of Bec as someone who delegates her judgement.
Whereas I delegate my responsibility.
5-D Journalist: Forgive me… but is that an improvement?
David Munday: Considerably.
Delegating judgement still requires one – namely some else – to reach a judgement in the first place.
Delegating responsibility is administratively far more efficient.
5-D Journalist: I see.
Would you mind explaining that distinction?
David Munday: Gladly.
Organisations establish reporting lines for a reason: Managers manage. HR advises. Executives lead.
If every executive felt obliged to revisit every recommendation made by competent managers, the entire organisational structure would become unnecessarily… repetitive.
5-D Journalist: Repetitive?
David Munday: Quite.
Imagine the inefficiency: Charlotte considers a matter. HR considers the same matter. Then I consider it yet again.
Three people examining precisely the same question.
One might reasonably ask why we employ managers at all.
5-D Journalist: Is that what you understand your role to be? To avoid duplication?
David Munday: Among other things. An executive should concern himself with the quality of his managers. Not with repeating their work.
5-D Journalist: May I test that proposition?
David Munday: Please do.
5-D Journalist: Let us suppose one of your subordinate managers recommends action affecting the employment of an individual who reports to her.
Do you believe you owe that employee an obligation of any kind…
…quite apart from the obligation you owe your manager?
David Munday: I owe an obligation to ensure competent people occupy positions of responsibility.
5-D Journalist: I understand.
That wasn’t quite my question.
Do you owe the employee himself any duty of care?
David pauses.
David Munday: Well…
…that would ordinarily be the responsibility of his immediate manager.
5-D Journalist: Even where the recommendation ultimately requires your approval?
David Munday: One must respect organisational boundaries.
5-D Journalist: I see.
So your responsibility is to the process…
…rather than to the person?
David considers the question for several moments.
David Munday: I wouldn’t put it quite like that.
Although…
…I suppose some might.
5-D Journalist: Mr Munday, Charlotte Kok managed the employee.
David Munday: Correct.
5-D Journalist: She supervised his work?
David Munday: Yes.
5-D Journalist: She made recommendations concerning his employment?
David Munday: Yes.
5-D Journalist: Those recommendations ultimately required your approval?
David Munday: Yes.
5-D Journalist: Then perhaps you could assist our readers.
At precisely what point did your own duty of care begin?
David Munday: My responsibility was to ensure that the proper process had been followed.
5-D Journalist: I understand.
My question, however, concerns the employee. Not the process. So forgive me for persisting, Mr Munday, but who, in your understanding, was responsible for making sure Charlotte herself was correct?
[Editor: Or making sure she wasn’t lying?]
David Munday: I think this interview is over.
Leave a comment