PROFESSIONALIZATION AND BRITISH MANAGEMENT PRACTICE - CASE EVIDENCE FROM MEDIUM-SIZED FIRMS IN 2 INDUSTRIAL SECTORS

High levels of occupational specialization, problems of cross-function al integration and distinct bureaucratic tendencies have traditionally been seen as problems endemic to British management practice. Over th e last decade, these problems are expected to have disappeared - or at least diminished - as major developments in management and organizati onal theory, as well as changing economic circumstances, have redirect ed management thinking towards 'new' ideas of flatter, simpler organiz ational structures, increased flexibility and decentralization, improv ements in the quality of inter-functional relations and the like. Yet, despite these developments, there is comparatively little research th at has investigated actual patterns of change within management and, i n particular, what is happening in what could be regarded as the mains tream of British industry - namely, 'ordinary', medium-sized firms ope rating in 'traditional' industrial sectors. Moreover, rarely does such research focus upon the implications of management change for the str ategies of professionalization adopted by competing specialist occupat ional groups within management. This paper sets out to help fill these gaps, by reporting the findings from case studies of four such firms, taking into account the particular contexts and historical circumstan ces that have helped shape any such change and drawing out the key inf luences on changed management practice.