Orientation around the periphery of the hierarchy

Abstract

About 800 technical-economic advisers are working in the Hungarian state-owned industry. There are many misunderstandings concerning their placing on the pay-roll and the nature and possibility of their activity is also misinterpreted by the enterprises. The advisers are active at the “borderland” of the linear hierarchy and their possibilities for gathering information is influenced by this condition. up-to-date information is an essential prerequisite for this work, so that the relating worries and problems are of determinative character.
Experiences of a recent deep-interview based inquiry are summarized by the author who investigated the working conditions, information habits and opinions of technical-economic advisers in five big enterprises and research institutes. Although the investigation cannot be considered representative at all, a certain moderate generalization was made possible by the careful selection of persons.
According to the investigation the habit and efficiency of a technical-economic adviser’s information practice are determined chiefly by personal contacts, therefore the effectiveness of this work is closely connected with the relation between adviser and manager. Various form of oral information exchange – meetings, conferences, consultations, personal discussions – constitute a very important part of the adviser’s activity. Besides it is very essential to study the documentation services and this could be done only with the help of the management. It is evident that most of the task for getting information belongs to the advisers themselves but the manager’s concern is to ensure and organize the possibilities. Good results could be achieved only in this way, so the work of the advisers will be important within an up-to-date enterprise.