Managerial work and coordination: A practice-based approach onboard a racing sailboat

Abstract

This article investigates managerial work in relation to the managerial function ‘coordination’. The work and efforts of managers have been assumed to be central to preparing coordination by both the managerial work and coordination literature; however, none of these have thus far clarified exactly what managers do in coordination as it unfolds. This article adds to the literature by accounting for a study investigating of what the managerial practice of coordination consists. For this purpose, we adopt a practice theory-based approach to managerial work and relate the managerial function ‘coordination’ to the daily doings and sayings of a manager, to the overall activity and context of the organization. We empirically study the instrumental case of the skipper and crew of a racing sailboat. We show that, and how, managerial work is pivotal in situ to coordination as it occurs through sustaining circulation among coordination mechanisms and combinations of these mechanisms. We also contribute to the managerial work literature by putting forward rhythmicity and the temporal engagement of the skipper within the ongoing flow of activity.

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