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Management literature is just beginning to explore in depth the uncertain and amorphous relationships that exist in organizations among people who are not in a direct chain of command. Increasing stress is being placed on the "horizontal" or "diagonal" relationships where no one is clearly "superior" and no one is clearly "subordinate." While the literature manifests increasing interest and attention on these relations, empirical evidence is scarce. The authors have embarked on a long range investigation of several executive positions whose relationships are essentially non-linear. The overall purpose is to get a more accurate picture of the authority-influence status of each of these functional specialists. This initial portion of the study deals with the corporate personnel director. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Managerial derailment can harm the manager, the morale of coworkers, and can be costly to the organization. Using the logic of social exchange theory and “trickle-down” studies, managers who work effectively with upper management may also work effectively with others. In a field study using a sample of 1,978 practicing managers, the effectiveness of a manager's relationships with upper management positively related to the manager's ability to put people at ease, relating to lessened boss, direct-report, and self-ratings of the extent to which the manager displays the behaviors and characteristics that may lead to potential derailment. Effectively working with upper management may thus have positive implications for the treatment of others, and the potential to derail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]