What will management look 10 years from now? Are we beginning to see a dramatic shift in the way middle and upper managers spend their work time? Major changes-both the major threats and the major opportunities "will dominate the manager's task in the next 10 to 15 years. Most managers spend most of their time talking with people-- in meetings, training, or on the phone. I think we will eventually begin to expect higher levels of productivity from these interactions. A leader's job is to set a clear direction of what their organizations mean by "results-. The manager needs to provide a clear understanding of when it is time to push here and pull there. Managers of tomorrow will not be able to lead through charisma. They will need to think through the fundamentals so that other people can work productively. In business, you have to make sure all the various groups converge to produce the desired result. This is the key to understanding what's ahead. It's not about refraining from giving orders--but knowing when to give an order and when to treat someone like a partner. (Drucker, 2003).
As a corporation moves toward a federation, it will need a top management that is separate, powerful, and accountable. Top management's responsibilities will cover the organization's direction, planning, strategy, values, and principles. Other responsibilities include its structure and its relationship between its various members, its alliances, partnerships, and joint ventures, and its research, design, and innovation: key people and money. Management will represent the corporation to the outside world and maintain relationships with governments, the public, the media, and organized labor. (Drucker, 2003).
Technology has been a key driver in making this change probable. As information for decision making becomes more available, management will not be relied on as much for this purpose.