The Mobile Managerial Family

The management development adviser has a crucial role in ensuring that geographical mobility retains status, and that the organisation recognises, and makes adequate provision for, its pitfalls. A survey of managers from more than 50 British organisations suggests that managers need to feel that such moves are contributing to positive career and personal development, rather than that they are being moved at the company's whim in order to fill empty places. It is apparent from case studies presented that, unless organisations wish to lose experienced managers, they should expect and accommodate a manager's desire to “put down roots”, when this becomes an important consideration to the individual concerned.