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Neurotic style and organizational pathology

Author

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  • Manfred F. R. Kets De Vries
  • Danny Miller

Abstract

Many parallels can be drawn between organizational and individual pathologies. We believe that the fantasies of top executives and the neurotic styles to which they give rise are important determinants of the nature of organizational dysfunctions. This is particularly true in centralized organizations where the top executives have a major impact upon organizational climate, structure, strategy and even the selection of the environment; and, where organizational recruitment and promotion processes ensure uniformity, or at least conformity, among the top ranks of executives. Using an empirically derived taxonomy, we have isolated five common pathological organizational types and related each of these to the fantasies and neurotic styles of their top executives. Each type is shown to reflect a large number of elements of structure and strategy that are consistent with and probably caused by the neurotic style of the cadre of top executives. The types are called paranoid, compulsive, histrionic, depressive and schizoid. Implications for management research and organizational change are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Manfred F. R. Kets De Vries & Danny Miller, 1984. "Neurotic style and organizational pathology," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 5(1), pages 35-55, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:stratm:v:5:y:1984:i:1:p:35-55
    DOI: 10.1002/smj.4250050104
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    Cited by:

    1. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton-Miller, 2021. "Family Firms: A Breed of Extremes?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 45(4), pages 663-681, July.
    2. Seçil TAŞTAN, 2019. "Liderlikte İşlev Dışı Davranış Örüntüleri ve Patolojik Narsisizm: Psikanalitik Kuram Temelli bir Değerlendirme," Istanbul Management Journal, Istanbul University Business School, vol. 0(87), pages 49-91, December.
    3. Sebastian Kruse & David Bendig & Malte Brettel, 2023. "How Does CEO Decision Style Influence Firm Performance? The Mediating Role of Speed and Innovativeness in New Product Development," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1205-1235, July.
    4. Danny Miller & Isabelle Le Breton–Miller, 2014. "Deconstructing Socioemotional Wealth," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(4), pages 713-720, July.
    5. Danny Miller, 2015. "A Downside to the Entrepreneurial Personality?," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 39(1), pages 1-8, January.
    6. David K. Ding & Hardjo Koerniadi & Chandrasekhar Krishnamurti, 2020. "What Drives the Declining Wealth Effect of Subsequent Share Repurchase Announcements?," JRFM, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-14, August.
    7. Antoinette Rijsenbilt & Harry Commandeur, 2013. "Narcissus Enters the Courtroom: CEO Narcissism and Fraud," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 117(2), pages 413-429, October.
    8. Saridakis, Charalampos & Angelidou, Sofia & Woodside, Arch G., 2020. "What type of CSR engagement suits my firm best? Evidence from an abductively-derived typology," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 174-187.
    9. Archana Yemeshvary Ashok Upadhyay & Ashok Kumar Upadhyay & Sasmita Palo, 2013. "Strategy Implementation Using Balanced Scorecard," Management and Labour Studies, XLRI Jamshedpur, School of Business Management & Human Resources, vol. 38(4), pages 447-469, November.
    10. Danny Miller & Jean-Marie Toulouse, 1985. "Strategy, Structure, CEO Personality and Performance in Small Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 10(3), pages 47-62, January.
    11. Andreea N. Kiss & Dirk Libaers & Pamela S. Barr & Tang Wang & Miles A. Zachary, 2020. "CEO cognitive flexibility, information search, and organizational ambidexterity," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(12), pages 2200-2233, December.

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