I hvilken grad vil rådgivers rang og mellomleders maktstabilitet påvirke graden mellomleder lytter til råd?: En randomisert eksperimentell studie om effektene rådgivers rang og mellomleders maktstabilitet har på grad av rådtakning.

Abstract

We explored the effects of advisor rank and middle manager power stability on advice-taking. Using an experimental vignette methodology, we recruited norwegian-speaking participants over the age of 18, using Qualtrics to conduct the study. The valid data from 124 participants was analyzed using SPSS v. 26, using mixed ANOVA with both between-subject and within- subject factors. Advice-taking was measured using Weight of Advice values. The extent to which the middle managers listened to the advice was influenced by both the rank of the advisor, and interaction between advisor rank and middle manager's power stability. More specifically, main effects showed that middle managers weighted the advice from advisors lower in rank compared to themselves, significantly more than advice from advisors higher in rank than themselves. A moderate interaction effect of advisor rank and middle manager power stability was found, where middle managers in unstable power positions listened significantly more to advisors lower than themselves in rank.

Key words: advice-taking, power stability, unstable power positions, middle managers, social rank theory, power-approach theory, weight of advice, superiors, subordinates