Autonomy And Self Management Are Not The Same Thing

Autonomy and Self-Management are two different concepts but they are starting to be used interchangeably. Morning Star Farms is a tomato processing company that utilizes self-management. At Morning Star Farms, there are no managers. Everything is self-directed and self-driven. Autonomy is different. Autonomy means that there is someone who sets strategic direction for the employee, but the employee can decide the direction they go in to get to the end result that is tasked by the manager. Managers can guide, and provide feedback, but they will not watch over the employees shoulder every step of the way. In the self-management example, the employee or independent worker controls everything. They have accountability to themselves. Self-management is exactly what it sounds like. An individual can choose everything in regards to their work, such as hours worked, projects and commitments. In autonomy, there is a set manager who provides strategic directions, feedback, and administrative tasks. Autonomy also allows freedom to work as one sees fit, but there is still accountabilities and structures that the employee has to work within.

Many organizations are now practicing autonomy, but not self-management. Employees at companies such as Whirlpool, Cisco, Facebook and Google, are given the freedom to work how they want to work, when, and where. But, they are not given the freedom to set the strategic direction. Organizations where employees have complete control are increasing. Companies such as Morning Star Farms, Sun Hydraulics, Valve Software, are all allowing self-management. At Valve, for example, employees are responsible for their projects from start to finish. Self-managed organizations have no managers or direct supervisors, individuals are able to operate freely on the same level as managers together. In autonomy, there is structure, but an individual can decide their course to reach their destination. Curious to hear what you think! Leave me a comment below.
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[dabeasmac]

Actually, this is perfect. I work in a job where it’s run completely like a flat playing field, self-management, but with positional power at the top. It is incredibly confusing because while we have self management we also have autonomy but only to a point. The issue I’ve been having is because there are elements of both we have no clear guidance/direction so we operate in both realms till something happens then becomes reactionary which is inconsistent with how we think it should be given our freedom to come and go and freedom to complete tasks.
I appreciate your distinction between the two because I see it similarly.

[HannesHorn-private]

Hi Jacob, I really enjoy following you! In this case, I would disagree with your argumentation. Yes, autonomy and self management are not the same. But it is like comparing apple with carrots. Autonomy is a basic human need. Self management is a method / practice to meet this need. And Google, Facebook, etc. are not at the highest peak to meet that need. Gore, Monring Star, etc. .... they are! So I would argue :).

[johnbracamontes]

Very interesting.
I would love to see examples of practice from the companies you mention that employ a self management concept.

In some of the more autonomously run organizations they do have "skunkworks" projects that are created by employees, they are responsible for building a team around the project and building it out. Would you consider those types of projects self managed?

I am thinking about this for my own agency.
Practicing autonomy is the norm.
But I am putting together the idea of enabling projects / campaigns for any or all clients concepted and built by the employees completely on their own.
For example:
A client X is delivered services A, B & C every month.
But the team decides they want to try a new campaign idea that they think will generate positive results, so they take it upon themselves to develop the idea, build out the infrastructure and then execute all on their own without any consent from me or the client. This would be in addition to the expected monthly deliverables.

They could choose to do it or not, but allow them to do it if they choose.

If you have time in January I would love to speak with you more about this.
Thanks!
john [at] acumenstudio.com