14. Following Instructions or Taking Initiative: Reflections on Inferior Managers’ Values and Attitudes in the Garment Business

The study tries to highlight some aspects of the manager’s work as an executor of decisions made by the superior. The purpose of this paper is to study the values and attitudes of inferior managers and in particular their predisposition to follow instructions or take initiative. 125 inferior managers from 14 Bulgarian garment companies were surveyed. Depending on their individual attitudes and preferences, two types of managers have been identified: Strict Followers and Creative Initiators. Their main traits are described. The advantages and disadvantages of each of the two types are analyzed and discussed separately. It is concluded that the orientation of the Strict Followers makes them more suitable for activities and areas requiring higher technical knowledge and skills, such as manufacturing, finance, and accounting. Accordingly, the Creative Initiators are more common in organizations operating in a highly dynamic environment and are usually responsible for human resources, marketing, or sales. In the garment business, Creative Initiators occur significantly less frequently than Strict Followers.