Line managers in human resource management: Theory, analysis and new developments

Line managers have played a role in organisations for as long as organisations have existed. It is commonly accepted that 'management' has been around for centuries prior to the 'industrialised era'. While many ancient and medieval civilisations applied management functions in constructions such as the building of pyramids, the largely slave-style labour used in the making of the pyramids holds limited transferability to the modern HRM driven organisations of the twenty-first century. This introductory chapter argues that the post-1980s era of HRM heralded a new age for all working people and society and that within this HRM era is an increasing level of importance for line managers, with a growing body of academic research focusing on the significant role they play as implementers of HR policy and practice.