Middle managers, often referred to as "sandwich managers," play a pivotal role in organizational culture strengthening by bridging strategic leadership directives with operational team needs. This study explores the unique dynamics and challenges faced by middle managers, focusing on Echelon IV leaders in a government organization. The research aims to uncover their experiences, perspectives, and strategies in navigating dual expectations from senior leadership and their subordinates while fostering a cohesive organizational culture. The study adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing in-depth interviews with 14 Echelon IV leaders as the primary data collection method, complemented by secondary data from organizational documents and literature. Semi-structured interviews allowed for deep exploration of participants' insights, while data analysis employed thick & thematic analysis, regulatory analysis, and narrative analysis to identify emerging patterns and themes. Findings reveal eight key themes, including generational dynamics, flexible work policies, collaboration challenges, fostering organizational loyalty, reinforcing core values, and communication barriers in policy implementation. These themes highlight the complexity of the "sandwich manager" role in mediating competing demands and addressing generational differences in work expectations and cultural alignment. This study contributes to the literature by providing nuanced insights into the adaptive strategies employed by middle managers to sustain organizational culture in complex hierarchical environments. Practical implications include targeted leadership development programs and strategic policy recommendations to empower middle managers as effective culture stewards.

Authors:
Siti Vibriyani, MInistry of Finance, Indonesia
Ario Wicaksono, Universitas Gajah Mada, Indonesia
Mohammad Sidkon, Ministry of Finance, Indonesia
Diaz Haryokusumo, Universitas Gajah Mada, Indonesia
Rizki Ardinanta, Universitas Gajah Mada, Indonesia

About the Presenter(s)
With a master’s from Keio University, I serve as Head of Culture Development at the Ministry of Finance, Indonesia. I bring over 25 years of experience in taxation and HR, focusing on organizational culture and employee performance enhancement.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/siti-vibriyani-133948220/

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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