What: Technology and data dashboards reinforce sedentary management styles, despite evidence supporting the value of in-person leadership through workplace wandering.

Why it is important: This trend highlights how technological advancement, while essential for modern retail, must be balanced with traditional management practices that maintain human connection and operational insight.

The modern workplace increasingly tethers managers to their desks, with email demands and data dashboards creating a magnetic pull that keeps leaders sedentary. This trend has intensified with the normalization of video calls and real-time analytics, allowing managers to monitor operations without leaving their chairs. However, Management by Walking Around (MBWA), popularized by Tom Peters in the 1980s, remains valuable for identifying and solving problems at the source. Research shows that MBWA can boost sales productivity and morale, though benefits may be temporary without proper follow-through. The practice requires discipline and commitment, particularly in solving identified issues, but offers irreplaceable insights that screens cannot provide.

IADS Notes: The tension between technology and raditional management practices reflects significant workplace transformation trends. The IADS 2025 White Paper "Middle managers: remnants of the past or tomorrow's unicorns?" emphasizes that middle managers remain essential leaders, connecting top management's vision with frontline operations. While Gartner's predictions suggest AI will eliminate 50% of middle management positions, the CXG Report reveals workforce transformation challenges in the luxury retail sector, and Central Retail's experience shows how companies are addressing multigenerational workforce challenges. However, Raconteur's leadership trends emphasize the importance of balancing AI with human interaction, supporting the article's argument for maintaining direct workplace engagement despite technological advances.

The Economist on the virtues of Management by Walking Around