Hybrid managers — what do we know about them?

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Abstract
There is increasing interest in ‘hybrid managers’, a breed of managers who blend information management skills with general management skills. Such people are perceived as important in enabling organizations to exploit information systems effectively in today's competitive business environment.Based on a literature survey this paper summarizes what we know about hybrid managers, as expressed by both ‘expert opinion’ and formal research studies. We conclude that little substantive research has been conducted into hybrid managers. Much has still to be learnt about their possible role, characteristics and competences; and how organizations should recruit and develop them. Because of the paucity of published material about ‘hybrids’ in the information systems context, we have drawn inferences from appropriate analogues in other functions — namely personnel, finance and R&D. Relevant studies in related areas of information systems, general management, careers and management development are also put into the ‘hybrid’ context.