Bite-Sized Breakthroughs: Philosophy & Micromanagement
Assistant Professor of Philosophy Emily Kelahan with students in her Prepared for a Life of Meaning class. Photo by Dan Loh.
Philosophy research looks at the moral harms of micromanagement
by Tony Moore
Curiosity drives everything at Dickinson. In labs, studios, archives and communities around the world, students and faculty are asking questions big and small—and often finding surprising answers. Here's a look at a recent query.
Department: Philosophy
Researcher: Assistant Professor of Philosophy Emily Kelahan
Project:
"What Micromanagement Reveals About Leadership": In a recently published article in Philosophy of Management, Kelahan explores two contested concepts: micromanagement and leadership. By examining micromanagement from the perspective of its victims, as opposed to the perspective of the micromanager or the bottom-line, Kelahan explores the moral dimensions of leadership.
Why it matters:
As Kelahan explains: "By focusing on moral harms experienced by victims of micromanagement, we have the opportunity to remedy a form of hermeneutical injustice in the workplace. Hermeneutical injustice might sound intimidating, but, sadly, it’s a familiar experience for many people. It happens when someone experiences abuse or moral harm that is difficult to express because we don’t yet have the concepts and words needed to articulate our experiences. I hope to persuade leaders that micromanagement isn’t just bad for business, which it is, but that it is also a morally objectionable way to treat employees.”
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Published March 27, 2026