Inheriting the Future

Observations on the evolving role of middle management within the Australian gaming industry; a paper co-authored by Michael Ferris and Andrew MacDonald.
By Andrew MacDonald, Senior Executive Casino Operations
and Michael Ferris
Adelaide Casino, 1995

Introduction and Terminology | Pit Boss – Caretaker or Policeman | Mental Models | “If It Isn’t Broken – Don’t Fix It” | Pioneers Versus Settlers | The Challenge of Change | Bridging the Gulf between the Theoretical and the Practical | From Personal Realm to Professional Sphere | Means of Selection for Promotion | The Formation of Particular Management Structures | The Impact of Promotion upon Candidates Themselves | The Criteria for Selection | Unified Professional Ethic | Pit Boss Job Description | Code Of Ethics (Noblesse Oblige) | The Company Mission Statement | Empowerment of Staff | Implementing Change | The Human Consequences of Change | Walking Backwards into the Future | Bibliography |

It should be emphasised that it would be a truly remarkable feat if the Casino, as an organisation, had stumbled upon best practice at its first attempt. There will always remain room for improvement. Additionally, changes which may suit our particular operation may not be applicable to every operators’ specific case, and vice versa. The aim of this paper is to simply showcase what may be successfully accomplished if the determination and will is present on the part of all.

Three possible innovations in three key areas are:
– the selection process for promotion;
– the desirability of a collective set of ethics; and
– the empowerment of staff.