Abstract
Objective: The objective of this paper is to investigate the formal and informal power relationships between first lieutenants in an observation platoon at the Danish Artillery Regiment. The reason for this investigation is because the education in leadership at the Royal Danish Military Academy mainly focuses on leadership management of lower rank subordinates as in a mechanized infantry platoon, due to the fact that most first lieutenants, upon graduating from the academy, will be platoon leaders for personnel with lower ranks than themselves.
Population: Former and current first lieutenants in observation troops, observation platoons or Tactical Air Control Parties.
Methods of data collection: The paper uses a qualitative method for data collection, consisting of interviews in order to get the various shades of power relationships in the units, with a focus on anonymity in order to encourage openness.
Data analysis: The interviews was analysed individually using Schilling Andersen’s theory on power and authority, including shadow hierarchies and relationships, as well as Haslebo and Haslebo’s definition of the positioning theory. The analysis consists of citations from the interviews supported by elements of the theories.
Conclusion: The conclusion is that the formal and informal power relationships between the first lieutenants in an observation platoon are not very different form each other. The relationships should be viewed as sparring partners more than that of a leader-subordinate relationship. However, it is unsure if this conclusion is transferable to other units with a first lieutenant-to-first lieutenant management relationship.