Management development too undeveloped, finds The Industrial Society research

Citation

(2001), "Management development too undeveloped, finds The Industrial Society research", Journal of Management Development, Vol. 20 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/jmd.2001.02620eab.002

Management development too undeveloped, finds The Industrial Society research

Management development too undeveloped, finds The Industrial Society research

Developing senior managers is going to be a high priority for corporate Britain in the next few years, according to research from The Industrial Society. But despite the failure of under-represented groups – such as women and ethnic minorities – to enter senior management in large numbers, many organisations still don't monitor their involvement in management development programmes.

According to The Industrial Society report, over half (55 per cent) of responding companies do not know what steps, if any, their organisations take to ensure underrepresented groups receive senior management development, although 74 per cent of organisations either have or are working on a senior management development strategy.

Andrew Forrest, The Industrial Society's expert in the area says: "There is a mismatch here. Of all the 29 attributes which are valued in senior management, the ability to manage change is rated highest of all (78 per cent). One of the most challenging changes facing orgamsations is to take action on their policies about valuing diversity. Companies that fail to support diversity in their management development programmes may find that people take their talents elsewhere".

Of respondents, 50 per cent say their organisations have a senior management development strategy. Most companies see senior management development as increasingly important in the next two to three years – 44 per cent say it is a high priority and 31 per cent a very high priority. And they are making the necessary investment. The full cost of conferences/seminars and courses is met by 93 per cent and 92 per cent of organisations respectively. Of organisations 56 per cent pay university fees for their managers and 21 per cent share the cost with the managers.

Effective change management (78 per cent) is the senior management quality most valued by UK companies, followed by effective communication (75 per cent) and the ability to execute a job within budget (74 per cent). Trailing far behind are the ability to define future challenges (38 per cent), creation of a learning culture (35 per cent) and engendering trust in others (29 per cent). Other qualifies include ethical behaviour (54 per cent), leadership by example (49 per cent) and trusting others to achieve their tasks (45 per cent).

However most companies will be focusing on leadership in the future, with 77 per cent of respondents making it a priority over the next three years.