Many
employers are failing to develop under-represented groups such as women and
ethnic minorities as senior managers, according to the Industrial Society.
The
Managing Best Practice report reveals that 55 per cent of companies do not know
what steps to take to ensure that these groups receive senior management
development. This is despite 74 per cent of employers working on a senior
management development strategy.
"There
is a mismatch here. One of the most challenging changes facing organisations 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 talent elsewhere," said Andrew Forrest, director of
learning and development for the Industrial Society.
Other
findings show that the senior management quality most valued by UK companies is
effective change management (78 per cent), followed by effective communication
(75 per cent) and the ability to execute a job within budget (74 per cent).
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The
Industrial Society surveyed 295 personnel and HR specialists in the public,
manufacturing and services sectors.
