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Secretary of Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt has announced a major study into the effect poor management performance has on the UK's productivity and competitiveness.
Leading US management expert Michael Porter has been invited to lead the study.
Recent reports, including the DTI UK Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators, suggest that weak management skills partly contribute to the UK's poor productivity performance.
The study will review and collate existing studies of UK management practices and analyse the effect management practices have on productivity.
Hewitt said: "UK managers are among the best in the world and can be found at the helm of first class companies in Britain and overseas.
"But leading UK managers would agree with the growing body of evidence that suggests we could benefit from sharpening up our management skills so that we can reach our full potential in terms of wealth creation and prosperity.
"Good managers want their companies to operate more successfully and this involves getting the most out of people, processes and equipment."
The Porter study project is due to finish at the end of January 2003. Professor Porter will present the results of the research in early 2003.
The latest set of DTI Productivity and Competitiveness Indicators are available at www.dti.gov.uk/competitveness/indicators2002
