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New research highlights management challenges for the 21st Century

Business school Ashridge has today released details of new research that it says sheds new light on the variety of challenges and issues faced by today's managers.

'Ashridge says the research, the 'Ashridge Management Index 2004 - Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century', examines the key organisational, personal and development issues for organisations and managers.

The research, based on the responses of over 500 managers, reveals a great deal of confidence in personal and organisational leadership, with 71% of respondents expressing confidence in people at the top of their organisation. However, just over half the respondents felt that top leaders did not spend enough time communicating with staff. Other areas requiring improvement were better support for virtual teams and career planning.

The 21st century provides a new set of learning challenges for managers, with 54% being interested in e-learning, but with only 3 out of 10 managers believing that the medium is used effectively in their organisation. In addition, the majority of managers (66%) foresee a growth in the establishment and use of corporate universities.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become very important to both organisations and employees, with 93% of managers saying it is important for them that their employer behaves in a socially and environmentally responsible way. 88% believe that organisations seen as leaders in responsible business practice will enjoy a commercial advantage.

The information explosion of the Internet and mobile phone is having a largely detrimental affect on managers' work, with nearly seven out of ten managers saying they are often snowed under, receiving far too many emails and voicemails. This is having an impact on the supposed work/life balance, with 55% of managers taking work home and more than half frequently working more than 60 hours per week. Despite this, managers feeling that work is a source of stress has decreased from 77% to 63% since a similar Ashridge survey in 1994.

"It is clear that since the last Ashridge Management Index ten years ago there has been no decline in the pressures of running an organisation that is profitable, growing and competitive. At Ashridge we shall be closely watching how emerging issues such as the growth of technology, virtual working and the importance of responsible business practice will affect the management agenda going forward," said Andrew Wilson, co-author of the research report.

The research is being launched at the CIPD Annual Conference & Exhibition in Harrogate on Wednesday 27 October.

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