NZIM - MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES : The Management Imperative: Time to Step Up; New Zealand Managers Are Not Up to Scratch, So Where Do We Go to from Here? This Is a Significant Economic Problem for New Zealand, One That Has Not, Historically, Been Seriously Addressed Either by Business or Political Policy Analysts, Writes Reg Birchfield

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Byline: Reg Birchfield

New Zealand must C[pounds sterling]transformC[yen] both its level of management competency and the Kiwi workplace. Whatever other spin is put on the findings of the recently released, government-sponsored research report entitled C[pounds sterling]Management Matters in New ZealandC[yen], that conclusion is at the heart of the matter.

It is an important and tricky issue to resolve. Resolution isnCOt made any easier by the fact that New ZealandCOs economy is in large measure dominated by small, family firms which are, when it comes to measuring management competency scores, C[pounds sterling]consistentC[yen] underperformers.

The survey, for instance, recommends that C[pounds sterling]family firms should make a long-term commitment to fostering management performance and capability and ensuring that key management positions are filled by merit and talentC[yen]. That, for a plethora of everyday reasons, may be too much to hope for.

Still, Economic Development Minister Gerry BrownleeCOs recent announcement on changes to government-subsidised training and development services, aimed particularly at small businesses, suggests an intention to act on …