Review of self diagnostic tools for managers

The overall aim was to review the need for and outline a specification for one or more self-diagnostic tools for managers in Wales.

The project had 3 objectives:

to undertake research with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to gain an understanding of their awareness, use and requirements of a diagnostic tool
to research and review the current diagnostic tools against the requirements identified during the work programme, producing an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of existing tools
if supported by the research programme, to produce recommendations for the development of a self-diagnostic leadership and management tool.

The work programme for the project consisted of:

face-to-face interviews with 26 ‘key informants’ from ELWa, Welsh Assembly Government, WDA, Education/training sector and a number of other bodies (including representative bodies for businesses, private sector business advisers and consultants, SSDA)
desk research to review a wide range of reports and existing tools addressing management/leadership issues
an initial group of telephone interviews with 53 SME owner/ managers within Wales
developing a draft specification for a possible self-diagnostic tool
reviewing the draft specification with individual SME owner/ managers, and in 3 focus groups
finalising a specification for a management/leadership self-diagnostic tool, and making recommendations for how it might best be developed and used.

Initial conclusions concluded confirmation that – despite a very large number of tools which look at all-organisation and personality-specific issues – there are currently very few tools which genuinely address the needs of SME owner/ managers seeking to identify their management/ leadership strengths and weaknesses.

Reports