Poll uncovers academics' qualms about managers

A staff survey has revealed Manchester University academics' doubts about the management skills of their senior colleagues.

Staff at the university were asked for their thoughts on their management, the problems they face in managing their workload, the state of internal communications and the university's strategic plan for the next decade.

The results reveal that 74 per cent of staff are proud to work at the university, and 60 per cent are satisfied with their job.

But asked if they had confidence in the management, 40 per cent of staff gave no answer. Of those who did answer, less than half (49 per cent) said they had confidence in the management of their own school, while 58 per cent said they had confidence in the university's senior leaders.

But 59 per cent said they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the performance of their immediate line manager.

Staff also raised concerns about the "disparity in reward/recognition" of academics involved in teaching and those involved in research.

A ten-point action plan aimed at addressing staff concerns raised by the survey was published by management in the latest edition of the university's in-house magazine.

A spokesman stressed that the university was still a "young organisation" because it only last year merged with the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.

He said that a programme of management training was under way and a new system of reviewing staff performance and development was in place.

The spokesman added: "Because we are a new organisation, some of the plumbing of the internal communications was not working as well as it should and that was reflecting on management."

Further surveys will take place, the spokesman said.