Management Development in a Shrinking/Contracting Organisation

Management development in a contracting environment demands a difference in emphasis from that of a growing environment. The most fundamental aspect, which indeed characterises much of management development, is in terms of changing attitudes. A research study of 102 middle and junior managers in five large manufacturing companies reveals that there may be a need for some management development advisers to take a second look at how they advocate and perceive management development within a contracting environment. All organisations have political attributes, and the problem, for both the organisation and the individual, is when political activity becomes an end in itself. There may be a strong case for making managers more aware of political behaviour and how to counteract it. Opportunities to discuss and explore problems in a non‐threatening environment may not be a novel or complete solution, but may provide an effective starting point to develop managers in a contracting organisation.