Managerial Traits and Skills Available to Purchase

Some of the work on managerial skills and traits is reviewed. This covers the problem of establishing the traits and skills involved in effective management and the difficulties encountered when attempting to measure them. The work of Ghiselli is used as the main reference for managerial traits, and that of Mintzberg for managerial skills. Problems of assessing these qualities when selecting managers at entry and higher levels are discussed and some comments on cross‐cultural differences are also included. The work on traits and skills can help those involved in management development to design more effective training programmes to develop or enhance a particular management skill.