Press Release (15 August 2003)

IRIS Consulting To Carry Out Research into Management Styles

A team from IRIS Consulting has been selected by the Department for Work & Pensions to carry out research into the management styles of local authority housing benefit managers.

The research will be examining the links between good performance and good management.

The research is based on the approach that it is not practical to seek to attribute performance impacts as between the personal characteristics of "good managers" separately from the structures and support systems in which they operate. There is a symbiotic relationship between the two set of factors: typically good managers flourish and are able to put their ideas into practice in working environments which are open, encourage initiative and have policies and practices in place which actively encourage staff development, training and involvement.

The research will, therefore, look at management styles and characteristics in their management context – that is including the following inter-connected factors:

• the local departmental management structure (including grading and staffing of posts)
• prevailing HR and work environment policies and practice (eg the approach taken to recruitment, provision of training, family-friendly policies etc)
• the local performance management system (including staff appraisals, rewards, service level agreements etc)
• the supporting infrastructure (in terms of IT, DIP, and other relevant applications of technology).