By Will Sturgeon, 17 March 2005 10:05
NEWS UK workers have hit out at their bosses, branding them as poor communicators and disorganised technophobes.
A quarter of employees believe their bosses need to improve communication skills while a fifth believe their bosses are disorganised.
A quarter also believe their bosses are technophobes suggesting many are resisting change and failing to move with the times as IT becomes an increasingly important part of everybody's jobs.
Ebi Zadeh, executive director at Parity Training, who commissioned the research, told silicon.com: "We have a situation now where there is a skills gap as far as people being able to do their jobs well is concerned."
"You'd be amazed how many people still rely on sending faxes. But people's jobs have changed nowadays and they need to seize the initiative as far as handling the data they need more effectively and more efficiently."
Zadeh said in part this situation is due to age. Many middle-managers who predated recent technology booms have allowed themselves to stagnate while younger, more tech-savvy staff are nipping at their heels.
Recent research from Websense also suggested line managers and bosses are required to play a part in ensuring IT policies are in place and observed by their staff. Therefore a failure or a resistance to understand the role of technology at the higher end of the enterprise hierarchy will only perpetuate problems such as security breaches and mismanagement of IT assets.
Similarly a failure by management to understand the benefits of new technologies, such as advancements in mobile and wireless working, means many staff will still be bound to less effective ways of working.
Delegation is one area where bosses have got it nailed though. Only nine per cent of respondents to the Parity survey said their bosses need to improve delegation skills which either suggests they are in control of workflow or not backwards about handing over their work to others.
While bosses may be in a 'comfort zone' in their current position, Zadeh urged them to remember that nobody is owed a living these days.
"We're in a climate of tough competition in the job market, so it's up to individuals and managers alike to keep themselves marketable and employable," he said.
Comments
There are 7 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
I am 55 and will challenge any "youngster" when keeping up to date with technology. I applaud technical innovation but we need to be realistic when applying it.
I feel that the comments here are too generalist. There are too many instances of technical solutions looking for problems that don't really exist. Technology is not always the answer, it is necessary to fully understand the business need before pushing a technical solution. If there is a busines need then you can make a strong case that any "technophobe" boss has to accept.
2. Bernardette
I used to work in a college and I know where people are coming from. The management was dis-organised and basically useless! All talk and no action. I think they were having meetings about meetings!?
3. Don Tregartha
What happens when the network goes down or there's a power cut? Some of us old guys remember how to use pencils and paper and how to work out the sales figures without excel. Walk into the office when some 'wizz kid' at the ISP has decided to update their software in the middle of the night without notice, gets himself in a fix when he can't finish and everyone is staring out of the window in the morning.
I fix myself a coffee and get the sharpener out.
Technophobe I'm not - I can teach most of my guys a thing or two - so stop being ageist and stop knocking experience.
4. anonymous
They don't understand technology because they're lazy not because they're old. This bloke does a terrible diservice to those of us of advancing years who do keep up. And BTW, why do you waste column inches on stupid little chancers who just want to sell over priced outlook training to middle manager who can't be bothered to read the book.
5. anonymous
To put another spin on it, there's no age limit on infatuation with technology - I can think of colleagues of all ages who'll roll over for a tummy tickle from vendors with anything "whizzy".
6. David Howe
I find that many employees also get caught in the "if XXX has it so must I" mind set. e.g Someone who's job requires basic word processing and PowerPoint doesn't need a WXGA 24" LCD but if the graphic artists have them why shouldn't I? This has come back to me as a misunderstanding of technology...I have always told anyone that if they can answer the question "Why?" then the request will be taken seriously.
7. Andrew
I think the issue is in bosses feeling that they are losing control when junior staff approach them with inovation that they need effort to understand, and through the insecurity this creates try to either take the inovation as their own or stifle it.
Why is this happening.
perhaps its the lack of security the feel about their position to their bosses.
The answer
be good at managing the team and try to get the best out of them. coach them and also get them to feel responsible for delivery and proud of the accomplishment but debate issues raised so that you are convinced that they can go forward.
Temper ruthless enthusiasum to go live with project milestones and briefings by the developer to the rest of the team.
As a manager provide support and an environment to grow.