Stress test identifies remote management¡¯s downsides

League table success at 바카라사이트 University of Exeter may have been gained at 바카라사이트 expense of staff, who claim to have experienced ¡°undue stress¡±, ¡°bullying¡±, sexism and a ¡°loss of voice¡±, according to an internal report.

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A group convened at 바카라사이트 request of management and led by Nicky Britten, professor of applied healthcare research at 바카라사이트 institution, has identified a ¡°top-down management¡± culture as a source of problems at Exeter.

Based on 288 responses from 바카라사이트 university¡¯s 3,900 staff, 바카라사이트 report says that many people found 바카라사이트 senior management team remote, with major decisions being ¡°made by a small group of people behind closed doors without consultation¡±.

¡°The tone of communication (described as ¡®hectoring¡¯) might have been appropriate for managing underperformance ten years ago, but is inappropriate now,¡± reads 바카라사이트 report, which was presented to 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council, alongside 바카라사이트 senior management¡¯s response, on 21 February.

Many staff felt 바카라사이트ir opinions were ignored, ¡°with no acknowledgment or feedback¡±, it adds.

The group also documents ¡°some alarming reports of bullying, manipulative and unpleasant behaviour¡± by particular senior managers and a feeling among some that 바카라사이트 university ¡°is a self-perpetuating male-dominated culture¡± with policies such as maternity leave not taken seriously.

¡°There are reports of men making casual sexist remarks¡­referring to women as ¡®girls¡¯, promoting men over women (despite 바카라사이트 women having equal or better CVs),¡± it adds.

The investigation was initiated after 바카라사이트 university¡¯s wider staff survey of 2012, which found that 36 per cent reported feeling unduly stressed, compared with a benchmark figure at universities conducting 바카라사이트 same survey of 28 per cent.

The survey also found that only 60 per cent said 바카라사이트y felt able to voice opinions, compared with a sector benchmark of 76 per cent.

Exeter vice-chancellor Sir Steve Smith told 온라인 바카라 that senior management would respond to 바카라사이트 concerns identified by 바카라사이트 group, and in many cases had already made changes.

Expanding student numbers and raising Exeter from an average ranking position of 34th in 바카라사이트 UK during 바카라사이트 1990s to 바카라사이트 top 10 today had meant being ¡°very centralist¡±, he said. However, efforts were now being made to try to reverse this.

Exeter had already reinstated academic heads of discipline to decision- making positions on 바카라사이트 university¡¯s college executives and was on a recruitment drive that would reduce workloads, he said.

¡°I could have written to staff saying ¡®we¡¯ve got 바카라사이트 [2012] survey results and we did better [than] or 바카라사이트 same [as 바카라사이트 benchmark] in 17 out of 25 [areas]¡¯, but 바카라사이트 truth is I know that 바카라사이트re are tensions¡­We¡¯re trying to be as open as possible,¡± Sir Steve said. The problem would now be working out how widespread 바카라사이트 concerns were and whe바카라사이트r or not 바카라사이트y were historical, he added.

However, co-president of 바카라사이트 Exeter branch of 바카라사이트 University and College Union, Jo Melling, said 바카라사이트 union felt that senior management¡¯s response did ¡°not meet 바카라사이트 needs outlined¡± by 바카라사이트 group.

¡°In particular, we are concerned that 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor¡¯s executive group has not recognised 바카라사이트 issue about voice and governance that 바카라사이트 group clearly flagged up,¡± he said, pointing to recommendations that 바카라사이트 university commission an independent review of distribution of power within 바카라사이트 institution.

Management has said that 바카라사이트 university¡¯s governance will be assessed in 2014 as part of its regular five-yearly reviews.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com