Management in Digital - The Candidate

www.thecandidate.co.uk



This report looks into the strengths and weaknesses of managers in the digital industry.• 1.46mpeoplearecurrentlyemployedindigitalcompanies–TechNationReport,2015.• Overall,ofallofthecompaniescreatedintheUKduring2013-14,15%weredigitalbusinesses–TechCity

UK,2015.

Through doing this research we have found:• Only53%ofmanagersinthedigitalsectorrankedtheirownabilitiesas‘good’,‘reallygood’,or‘excellent’,

withtherestrankingtheirabilitiesas‘average’or‘belowaverage’–suggestingalackofconfidenceintheirmanagerialskills.

• 1in10digitalmanagersrankedtheirmanagerialabilitiesas‘belowaverage’.• 51%ofemployeesinthedigitalsectorrankedtheirmanager’sabilitiesas‘good’,‘reallygood’,or‘excellent’,

withtherestrankingtheirabilitiesas‘average’or‘belowaverage’.• Only5%ofthosesurveyedsaidtheirmanager’sabilitieswouldn’thaveanimpactonhowwellateamworks.• Nearlyallrespondentsstatedtheyhave,orwould,leaveajobtheylikediftheyhadabadmanager.• Soft skills suchasgoodcommunicationandapproachabilityare ranked themost importantqualities in

adigitalmanageraccordingtobothmanagersandemployees.• 34%of employees and 25%ofmanagers in the digital industry stated that they believe the quality of

management inthesector issufferingbecausethemajorityoftrainingisbeingsavedfortechnicalrolesandnotnecessarilymanagementroles.

• Justoverhalfofrespondentssaidthedigitalindustryissufferingasaresultofthestateofmanagementinthesector.



Todevelopacomprehensiveaccountofmanagementinthedigitalsector,wesetouttoanswerthefollowingquestions:

1.Whatqualitiesandskillsdodigitalmanagersfeelaremostandleastimportantfortheirrole?

2.Whatqualitiesandskillsdodigitalemployeesfeelaremostandleastimportantintheirmanagers?

3. Howstrongdomanagersinthedigitalsectorfeeltheirskillsareoverall,andhowdoesthiscorrelatewithwhattheiremployeesthink?

4. Aremanagementskillsindigitallaggingbehind?Andifso,whateffectisthishavingontheindustryasawhole?

Our research produced some interesting findings – we hope you enjoy reading!



3%


Manager

Goodcommunication(65%)

Goodmotivator(31%)

Caresaboutpersonaldevelopment(30%)

Teamwork(30%)

Delegatingresponsibility(29%)

Passingonknowledge(25%)

Approachable(24%)

Beinghighlyskilled(23%)

Showingempathy(22%)

Patience(18%)

Employee

Goodcommunication(69%)

Approachable(46%)

Goodmotivator(38%)

Caresaboutpersonaldevelopment(28%)

Beinghighlyskilled(27%)

Passingonknowledge(22%)

Delegatingresponsibility(19%)

Showingempathy(18%)

Teamwork(16%)

Patience(15%)

46%

24






94%

51



50%

50%


• Themajorityoftrainingisbeingsavedfortechnicalrolesandnotnecessarilymanagementroles– Employees 34% Managers 25%

• Becauseofthefast-pacednatureofthedigitalindustrythereisn’ttimefortraining– Employees 27% Managers 19%

• Theshortageoftalentandhownewtheindustryismeanspeoplebecomemanagersbeforethey’reready– Employees 22% Managers 0%

• Duetothepaceoftheindustry,it’sdifficultformanagerstokeepupwithnecessaryskills,aswellasapplyingstandardmanagementpractices– Employees 8% Managers 19%

• Managementjustisn’tprioritisedasmuchasinotherindustries– Employees 8% Managers 3%

34 25

27 19%

19%

22 0

8

8 3%




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Management in Digital - The Candidate