MICHAEL DEMPSEY - Cranfield University

Managing through people
that standards can rise and fall, like investments. It is, however,
evidence that at the time of the assessment, UNiFI performed the
relevant aspects of people management to the prescribed standard.
And it is possible to identify managers who are positive about the
process:-
I think if you came back this time next year, Mike, I would
probably say that this (PDPs) was the most important
management tool, that is what I'm thinking at the moment.
(Interviewee N)
We have got IIP and we take that very seriously. (Interviewee K)
I think that it is good that the organisation has it. …..Personally
(I) felt it was a very important thing, no matter how widely it was
initiated and whatever, that it would bring managerial stuff in and
it would allow good practice in and encourage it in other areas
(Interviewee J)
Another manager related the process very much to being able to get
better feedback from the staff:-
One of the reasons for banging on about IIP was to try to get
some sort of assessment about whether I was doing the job or
not. Do I inspire confidence? Am I trusted? Do people think that I
do not talk out of my arse? Do people think that when I am
approached I will sit down and evaluate what they are saying,
how they are saying it, what their problems are; whether they
are full time members of staff or members? Can I make that
assessment? Am I also prepared to say that we have got this
wrong? That we have to change. (Interviewee E)
Another used the system to structure his approach to meeting his staff:-
I think the IIP thing has been very useful as well because what
we do on that is that I tend to build in two formal interviews a
year and two informal. The two formal are down that the annual
period, looking forward which would also be looking back and
then the six-month review as to where we've got up to. In
between these I would have three monthly informal chats -- not
necessarily producing notes which would go in the individuals
personal files but just -- how things are going, what are the
issues, how are things resource wise (Interviewee O)
On the whole issue of people management, managers can be identified
who regard aspects of it as very important:-
It is a case of treating people like adults. If they have messed
up on something, they very rarely do, they will come and they
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