Assessing competence: a year into the revised management standards

Abstract

This article plots the development of Management NVQs and the progress made by the Luton Business School at the University of Luton in assessing managerial competence, (particularly at Levels 4 and 5 within the NVQ framework) to the national standards laid down by the former Lead Body – the Management Charter Initiative. It highlights the difficulties encountered in providing equitable assessment of managers within a diverse range of organisations and describes the innovative process which has evolved in the development of middle managers – both in terms of skill enhancement and their consequent performance within sponsoring organisations. It reflects on the first year of operation using the new Management Standards.