Automotive businesses could be failing to harness the technology that their future leaders would expect.

In an industry that only recently got to grips with lead management systems, workshop loading solutions and electronic reporting, failure to embrace widespread use of technology could hinder recruitment and staff development in the long run.

Figures from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) showed that organisations are more concerned with internet policing and stopping social use of the internet at work.
Nearly two-thirds of employers monitor their managers’ access and block inappropriate websites.

Around 18% impose curfews on internet usage.

In contrast, 72% of employees said they used the web for professional development, more than half claimed freedom to use the internet is useful for research and 43% argued it helped for doing work.

Younger management are more regularly reading forums and watching videos online. The research also showed respondents want to use business networking sites such as Linkedin, suggesting that business owners need to change their attitude towards technology or risk alienating future managers.

Half said employers only take up technology once it has been tried and tested and almost a fifth described owners as “dinosaurs”.

A CMI spokesman said organisations need to harness the comfort levels that younger managers have with internet-based resources.

“Failure to do so will lead to frustration and the loss of top talent at best, or worse, an open door for competitors to build advantage through a better equipped and enabled workforce.”