A Report on the Seminar for Advancing Managers

This article appeared in the GAO Review, Vol. 15, Issue 1, Winter 1980. The Office of Personnel Management conducted a seminar designed for managers who wished to sharpen existing management skills, learn new ones, and attain knowledge to help them carry out their responsibilities more effectively. The seminar was a combination of lectures, general class discussions, small group discussions, and workshops. One of the topics considered was the various management styles reflected in the methods managers institute change. Managers should strive for a participative management style while recognizing that other styles might be useful for particular situations. Various problem solving approaches were discussed. Attributes of the change at GAO from hierarchical technical management to teams was considered in terms of problem solving and staff development.