Second External Management Review of IITA, 1990

Report of an external management review of IITA, conducted in late 1989 and early 1990, concurrently with an external program review, by a panel chaired by Ralph Riley. The document contains a transmittal from the CGIAR Executive Secretary commenting on the review, the response of IITA, and a transmittal from the panel chair. The summary of discussion at the CGIAR meeting of May 1990 is found in the EPR. There is an executive summary at the end of the report, and the summary of the EPR is appended.While praising the accomplishments of IITA management, the panel made numerous and quite far reaching recommendations. Two of these were more personal interaction between board members and the scientific staff, and a more participatory approach to management. A major concern of the panel, shared with the EPR, was a set of problems in research management, including high turnover of scientific staff, lack of cohesion and poor communication. In a jointly prepared chapter the two panels recommended an extensive reorganization to improve communication and effectiveness.Under human resources, the panel suggested priority to systematic evaluation of senior scientific staff, management development of managers and scientists, and introduction of renewable fixed-term contracts. It also suggested simplification of the financial information system, and the establishment of decentralized and user friendly systems. Investment in direct satellite communications was proposed, along with priority attention to improvement of materials management. The panel also suggested review of publications arrangements, and establishment of a policy framework for the library.