SMPW is a project funded by the ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) developed by the Universities of Westminster and Sheffield, in conjunction with Acas (The Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service).

This project investigates whether developing line managers conflict management and communication skills, had a direct impact on engagement and workplace productivity within their teams. Using a randomised control trial, the project has tested the impacts of a specially designed online intervention in over 25 organisations from around the UK, spanning a wide variety of sizes and sectors.

The research found statistically significant impacts on managerial style – managers completing the intervention saw their styles become more collaborative and less avoidant. Key measures of employee engagement in the units of treated managers increased in those organisations in which where there were high levels of overall engagement with the intervention.