The styles of management inventory: A methodological analysis of a training and research instrument

In recent years several theoretical ideas have been advanced in the area of problem-solving and decision-making in administration, with a focus on “leadership” styles. Instruments have been designed to operationalize the theory and for purposes of training and research. However, there has been little systematic testing of such instruments. This study examines the theoretical underpinning of one particular instrument, the Styles of Management Inventory. Then, it proceeds to test it for internal consistency by using multidimensional scaling. The data for this study were obtained from 288 probation administrators in the United States. Since this instrument is currently used by trainers and researchers, it is felt that this methodological study has important implications for both the management training and research fields.