MORE than a third of British directors believe that their organisation is "paralysed" by ineffective middle managers whose underperformance robs the economy of £220 billion a year.

A study in PayrollProfessional, the Institute of Payroll Professional's members' magazine, two out of five directors said middle managers are the single greatest barrier to achieving their company's objectives. The study of 200 directors and senior managers was carried out by management consultancy Hay Group.