anagers in many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are too focused on achieving targets, a leading consultant has warned.

Tim Burfoot, the managing director of Teasel, revealed that many SME managers - including those responsible for company IT systems - are putting long-term business success at risk by constantly aiming to beat short-term targets.

This target obsession is stopping SME managers from exercising sound judgement based on analysis of staff and their working environment.

"For years now, managers of all varieties have trotted out the old saying 'what gets measured gets done', as though it were akin to divine mantra," explained Mr Burfoot.

"Of course, we all know it's true. But long term sustainability depends on doing the right things, which aren't necessarily the same as the measured things.

"Businesses are running enormous risks that their people are getting better and better at doing the wrong things, simply because those are the things that are getting measured."

Recently, the British Computer Society launched a champaign to find excellent IT managers to promote good working practices in UK SMEs.