Senior managers in the West Midlands are blaming an atmosphere of "corporate caution" for the obstructions they face when it comes to making decisions.

According to the Chartered Management Institute, managers in the region are not afraid of decision-making, but they are battling against suspicion and fear.

The findings, which are taken from research projects conducted over the past 16 months, show that 63 per cent of managers in the West Midlands believe their organisation's culture has an impact on decision-making.

Asked to identify the dominant element, a quarter (26 per cent) spoke of workplace environments dominated by secrecy and suspicion.

Only a minority in the West Midlands suggested they have the freedom to make decisions, with 13 per cent referring to an "entrepreneurial" culture.