It is ironic that the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) finds itself heavily criticised for the way it manages its affairs in a new report.

In recent years it has increased the number of business courses, offering several in the art of management.

Those who read the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) report, with its blunt assessment of management practices at the college, might see a certain irony.

Poor communications, out-of-touch management, lack of transparency in decision-making, inappropriate staff behaviour and alienation of staff were discovered when the LRC's advisory service went into the DIT.

The report was commissioned by the governing body of the DIT and the main academic union in the college, the Teachers' Union of Ireland.

Nobody in the DIT expected such a bleak assessment of the college, which caters for more than 22,000 students.

While the DIT appears to be experiencing internal turmoil, its fortunes externally could not be brighter - this year it got more CAO first preferences from students than any other college.

The report was commissioned after the DIT became paralysed by industrial relations problems two years ago. It was circulated to senior officials this week.

While the report's terms of reference were confined to "industrial relations between the DIT and staff represented by the TUI", its eventual findings range over a much broader canvas.

About 140 staff were interviewed, from faculty managers to those at the top of the college's administration. Ordinary staff, middle management and those at the top all agree - to varying degrees - that the institute faces many problems.

What emerges is a deeply unhappy institution where politically motivated staff are in regular conflict, problems remain unattended and a small "inner circle" controls virtually all management functions.

The report states: "There is a widespread view that communications are poor throughout the DIT. There is a perception that there is little feedback from management and that most of the information of interest to staff emanates from union sources or the grapevine."

What is striking about DIT is that even in relation to its most important projects, staff believe they are not adequately informed.

Staff said there was "poor consultation" on the application by the DIT for university status, quality assurance and most alarming, its plans to move to a new campus at Grangegorman on the northside of Dublin.

Management is described as "remote and aloof" because of its "rigid hierarchical structure.

"There is a view that management does not act as a cohesive body, a perception that DIT is a political organisation, with some members of management jostling for influence to the detriment of staff interests."

This malaise is not helped - according to some interviewees - by the lack of "administrative/management skills" in the DIT management.

There is also a suggestion of academic snobbery in the DIT, the report finds.

"There is a perception amongst some interviewees that DIT places undue value on staff with high academic qualifications regardless of the relevance of the qualifications to the teaching area." The report adds that many non-academics feel "less valued" by management.

In relation to the college's grievance procedure the report says: "There is a view that management's typical response is that if nothing is done the problem will go away."

Worryingly - though detail is not given - "alleged instances of inappropriate behaviour" are raised by some individuals.

The DIT (which comprises six constituent colleges) applied for university status several years ago, but was turned down by an international review group.

The report shows that the DIT has reacted negatively to this and it is one of the causes of its problems.

Many staff believe they were excluded from the process originally. Management, during its talks with the LRC authors, said "poor morale" was partly explained by this.

Management generally accepted the report and agreed that change was needed.

"Central management accepts that poor communications and lack of consultation are issues that require attention and maintains that it is fully committed to addressing these issues."

Emmet Oliver is Education Correspondent of The Irish Times