The wages are splashed around, thanks to bad management (7)
I believe the answer is:
wastage
'bad management' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I cannot understand how they can define each other.
'the wages are splashed around thanks' is the wordplay.
'are splashed' indicates anagramming the letters.
'around' indicates putting letters inside.
'thanks' becomes 'ta' (UK informal version of 'thank you').
'wages' is an anagram of 'wasge'.
'wasge' enclosing 'ta' is 'WASTAGE'.
'to' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for wastage that I've seen before include "Unprofitable spending" , "Loss through careless use" , "Unnecessary loss" , "natural decay" , "Useless spending" .)