Describes five assignment types that appear to be especially important in the development of successful managers. Examines each type in detail and identifies learning themes that emerged from each. Concludes by stating the developmental limits of challenging assignments.

Reports on Action Profiling, a new management development programme designed to ensure that individuals in an organization are focusing on the same objectives. Examines Action Profiling, which produces a decision‐making profile for each person, together with a personal action plan. Reviews the...

Discusses the TM Corporate Development Programme, a new initiative set up to sell the idea that transcendental meditation is good for business. Looks at a number of independent studies comparing the stress levels of meditating groups with those of non‐meditating groups. Stresses the benefits...

Argues that managers′ concrete work experience is the most critical of problem solving competences. Discusses a number of reasoning skills that experienced managers generally possess: diagnostic information seeking skills; inductive analysis skills; causal reasoning. Concludes that...

Discusses the new approach to management development taken by GKN, a leading manufacturer of automotive transmission products world‐wide. Reports on GKN′s selection of the University of Pittsburgh as the site for the expansion of the Young Executive Programme (YEP). Describes the careful...

Briefly discusses the principles underlying the Management Charter Initiative (MCI). Looks at the benefits that membership of the organization can bring and some implications for management.

Examines the appointment of a new managing director to AKZ Enterprises and the predecessor′s move to the post of Chairman, in particular how through a careful search and analysis, consultants ensured that the personality match would be trouble free. Discusses the first two years of the...

Considers what the phrase “self development” really means for management. Examines the rationale behind general trends towards self development approaches. Discusses the implications for the organization as well as the individual. Finally considers the learning community as a whole and...

Discusses, relying on anecdotes from personal experience, the problems facing the small company, which has never invested in management training or development, when it decides on a programme of change. Looks at important choices about implementing a development programme. Considers one...