Purpose – Outlines the importance of senior management focusing on strategic and value‐creating activities rather than on issues that could be handled by subordinate staff. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on information gathered from the authors' industry knowledge and experience, plus...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how a new reward and benefits scheme has helped RS Components Ltd, a UK distributor of electronics and maintenance products, to improve employee engagement and retention and attract new talent. Design/methodology/approach – The paper...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a blended‐learning approach to global general manager (GM) development at an international pharmaceutical company. Design/methodology/approach – The reasons for the training are explained, the form it takes and the results it has achieved....

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how hairdressing company, Popham, has become an Investor in People champion and the benefits that have flowed from this. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the background to the Investor in People award and the policies that...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe two training programs at Midlands Co‐operative Society – one for employees in its travel agency and the other for its food‐retailing employees. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the reasons for the programs, the form...

Purpose – This paper aims to argue that the relationship between employer and employee needs to change from independent/dependent to interdependent. Design/methodology/approach – The paper puts forward the view that most management training does not work because it does not change behavior....

Purpose – This paper aims to describe an award‐winning training program at UK aluminium die‐casting company CastAlum. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it achieved. Findings – The paper details how the Rising...

Purpose – This paper aims to describe an award‐winning training program at Fujitsu Telecommunications, which enabled the 55 employees at Fujitsu's Antrim plant in Northern Ireland to move from their traditional concentration on mending telecommunications equipment to repairing and recycling...

Purpose – This paper seeks to describe an award‐winning training program at Irish fork‐lift truck supplier NACCO Materials Handling Ltd, which enabled the company to halt redundancies and so retain the workforce required to exploit an eventual economic recovery. Design/methodology/approach...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe a training program for junior managers at UK company Haven Holidays. Design/methodology/approach – The paper explains the reasons for the program, the form it took and the results it achieved. Findings – The paper details the main elements...