Toshiba’s electronic‐imaging division (EID) is a business in transition. Yesterday, it seemed, all photocopiers and fax machines were simply standalone pieces of kit. Today they are just as likely to be sitting on a network and will be seen as part of the IT infrastructure rather than simply...

Over a third of all executives and nearly half of junior managers say that the quality of leadership in their organization is poor, according to new research entitled Leadership: The Challenge for All?, launched by the Institute of Management (IM). The project, carried out by independent...

Giving junior team members a significant role in hiring decisions and encouraging employee feedback on customer‐comment forms are just two of the unconventional human‐resource management practices that have helped to make Pret A Manger one of the most admired brands in Britain. McDonald’s...

Hotel guests are used to awarding marks out of ten for the service they receive but, at the USA’s first restaurant and hotel to receive double‐five‐star (Mobil) and double‐five‐diamond (AAA) ratings, the staff award marks out of ten on their guests. Every night, waiters at The Inn at...

It is common to read in the UK press of a “skills shortage” – a lack of suitably qualified people in certain areas of industry, notably engineering, but also in some trades such as plumbing.

When two firms of solicitors merged to form one of the largest practices in their town, integrating the various staff and partner skills was imperative, especially as the organization operated from two separate offices. The need to retain and improve the expertise that already existed was...