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.

How often have individuals vowed to change their ways, stop, reflect and start over? Large corporations too often face the starker situation of evolve or die – few can do so. Boeing has proved itself one of the global leaders in knowledge management. Given the pressures and increasing strains...

The enormous changes brought about by extensive downsizing from the 1980s and the boom and bust of the 1990s stimulated a transition from a hierarchical to a virtual workplace for many organizations. Significant changes in the structure of some work environments have been the increasing use of...

Moving from hierarchical management with annual reviews to a program and project‐management approach has helped the mighty British American Tobacco (BAT) to gain market share in 13 Middle Eastern countries.

A UK construction‐services company is giving its director‐level managers a broader understanding of the business through a development program that helps them to make the transition from project management to strategic management.

Purpose – Discusses a tailor‐made programme designed to enhance change‐management skills at general insurer Allianz Cornhill. Design/methodology/approach – Gives details of the programme, created by the Chartered Management Institute (CMI). Highlights the key areas of managing change and...

Purpose – The article's purpose is to explain that Siemens Business Services in the UK and Ireland has improved its process for recruiting project and programme managers by introducing online knowledge and personality tests. Design/methodology/approach – Presents information provided by...

Purpose – This article describes how an interim manager helped mobile‐telephone company Carphone Warehouse to transform its operations to cope with growing demand caused by the launch of its free‐to‐talk service, increasing its customer numbers from 385,000 to more than 500,000 in less...

Purpose – This article describes the management of an A$20.5 million three‐year capital‐works program to develop and support radio communications for Australia's New South Wales Police Service. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on information provided by the project manager. Findings...

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to consider how facilitation can be used specifically in teams when consensus is required. Design/methodology/approach – The paper discusses how facilitation can be used in teams. Findings – Finds that teams which mine for the collective intelligence...