While the name Unilever is familiar to most people, its size takes some grasping. There are 300 operating units in 88 countries and more than 1,000 strong successful brands, which are marketed in more than 150 countries. Its pre‐packaged branded foods are household names, though many will be...

Few people approaching appraisal would admit to facing the prospect with anything but apprehension; that empty feeling in the stomach, maybe a sleepless night beforehand and a huge sigh of relief when it is over and done with – until the next time. Not that managers or supervisors – the...

New systems of performance appraisal and management development have helped to revitalize a UK housing association, enthuse its managers and transform them into a more cohesive group. Rother Homes, part of the Horizon Housing Group, had a five‐year program to repair and upgrade the 3,000 homes...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe how 19 managers from the European and Middle Eastern divisions of multinational business consultancy Convergys built a badger‐watching platform during a training weekend, to assess and improve skills in leadership, motivation and performance...

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the...

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how change‐management specialist SFL is improving the performance, on and off the pitch, of English Rugby Union club Sale Sharks. Design/methodology/approach – Details the leadership message that is helping to achieve success for the team, supporters,...

Purpose – Describes a new breed of HR strategies that encourage employee involvement and commitment as part of high‐performance working (HPW). Design/methodology/approach – Focuses on managing employee attitudes and skills through careful attention to leadership, reward and job‐design...

Purpose – This paper aims to explore the alleged causal link between Investors in People (IIP) recognition and improved business performance and profitability. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on information from three case studies using semi‐structured interviews. Findings –...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to document the experience of managers and staff in sustaining a high‐performance team approach in a plastics factory. Design/methodology/approach – Draws on research carried out using semi‐structured interviews and site observations made with two...

Purpose – Details how the organizational climate measure OCSII is being used in the BELRON group of companies as an indicator of leadership capability. Focuses on team climate and how this may be linked to changes in business performance. Design/methodology/approach – Considers the...