Examines the use of Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) in the analysis and improvement of a “messy” HRM problem in Nationwide Building Society (NBS). Describes SSM in outline and relates it to a case study application of the methodology in the area of career management and career counselling. At...

Identifies the need to develop a conceptual framework to explain the diversity of organized mentoring in formal schemes as an important practical and theoretical concern. Interviews with participants in formal mentoring schemes were undertaken to obtain accounts of their experiences within...

Examines the attitudes of senior, predominantly male staff to women managers in a specific industrial setting ‐ namely the West Midlands region of the UK ‐ using data derived from the Price Waterhouse West Midlands Business Survey. The survey is unique in that it is focused on eliciting the...

Explains that fast‐track programmes have traditionally been the preferred mechanism for recruiting and developing high potential graduates to become the senior management cadre of the future. However, many recent changes within organizations have led to more fluid structures that no longer...

Following a critical review of current literature on the role of line managers in career development, the article reports on research which examined the extent to which employee participation in voluntary career activities is affected by differing levels of management support. Using data from...

This paper assesses the incidence and contribution that mentoring has to the career development of retail managers. Previous research has identified the benefits that mentoring relationships have for the protégé, the mentor and the organisation, although none have compared the experiences and...

It is now well recognised by academic and organisational practitioners that the effective management of job changes and relocations will be among the most important tasks facing Human Resource Managers in the 1990s. To cope with the challenges of the 1990s many organisations will have to retain...

There is an ever increasing demand for highly flexible and geographically mobile professional and managerial staff in many UK companies. This means that the effective management of career development, succession planning, job mobility and relocation will be among the major challenges facing...

The goal of Master Business Administration (MBA) programmes is to add value to its graduates and make them better managers. Reports on a study which provides a comprehensive evaluation for the impact of an MBA programme of a leading UK business school on the competencies, skills,...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the emerging literature on formal women-only business networks and outline propositions to develop this under-theorised area of knowledge and stimulate future research. Design/methodology/approach The authors review the existing literature on formal...