7 Responses

1. Easy-to-read Management Book
   Vivien…

   I have the details of a book that is very easy to read and covers all major management training principles (communication, performance, networking, motivation etc.)

   It is meant to be for people who have taken on their first management roles or who haven’t engaged in any management training before… however I have used it for training ‘management basics’ with managers as a preliminary to more advanced stuff.

   It acts as a nice desk aid and is broken down into checklists and bullet points, even better in plain practical english without heaps of management theory.

   I certainly have used it myself to learn from and managers I have worked with have found it as a great start to their learning.

   The book is ‘High Flying’ and the author is Debra Allcock-Tyler… the ISBN is 1-84439-002-0 and the publisher is ‘Spiro’, who are part of the Capita Group.

   The book retails around £10.99 is about A5 in size, roughly 130 pages. A nice end-of-course handout for further learning!

   Let me know if the above info has been useful.

   Kindest Regards,
   Kate :o)

2. DK not for kids
   Vivien

   Try DKs Essential Managers Handbook (or its individual chapters as separate books), ISBN 075130400x.

   There is an addition now called; Managing for Excellence (0771327042).

   Hope this helps.

   Peter
   Founder/Editor
   http://trainerbase.co.uk

3. Business Idea Tester
   The Lloyds TSB Small Business Guide by Sara Williams (Penguin)is updated each year and aimed at the British market. Because it relates to business start-ups it is easy to read and covers a wide range of managerial topics. Lloyds TSB often give them away free to potential business start-ups.

   If it helps you with either training or assessing your clients I have a business idea testing program that your clients can develop a business idea on and test all the scenarios. It produces charts and is good for getting people to analyse their own decisions and investigate changes. I developed it for training people to start and manage their own businesses. It is available to anyone as freeware on http://www.titude.org.uk.

   If you use it I would appreciate any feedback.

   Regards Steven.

4. One Minute Manager (Not UK!)
   Vivien,

   Although they aren’t UK based I have always found the One Minute Manager series a great help to managers / business owners. These can be coupled with Gung-Ho & Raving Fans to add company culture issues into the mix.

   Hope this helps.

5. Easy to read Management Books
   Try the following :

   1a) Modern Business Administration by Appleby (Pitman Publication), to be followed by

   1b) Strategic Management by Prof John Thompson,

   alternatively, read :

   2a) Organisational Management & Information Systems and Integrated Management, BPP manuals for CIMA course, to be followed by

   2b) Management Accounting Business Strategy BPP manuals for CIMA course

   Any of the above package (1) or (2) will give you a fairly good comprehensive coverage of management.

   In addition to the above, you may read ISO 9000:2000 Quality management systems – Fundamentals and vocabulary, ISO 9001:2000 Quality management systems — Requirements and ISO 9004:2000 Quality management systems — Guidelines for performance improvements.

   The 8 quality management principles forms the foundation to the ISO standards and the 8 QMPs are based on best management practices, thus, these materials shall be suitable and relevant to organisations wishing to implement a quality management system.

6. Easy reading
   Vivien,

   I’ve got to recommend “The Beermat Entrepreneur” by Mike Southon & Chris West, Published by Prentice Hall at around £12.99, ISBN 0-273-65929-4.

   It’s an easy read using plain english, aimed at “start-up’s”, but with valuable lessons on motivation, planning. sales and compliance that would help most owner-managed SME’s.

   Even if you didn’t use this as the core supporting text, I’m sure participants would take a lot from it.

   Good luck and best wishes,

   Jeff Lockhart

7. Training consultant
   Hi Viv
   Have you see the latest flexible learning titles produced by WorlWide Learning?
   These are self study materials with a range of twenty titles covering many aspects of management in easy to read yet up to date style.
   Each study unit can be read in an hour or so or the thought provoking exercises can also be completed on a needs basis.
   I have used the materials with managers and team leaders in a number of organisations and they receive excellent reviews.
   Let me know if you would like a list of titles and the opportunity to view sample copies.
   Regards
   Damien O’Leary