What is so special about us?

We believe that the basic 'thing' that a manager manages with is him or herself, that people must develop their own philosophy of management. As Peter Drucker says:

“Management is ... what tradition used to call a liberal art – ‘liberal’ because it deals with the fundamentals of knowledge, self-knowledge, wisdom, and leadership; ‘art’ because it is also concerned with practice and application. Managers draw on all the knowledge and insights of the humanities and the social sciences – on psychology and philosophy, on economics and history, on ethics – as well as the physical sciences. But they have to focus this knowledge on effectiveness and results...

While we offer the standard and commonly accepted wisdom of management, we also encourage and enable people to think about and indeed to question it - to make up their own minds.

Practising managers

We aim squarely at the practising, working manager. We recognise that the working manager is always short of time. We offer practical and immediate learning – but with the invitation to delve more deeply as time and interests permit.

We avoid technical jargon wherever possible. We write in straightforward and lively language, making learning immediately accessible. We are realistic. The latest and greatest innovation is not always the ultimate answer. We cut through jargon and pretentiousness.

Feedback

We believe that feedback enhances learning. We offer learning exercises that 'test' people's knowledge, explain answers and take learning further. We offer feedback on each individual's behaviour - as a manager and as a person. The more that people learn about themselves, the better they can understand others - and potentially different ways of doing things.

Our own content

About 95% of our content is unique to us. We write for the working manager - and not for academics. This also means that we can develop and control our own style - practical, straightforward, a little irreverent, non-sexist, non-ageist and multi-cultural - and inject some humour into the proceedings as well.

Our material is good. We do not see ourselves as an academic site but we are recognised by used by universities around the world. If not academic, we are clearly academically respectable.

Learning styles

We avoid 'programmed learning.' We believe that it works for only a small percentage of the learning population and that most people are bored by it.

People have different learning styles and strategies and we seek to cater for all. If someone wants to dip into the site just to look something up or to pick up a few hints and tips, we make that easy for them. Equally, we assist the person who wants to study a topic in depth and for those who learn by experimenting. Our dynamic linking system enables people to explore and extend their learning.

Discover your own learning style.

Management magazine

We keep learning alive. We update the site with new material 10 times a year with our monthly management magazine. We have several management columnists, each of whom take a different slant on management.

	The Dean - takes the radical approach and questions 'standard received wisdom' and 'best practice.' The aim of this column is to invite you to think outside the square.
	The Diva - takes a non-male and non-western sideways look at life and management. (So much of what we read is written in the West and by men.)
	In Theory - Professor Rick Roskin scans the academic management press and brings you the latest thinking, concentrating on real research backed up by statistical evidence.
	In Practice - Helen Kelly seeks out the latest ideas current in management.
	HR Legal Eagle - Paula Fisher briefs you on the legal aspect of HR as it affects the UK
	Thought of the Month - inspirational messages to motivate you and make you think.

Easy to get into

Our site is big. If you tried to print out the site (which we do not recommend although all our articles have 'printer friendly' access), it would come to more than 7,000 pages. However, we try to make access as easy as possible. The side bar is organised by what people might want to do - look it up, personal feedback, keep up to date, outside the square - while our top bar directs people to the type of content - exercises, case studies, etc. It is like a matrix. We have a welcome area which provides a Quick Guide to get people started, a More Advanced User's Guide and so on.

In keeping with our philosophy that people learn their own way, we have a Learning Advisor which helps people how best to learn in terms of their own learning style.

Women and men

Women face different challenges in management. We recognise that men and women often approach management - and indeed learning - in different ways. We have made a specialism of women in management and face up to the challenges that many woman face.

Multi-cultural

Almost all businesses today exist in a multi-cultural environment. Whether this is because of global reach or because of ethnic variety among employees and managers, it is important to recognise that values, norms and even habits vary.

We have an international editorial board featuring distinguished senior managers and academics from all over the world - China, India, Chile, Ireland, Cuba, Pakistan, Canada, South Africa, the UK and the USA. We face up to the real issues around Diversity – not ‘fluffy bunny time.’ We deal openly with racism and religion.