Effective leadership programs have a clearly defined belief structure and a teaching team that provides direction for both the students and the program. Leadership can be learned, but it is a process, not a position. Like dart throwing, leadership skills can be taught if individuals are coached, have a chance to practice various skills, get…

Includes six articles on the challenges for management development in the 21st century in the German-speaking nations (Avery, Donnenberg, Gick, Hilb), Baltic States (Manning, Poljeva), East Africa (Mitiku, Wallace), South Africa (McFarlin, Coster, Mogale-Pretorius), Vietnam (McDaniel, Schermerhorn, Cuoc), and Australia and New Zealand (Avery,…

Describes business diplomacy based on the Japanese concept of kyosei (working for the common good). Gives case examples of application of principled diplomacy to ethical dilemmas and suggests ways to establish an organizational culture to support principled business leadership. (SK)

Examines school reform's effects on principals' professional leadership culture, drawing on research findings from 1993 to 1998, and highlighting possible future reforms in Victoria, Australia. Principals are more satisfied with present, than past, work arrangements. Leadership is more strategic and empowering than heroic or hands-on. (44…

The Florida Assisting Change in Education Program teaches school leaders to facilitate the change process in schools. Training for school improvement facilitators teaches them to lead groups, encourage discussion, mediate differences, and create appropriate spirit for crafting and implementing school improvement plans. Evaluation of the program…

Successful executives continue to learn and challenge themselves. Collecting 360-degree evaluation feedback from supervisors, supervisees, and peers can help them gauge the effectiveness of their behaviors and competencies and identify career-development strategies. (SK)

Interviews in five Dutch printing/communications firms, survey responses from 462 of 1069 managers, and a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) process identified technical changes, skill needs, and management tasks in the industry. A new structure was developed for training managers in these roles: producer, innovator, motivator, administrator,…

As Australian corporations have increased overseas activity, there has been a significant increase in international business degrees at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The curriculum is balanced between business-technical knowledge courses and cultural knowledge courses. (SK)

Discusses an Australian task-force report on future needs of management, addressing from a business education viewpoint the issues of philosophy of management education, theory versus practice, government role, curriculum renewal, technology, and the nature of management. (SK)

Survey responses from 156 middle managers in an organization identified the skills needed for the job and their skill level in personal communication, conflict resolution, leadership, consulting, and facilitating. The study identified strengths and weaknesses of the needs assessment process and resulted in recommendations for a…

Explains Edward De Bono's six thinking hats, different perspectives on a problem. Shows how to apply the technique to case studies in management classes. (SK)

Raises concerns about Hanover and Cellar's study : gender and racial composition of the sample, effects of organizational status, questionable variables in the work environment measure, other organizational demographics, and the degree of participants' familiarity with each other. (SK)

Describes two improvisation exercises that use organizational contexts to reinforce management theory and build management skills. Outlines rules for improv, including active listening and "yes, and" (never denying information). (SK)

A study by Tracey, Hinkin, Tannenbaum, and Mathieu of 115 management trainees and 305 supervisors/coworkers found that job involvement, commitment, and work environment influenced pretraining self-efficacy and motivation. Hierarchical relationships between levels of training effectiveness criteria were identified. Black's response cites their…

A learned-behavior approach to competency-based management education involves (1) learning and role plying of micro skills; (2) observing, critiquing, and reflecting on use of micro skills; (3) application in real situations; and (4) analysis of application. Micro skills components and inductive learning of behavior provide a useful foundation for…