The Complete book of business letters : the essential writing reference guide [book]

Lowell Tarling

Contains standardized letters for purposes including: employment, collection and credit, sales promotion and direct mail, complaints, and invitations to openings.

Public Management Reforms in Australia and New Zealand: a pot-pourri overview of the past decade (journal article)
by Peter Steane
from Public Management Review, Vol 10, No 4 2008, pp. 453 - 465
The public management reforms in Australia and New Zealand have been proactive in engaging other organisations in developing partnerships and new governance structures, requiring heightened skills in the preparation stage of due diligence and effective regulatory processes to balance divergent interests. There are increasingly blurred boundaries across sectors with both private and charitable agencies providing services for the public good. Broader management skills are brought to policy formulation and implementation with lateral movement of employment across sectors, suggesting a new class of public administrator in the future.

Becoming a resonant leader : develop your emotional intelligence, renew your relationships, sustain your effectiveness

Annie McKey & others

Contains processes and exercises to enable you to become a resonant leader, that is, one that is attuned to the needs and dreams of the people they lead, and that creates the conditions where they can excel.

Grooming Elite Managers (journal article)
By Mark Story
From Management Today, August 2008
Five experts explain how executive coaching works, where it is of most value, and what can happen when things go wrong.

Manager's Mark (journal article)
by Fiona Gillies
from Management Today, August 2008
Ambitious managers looking to make a mark need to work on their strengths and weaknesses to enhance their careers.

Precious Lore (journal article)
by Darren Baguley
from Management Today July 2008, pp 22-27
When the workforce is more mobile than ever, organnisations must effectively manage, pass on and expoit critical know-how.

Acing the interview : how to ask and answer the questions that will get you the job [book]

Tony Beshara

Contains answers to 450 sample questions so that you will be prepared for any question. This book also gives tips on taking charge of the interview situation, and what to do when you are offered the job.

Processing technology innovation in the food industry (journal article)
by Peter J Fryer and Cornelis Versteeg
from Innovation: management policy and practice Vol. 10 No. 1 pp. 74-90
The food industry is as old as civilization; and many of its process operations are thousands of years old, such as brewing (developed in Sumeria and Babylon) and baking (developed in Egypt ca. 8000 BC ). The modern food manufacturing industry evolved during and after the Industrial Revolution; Thorne (1986) attributes the beginnings of the industry to the first heat sterilisation plant developed by Appert in France in the early 1800s. Since then the modern food industry has become highly diverse and very large.
Contact the library for a copy of this article.

Innovation in the foods industry: Functional foods (journal article)
by Abby K Thompson and Paul J Moughan
from Innovation: management, policy and practice Vol. 10 No.1 pp. 61-73
"For many consumers, health is a key factor in determining their food choices. As well as simply providing nutrition, it is now being recognised that the consumption of certain foods can promote improved health and well-being. The market for these functional food products is estimated to be worth US$60 billion per annum, and is growing rapidly. This overview discusses the drivers behind the growth of the functional foods industry and describes the current marketplace, as well as offering a perspective on where the industry is heading in the future and some of the issues it will face."
Contact the library for a copy of this article.

Innovation in the food industry: Personalised nutrition and mass customisation (journal article)
by Mike Boland
from Innovation: management, policy and practice Vol 10, No. 1 pp.53-60
"Disorders such as coeliac disease, irritable bowel disease and lactose intolerance are becoming widely recognised as having strong genetic components. Additionally, there is emerging evidence of individually different responses in fat metabolism in individuals, leading to differences in lipoprotein profiles (HDL and LDL - indicators of heart health) in response to diet. Some lifestyles also give rise to special dietary requirements. This is particularly noted for athletes, who often have very specific nutritional advice. ... This paper is concerned with an emerging trend towards personalised nutrition becoming mainstream in affluent society, with a goal of general good health, and the potential for mass customisation to provide personalised nutrition on a wide front."
Contact the library for a copy of this article

All you need is a good idea! : how to create marketing messages that actually get results [book]

Jay Heyman

"Shows you step by step how to create powerful marketing and advertising ideas that dramatically increase sales without having to invent new products, increase sales forces, find new distribution channels, or spend a ton of money you don't have." - cover.

The Speed reading book [book]

Tony Buzan

Presents information about your eyes and brain that will improve your reading speed, comprehension, and ability to learn.

Job interviews for dummies [book]

Joyce Lain Kennedy

Clear advice on overcoming your fear of interviews, Internet video interviewing techniques, presenting yourself on a global scale, and pinpointing the critical part of questions.

Quick meeting openers for busy managers : more than 50 icebreakers, energizers, and other creative activities that get results [book]

Brian Cole Miller

"Gives you the tools, activities, and advice you need to create the kind of open, energetic, and relaxed atmosphere that leads to effective meetings and serious results. The book is designed to take the anxiety out of meetings and encourage creative and practical discussion." - cover.

The Best service is no service : how to liberate your customers from customer service, keep them happy, and control costs [book]

Authors: Bill Price & David Jaffe

Takes a different approach to customer service which argues that customers don't really want a "relationship" with your company's customer service department. They only need customer service when a company does something wrong. Thus, eliminating the need for service is the best way to satisfy customers.

Building a wider skills net for workers (journal article)
by Robert I Lerman
from Issues in Science & Technology, Summer 2008, Vol. 24 No 4, pp. 65-72
A range of skills beyond conventional schooling are critical to success in the job market, and new educational approaches should reflect these noncognitive skills and occupational qualifications.

Changes with Penguins: A Q&A with Harvard Guru John Kotter (journal article)
by Lorri Freifeld
From Training, July 2008, Vol 45 No 6, p.6
An interview with Doctor John Kotter, a retired professor from Harvard Business School. When asked which of the 8 Steps to Successful Change most organizations seem to have the most difficulty implementing, he states that organizations have problems with all the steps, but most people most often get it wrong at the beginning.

Employee Motivation (journal article)
By: Nitin Nohria, Boris Groysberg and Linda Eling Lee
from Harvard Business Review Jul 2008, Vol 86 No 7, pp. 78-84
The authors identify the organizational levers that companies and frontline managers have at their disposal as they try to meet workers' deep needs. Reward systems that truly value good performance fulfill the drive to acquire. The drive to bond is best met by a culture that promotes collaboration and openness. Jobs that are designed to be meaningful and challenging meet the need to comprehend. Processes for performance management and resource allocation that are fair, trustworthy, and transparent address the drive to defend. Equipped with real-world company examples, the authors articulate how to apply these levers in productive ways.

Reaching your potential (journal article)
by Robert S. Kaplan
from Harvard Business Review Jul-Aug 2008, Vol 86 No 7/8, pp. 45-49
The goal isn't about getting to the top. Rather, it's about taking a very personal look at how you define success in your heart of hearts, and then finding your own path there. To discover your way, you need to step back and reassess your career, recognizing that managing it is your responsibility. Many people feel like victims when, in fact, most career wounds are self-inflicted. Taking control begins with understanding yourself: seeking frank feedback about your strengths and weaknesses from colleagues above and below you, and figuring out what you truly enjoy doing. That understanding--not other people's definition of success--should guide your career choices and goals.

Making Diverse Teams Click (journal article)

by Jeffrey Polzer

From Harvard Business Review Jul-Aug 2008, Vol 86 No 7/8, pp. 20-21

The article reports on a study concerning team building and the fit or interpersonal congruence among team members. The study found that the performance of diverse teams improves when there is a high level of interpersonal congruence. Performance appraisals with 360-degree feedback improves congruence and collaboration, opens communication when feedback is discussed by the team, and provides an opportunity for more accurate self-assessments. An example of how 360-degree feedback was used by a cross-functional management team at National Semiconductor is discussed.