- Email: [email protected]
Review briefs
Long Range Planning Vol. 23
110
June 1990
impression of the diversity of applications and the creativity of some organizations’ training departments! One can also discern the critical success factors for the introduction of CBT by examining the problems reported. These CSFs seem to be: 0
a clear understanding
Q adequate
of the need;
speed of the processor;
*
clarity
*
integration
of displays; with more
conventional
training;
A access/convenience; *
volume
*
design
of trainees
(to offset development
for ease of updating;
A inevitably,
senior
costs);
and
management
The final part of the book deals with the trends in training and technology perceived by the authors. The convergence of these trends gives rise to the exciting possibility of training through computers delivered through some kind of expert system and becoming totally embedded in the job. This would blur the distinction between on and offjob training. This, the authors conclude, is a major challenge to CBT designers. Unfortunately, since the book was published in 1988, little progress has been made in artificial intelligence technology which would allow the development of genuine intelligent tutoring systems. In summary, this book sets out to cover a very broad canvas and makes a reasonably good job of it. For me, the main problems stem from the tendency to describe the technology rather than the training-one gets little feel for the ways in which the less technically literate training manager might become excited by this media. Nor does the book give much information about the advantages of using off-the-shelf products or of how organizations have linked computer based training with more conventional techniques. However, I recognize this is a counsel of perfection. The acid test is, would I recommend this book to an audience wider than trainers? Yes I would. Applied
methods profits by
The initial thesis that firms in the U.K. and the U.S. squeeze research and capital spending to maintain dividends is hardly borne out by the results of their statistical inquiries. The ratios of expenditure on R & D and innovation to sales tell no clear story. In three out of five industries (mechanical engineering, electronics and motors) the U.S. and U.K. had higher ratios than Japan-although not in most cases in Germany. Indeed in the case of electronics the U.K. has much the highest ratio of all, 21 per cent against 8.4 per cent for Japan, and this rather surprising result is said not to be due to disproportionately high expenditure in the defence field.
support.
Part four deals with the issues involved in introducing CBT, but does not pull together the SUCCESS factors just mentioned. However, the book does cover the claimed advantages and disadvantages of CBT and describes a four-stage process of adoption. The processes of development, testing and implementation are also briefly outlined. This part finishes with a chapter on cost/benefit evaluation. Perhaps predictably, there appears to be no really satisfactory measures, although such evidence as there is seems to indicate that CBT can result in faster learning and better retention and transfer of skills back to the workplace than is the case with more traditional techniques.
GARY SAUNDERS,
in new plant and machinery. Present accounting accentuate the short-term pressures to maximize keeping down such expenditure.
The reader is thus left frustrated by a mass of figures (there arc 90 pages of tables against 50 pages of text) which seem to bear little relation to the general argument and where one suspects detailed investigation of definitions and coverage is needed to arrive at any intelligible conclusions. It provides useful material for further research rather than a vindication of the authors’ initial thesis. JOHN GRIEVE SMITH,
Review
Robinson
College
Briefs
The following notes on books received reviews. They arc mainly brief descriptions enlighten the reader on its general intention
are not detailed of each book to and approach.
The expectation is that more books can be described to readers than has proved possible by publishing only critical reviews. The descriptive information should enable interest in the books to be raised beyond that induced by just listing the titles. However, it is recognized that a critical review can be far more informative about a book than is attempted with Review Briefs and, accordingly, offers to review any books are solicited. Having been described in Review Briefs, a review should critically examine the contents ofa publication as an assessment of whether its stated intentions have been met and whether the way it achieves these intentions is attractive to the reader. It is expected that each review will require 100~1500 words and will be fully attributed. The reviewer keeps the book but Long Range Planning makes no payment. As an alternative, it may be apparent that either a single ‘milestone’ class publication or several books on a single topic could constitute a wider perspective Essay Review.
Learning
West Germany, (1989), L29.95.
This would be expected to comprise an article of some 300&4000 words and would have a written introduction by the Review Editor. The Journal would make its usual article contribution payments to the author of an Essay Review.
This report published by the Policy Studies Institute sets out the results of a statistical study into innovation in five industries (mechanical engineering, electronics, motor vehicles, chemicals, textiles) in the U.K., West Germany, the U.S. and Japan: the authors’ main thesis is that research and development and innovation should be regarded in the same light as investment
Readers interested to review any book in Review Briefs should by prepared to offer a copy deadline some 3 months ahead which can be relied on in planning the Journal. As a matter of readership policy, reviewer preference will be given to practising managers, or planners. Your interest should be expressed as a specific request to review a book from Review
Innovation and Industrial Strength in the U.K., United States andjapan, Policy Studies Institute
Book Reviews Briefs, preferably giving some intimation of why you think your review would be of interest to readers, addressed to: BRUCE LLOYD, Book Review London NW6 3QA, U.K.
Editor,
48 Aberdare
111
Educational and Training Technology 1989, C. W. OSBORNE, Kogan Page in association with the Association for Educational and Training Technology (1989), 475 pp., A35.00.
Gardens,
The McGraw-Hi/l 36-Hour Marketing Course, SEGLIN, McGraw-Hill (1989), 211 pp., Ll6.50. Marketing to Women: A Global Perspective, RENA BARTOS, Heinemann Professional (1989), 320 pp., Al6.95. A detailed description of how demographic and attitudinal differences among women affect their behaviour in the market place. Essential reading for marketers and valuable background for planners.
A home knowledge ation-style
JEFFREY L.
study course (12 x 3-hr lessons) based on the and expertise of American Management Associcourses. A good basic introduction to the subject.
Total Quality: Success Through People, RON COLLARD, Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 184 pp., Al4.95. Counselling: A Practical Guidefor Employers, MICHAEL MEGRANAHAN, Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 292 pp., Al4.95. Counselling has enormous potential, which has hardly begun to be tapped. Coping with change is probably the biggest cause of stress in industry and, if for no other reason, this book should be widely read by all those concerned with the people issues that arc at the core of managing change successfully.
A practical guide to establishing, maintaining and constantly improving a system of total quality management. The process demands time, training, an understanding of statistical techniques, and total management commitment, yet there can be no better way to tap the potential of the workforce. Always easier to write/read about than to do successfully.
The Deming Management Method, MARY WALTON, Mercury Business Books (1989), 254 pp., Ll4.95. The Training Directory 1989, Kogan Page in association with the British Association for Commercial and Industrial Education (1989), 338 pp., Al8.95. The 800 entries cover U.K. providers of training courses and training consultancy, as well as suppliers of training materials, equipment and information.
How to Develop and Present Staff Training Courses, PETER R. SHEAL, Kogan Page (1989), 189 pp., A22.50. A practical handbook for trainers, training programme developers and HRD personnel involved in the development or presentation of training courses and workshops.
Multi-Media itor), Kogan
Computer Assisted Learning, PHILIP BARKER (EdPage (1989), 241 pp., A22.50.
A collection of 13 specially commissioned papers written by an international group of authors. An important subject, where things are changing very quickly. This book is written for more for academics and specialists, rather than managers who are at the front line of the training revolution.
The Human Resource Management Yearbook 1989, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG (Editor), Kogan Page in association with the Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 322 pp., Ll9.95. Contains topical articles, legislation, codes of practice, lists of useful addresses and a comprehensive bibliography, on the subject. Vital for U.K. readers operating in this area. The world-wide situation is covered in International Yearbook of
Dr W. Edwards Denning suggested a total revamping of the way managers manage. He believes change starts at the top with an informed, quality-conscious management; he is famous for his 14 Points for Managers and his Deadly Diseases of Management. He is acclaimed in Japan, where his approach has been widely accepted. Also, according to Sir John Egan, Deming’s work is essential reading for any chief executive who wants to ensure the world competitiveness of his company; quoted in Shaping the Corporate Future, KEVIN BARHAM and CLIVE RASSAM, Unwin Hyman (1989), 245 pp., Al2.95 (p. 22). This study describes how executives in some of Europe’s leading companies see the future for their organizations. Two issues that surfaced constantly were the growing globalization of business and the simultaneous increasing fragmentation of large companies. Not easy pressures to reconcile, as some of the most recent results show. A year can be a short time even for a ‘leading’ company!
Forecasting Financial Markets: The Analysis, TONY PLUMMER, Kogan 425.00.
Truth Page
Behind Technical (1989), 259 pp.,
The author begins with the premise that the behaviour of the individual investors is influenced to some degree by the attitudes of other investors with the result that people unwittingly begin to identify their own needs with those of a crowd. The successful investor must learn to stand back from the crowd’s influence and trade according to predetermined rules. Technical analysis is considered a valid method of predicting the influence of crowd behaviour on financial markets. Prices are found to follow simple mathematical relationships and are therefore predictable. . A book that should be read by all investors; although if it was, no doubt
110
June 1990
impression of the diversity of applications and the creativity of some organizations’ training departments! One can also discern the critical success factors for the introduction of CBT by examining the problems reported. These CSFs seem to be: 0
a clear understanding
Q adequate
of the need;
speed of the processor;
*
clarity
*
integration
of displays; with more
conventional
training;
A access/convenience; *
volume
*
design
of trainees
(to offset development
for ease of updating;
A inevitably,
senior
costs);
and
management
The final part of the book deals with the trends in training and technology perceived by the authors. The convergence of these trends gives rise to the exciting possibility of training through computers delivered through some kind of expert system and becoming totally embedded in the job. This would blur the distinction between on and offjob training. This, the authors conclude, is a major challenge to CBT designers. Unfortunately, since the book was published in 1988, little progress has been made in artificial intelligence technology which would allow the development of genuine intelligent tutoring systems. In summary, this book sets out to cover a very broad canvas and makes a reasonably good job of it. For me, the main problems stem from the tendency to describe the technology rather than the training-one gets little feel for the ways in which the less technically literate training manager might become excited by this media. Nor does the book give much information about the advantages of using off-the-shelf products or of how organizations have linked computer based training with more conventional techniques. However, I recognize this is a counsel of perfection. The acid test is, would I recommend this book to an audience wider than trainers? Yes I would. Applied
methods profits by
The initial thesis that firms in the U.K. and the U.S. squeeze research and capital spending to maintain dividends is hardly borne out by the results of their statistical inquiries. The ratios of expenditure on R & D and innovation to sales tell no clear story. In three out of five industries (mechanical engineering, electronics and motors) the U.S. and U.K. had higher ratios than Japan-although not in most cases in Germany. Indeed in the case of electronics the U.K. has much the highest ratio of all, 21 per cent against 8.4 per cent for Japan, and this rather surprising result is said not to be due to disproportionately high expenditure in the defence field.
support.
Part four deals with the issues involved in introducing CBT, but does not pull together the SUCCESS factors just mentioned. However, the book does cover the claimed advantages and disadvantages of CBT and describes a four-stage process of adoption. The processes of development, testing and implementation are also briefly outlined. This part finishes with a chapter on cost/benefit evaluation. Perhaps predictably, there appears to be no really satisfactory measures, although such evidence as there is seems to indicate that CBT can result in faster learning and better retention and transfer of skills back to the workplace than is the case with more traditional techniques.
GARY SAUNDERS,
in new plant and machinery. Present accounting accentuate the short-term pressures to maximize keeping down such expenditure.
The reader is thus left frustrated by a mass of figures (there arc 90 pages of tables against 50 pages of text) which seem to bear little relation to the general argument and where one suspects detailed investigation of definitions and coverage is needed to arrive at any intelligible conclusions. It provides useful material for further research rather than a vindication of the authors’ initial thesis. JOHN GRIEVE SMITH,
Review
Robinson
College
Briefs
The following notes on books received reviews. They arc mainly brief descriptions enlighten the reader on its general intention
are not detailed of each book to and approach.
The expectation is that more books can be described to readers than has proved possible by publishing only critical reviews. The descriptive information should enable interest in the books to be raised beyond that induced by just listing the titles. However, it is recognized that a critical review can be far more informative about a book than is attempted with Review Briefs and, accordingly, offers to review any books are solicited. Having been described in Review Briefs, a review should critically examine the contents ofa publication as an assessment of whether its stated intentions have been met and whether the way it achieves these intentions is attractive to the reader. It is expected that each review will require 100~1500 words and will be fully attributed. The reviewer keeps the book but Long Range Planning makes no payment. As an alternative, it may be apparent that either a single ‘milestone’ class publication or several books on a single topic could constitute a wider perspective Essay Review.
Learning
West Germany, (1989), L29.95.
This would be expected to comprise an article of some 300&4000 words and would have a written introduction by the Review Editor. The Journal would make its usual article contribution payments to the author of an Essay Review.
This report published by the Policy Studies Institute sets out the results of a statistical study into innovation in five industries (mechanical engineering, electronics, motor vehicles, chemicals, textiles) in the U.K., West Germany, the U.S. and Japan: the authors’ main thesis is that research and development and innovation should be regarded in the same light as investment
Readers interested to review any book in Review Briefs should by prepared to offer a copy deadline some 3 months ahead which can be relied on in planning the Journal. As a matter of readership policy, reviewer preference will be given to practising managers, or planners. Your interest should be expressed as a specific request to review a book from Review
Innovation and Industrial Strength in the U.K., United States andjapan, Policy Studies Institute
Book Reviews Briefs, preferably giving some intimation of why you think your review would be of interest to readers, addressed to: BRUCE LLOYD, Book Review London NW6 3QA, U.K.
Editor,
48 Aberdare
111
Educational and Training Technology 1989, C. W. OSBORNE, Kogan Page in association with the Association for Educational and Training Technology (1989), 475 pp., A35.00.
Gardens,
The McGraw-Hi/l 36-Hour Marketing Course, SEGLIN, McGraw-Hill (1989), 211 pp., Ll6.50. Marketing to Women: A Global Perspective, RENA BARTOS, Heinemann Professional (1989), 320 pp., Al6.95. A detailed description of how demographic and attitudinal differences among women affect their behaviour in the market place. Essential reading for marketers and valuable background for planners.
A home knowledge ation-style
JEFFREY L.
study course (12 x 3-hr lessons) based on the and expertise of American Management Associcourses. A good basic introduction to the subject.
Total Quality: Success Through People, RON COLLARD, Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 184 pp., Al4.95. Counselling: A Practical Guidefor Employers, MICHAEL MEGRANAHAN, Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 292 pp., Al4.95. Counselling has enormous potential, which has hardly begun to be tapped. Coping with change is probably the biggest cause of stress in industry and, if for no other reason, this book should be widely read by all those concerned with the people issues that arc at the core of managing change successfully.
A practical guide to establishing, maintaining and constantly improving a system of total quality management. The process demands time, training, an understanding of statistical techniques, and total management commitment, yet there can be no better way to tap the potential of the workforce. Always easier to write/read about than to do successfully.
The Deming Management Method, MARY WALTON, Mercury Business Books (1989), 254 pp., Ll4.95. The Training Directory 1989, Kogan Page in association with the British Association for Commercial and Industrial Education (1989), 338 pp., Al8.95. The 800 entries cover U.K. providers of training courses and training consultancy, as well as suppliers of training materials, equipment and information.
How to Develop and Present Staff Training Courses, PETER R. SHEAL, Kogan Page (1989), 189 pp., A22.50. A practical handbook for trainers, training programme developers and HRD personnel involved in the development or presentation of training courses and workshops.
Multi-Media itor), Kogan
Computer Assisted Learning, PHILIP BARKER (EdPage (1989), 241 pp., A22.50.
A collection of 13 specially commissioned papers written by an international group of authors. An important subject, where things are changing very quickly. This book is written for more for academics and specialists, rather than managers who are at the front line of the training revolution.
The Human Resource Management Yearbook 1989, MICHAEL ARMSTRONG (Editor), Kogan Page in association with the Institute of Personnel Management (1989), 322 pp., Ll9.95. Contains topical articles, legislation, codes of practice, lists of useful addresses and a comprehensive bibliography, on the subject. Vital for U.K. readers operating in this area. The world-wide situation is covered in International Yearbook of
Dr W. Edwards Denning suggested a total revamping of the way managers manage. He believes change starts at the top with an informed, quality-conscious management; he is famous for his 14 Points for Managers and his Deadly Diseases of Management. He is acclaimed in Japan, where his approach has been widely accepted. Also, according to Sir John Egan, Deming’s work is essential reading for any chief executive who wants to ensure the world competitiveness of his company; quoted in Shaping the Corporate Future, KEVIN BARHAM and CLIVE RASSAM, Unwin Hyman (1989), 245 pp., Al2.95 (p. 22). This study describes how executives in some of Europe’s leading companies see the future for their organizations. Two issues that surfaced constantly were the growing globalization of business and the simultaneous increasing fragmentation of large companies. Not easy pressures to reconcile, as some of the most recent results show. A year can be a short time even for a ‘leading’ company!
Forecasting Financial Markets: The Analysis, TONY PLUMMER, Kogan 425.00.
Truth Page
Behind Technical (1989), 259 pp.,
The author begins with the premise that the behaviour of the individual investors is influenced to some degree by the attitudes of other investors with the result that people unwittingly begin to identify their own needs with those of a crowd. The successful investor must learn to stand back from the crowd’s influence and trade according to predetermined rules. Technical analysis is considered a valid method of predicting the influence of crowd behaviour on financial markets. Prices are found to follow simple mathematical relationships and are therefore predictable. . A book that should be read by all investors; although if it was, no doubt