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Good management cases describe real‐world situations faced by managers. Explains the case methods course as an instrument in management education and training which provides participants with the opportunity to develop analytical, decision‐making and communications skills. Suggests that, as the group is acknowledged to be an effective vehicle for case discussion, the ability to listen and, especially, to disagree is a sine qua non.

Strategy and strategic intent should be about winning customers and meeting customers′ increasing demands. Outlines the seven “strategic imperatives” on which companies must focus in order to win the fight for customers. Concludes with the warning that an organization that is not consciously addressing all seven imperatives runs the risk of not being around for the twenty‐first century.

Describes an effort by a large US company, GTE, to evaluate the impact of a major management development effort and to decide how best the group responsible for the course should operate in the future to be most effective in performing its role. The results of the study provided insight on how various operations respond to an internal supplier of management development and how that group could be more effective in meeting the needs of its internal customers.

The training programme organised by Arthur Andersen is described, which was designed to bring together and train together those personnel from their offices worldwide, who were engaged on the management consulting side of the business. The course was seen to be a success, particularly with respect to the global team‐building goal.

In recent years, organisations around the world have been seriously affected by a range of economic, political and social upheavals that have gathered momentum in most parts of the globe. The viability of the conventional (pyramidal) organisational structures is being challenged in conjunction with major shifts in the roles of mid and top managers. In many countries, the pace of the above socio‐economic events and uncertainties is happening at an unprecedented pace. Some markets are showing signs of potential gigantic expansions while others (historically prosperous) are on the verge of complete collapse (Dent, 1991). In responding to the socio‐economic challenges of the nineties, organisations (across the board) have resorted to dismantling the conventional pyramidal structure and adopting so‐called “leaner” structures (see Zeffane, 1992). The most common struggle has been to maintain market share in an economic environment increasingly characterised by excess labour supply (Bamber, 1990; Green & Macdonald, 1991). As organisations shifted their strategies from “mass production” to “post‐fordism” (see, for example Kern and Schumann, 1987), there has been a significant tendency to emphasise flexibility of both capital and labour in order to cater for the niche markets which are claimed to be rapidly emerging, world‐wide. This has resulted in massive organisational restructuring world‐wide.

Aarhus Kommunes Biblioteker (Teknisk Bibliotek), Ingerslevs Plads 7, Aarhus, Denmark. Representative: V. NEDERGAARD PEDERSEN (Librarian).

“What kind of culture does Walt Disney Company (WDC) want to create? This case uses the experiences of a young visitor to one of WDC's resort hotels to set the stage for an analysis of selecting, hiring, training, and retaining and how those practices are governed by the culture of a large American company. The situation provides an opportunity to explore human resource policies, organizational design as well as how all those elements reinforce the culture.

The case opens with an interaction between a young Animal Kingdom Lodge guest and an employee (or cast member as the company refers to employees). There were many different ways the exchange could have unfolded yet the experience was magical for the youngster. What made this exchange a memorable experience for this young guest? Would Walt Disney have been surprised?”

Organizations have been seeking new ways to satisfy the requirement for continuous learning. It is argued that a blend of on‐the‐job education, skill development and action learning will be required to fuse individual development with corporate development. Some corporations are adopting corporate universities to ensure that education is relevant and to help them become learning organizations. The development of such institutions is considered and a number are described.

It has often been said that a great part of the strength of Aslib lies in the fact that it brings together those whose experience has been gained in many widely differing fields but who have a common interest in the means by which information may be collected and disseminated to the greatest advantage. Lists of its members have, therefore, a more than ordinary value since they present, in miniature, a cross‐section of institutions and individuals who share this special interest.

This issue is a selected bibliography covering the subject of leadership.