Managing on the Internet

Citation

Cronau, D.A. (2000), "Managing on the Internet", Library Hi Tech, Vol. 18 No. 4, pp. 383-386. https://doi.org/10.1108/lht.2000.18.4.383.2

This is an intriguing little book aimed at business management students, but it is also a useful activity workbook for brighter late primary students through to first‐year university students. The authors are both experienced tertiary educators and authors. The book is designed to help students explore management theory and practice issues through the Internet. It is described as a “viewing and doing” journey where Internet skills are developed while the principles of management are learned. The goals of the book are to:

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  Identify and describe the impact Web technology is having on organisations.

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  Understand some of the technical aspects of the Web and how they apply to management practice.

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  Use the Internet as a worldwide network and research tool to add value to the study of management, as well as bringing the realities of the job market to a student’s studies.

Three fictional characters guide learning through the book, one a management consultant and experienced management educator, the second a Webmaster and Internet expert, and the third a management student and novice Internet user. This is a fun and informative book for people of any age – it is not juvenile in its approach and treats the reader as an intelligent learner and active partner in the journey, using mature conversational language.

The book takes the “viewing and doing” approach seriously and is very hands‐on‐keyboard in its activities. Each chapter may stand alone as a topical commentary with exercises. The authors aimed to “have the reader involved in exploring the virtual world of management”, and they have certainly succeeded in presenting and integrating management and Internet skills/knowledge development for the reader.

Chapter 1 refreshes skills and knowledge by examining issues related to connecting and using the Net. The other chapters cover management resources on the Internet (Chapter 2), exploring the work environment using the Internet (Chapter 3), managerial practice and the Internet (Chapter 4), managing people for productivity (Chapter 5), contemporary issues in shop‐floor management (Chapter 6), and management into the future (Chapter 7). Chapters are about a dozen pages each in length, and there is good use of pictorial keys, diagrams, bold and italic print.

One excellent aspect of this work is the generosity of Internet references, nicely spaced throughout the book. The section titled Online Management Resources, the last five pages of the book, is invaluable. This is a listing of Internet references and addresses under the following headings: Reference materials, Bodies and resources, Business magazines online (small business), Business news periodicals, General business/management resources, Management development/training, Work teams, Quality management. This part of the book takes a universal focus, presenting references from organisations around the world.

Baskin and Adam are recommended to most libraries and to readers of just about any age and ability level. It is also recommended to other librarians for personal reading.