Updating the technical manager

Summary form only given. The increasing recognition that sophisticated management of knowledge is essential to maintaining competitive advantage suggests the importance for firm investment in strategic management development. This paper presents the argument that management development must be results oriented and closely linked to business goals such as competitiveness, disseminating common culture, and driving change. As a result, management development has become a force for not only improving the skills and knowledge but for overall organizational development. This paper discusses the role of management development programs in fulfilling the following criteria: improving management skills of technical managers; encouraging the technical managers from different disciplines to work together cross-nationally to share product and market information; helping firms define the role of the general manager in developing clear business objectives and performance measures in line with their missions and vision; and providing a mechanism for effective management networking and enhancement of professional interpersonal relationships. The discussion includes a review of the trends in management development, the links between management development and strategy, and role of managerial skills in gaining a sustained competitive advantage. The efforts of a multinational company to develop these skills in technical managers is highlighted.