What's new - human resource management products

HR Magazine, April, 1997 by Beth Rogers

Diversity

The Dartnell Corp. of Chicago has just released "Respect on the Job," a newly revised video training program designed to heighten managers' and supervisors' awareness of discriminatory practices in the workplace. The program can help to reduce turnover, increase productivity, and decrease exposure to lawsuits by preventing discrimination. The video examines the most common complaints and shows managers how to recognize different types of discrimination. For more information circle 245 on the reader inquiry card.

The video "No Monolith," from Karol Video of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., can help change perceptions about African Americans as a "monolithic force" in our society. The video was written, produced, and directed by filmmaker and law enforcement officer, Kenneth Johnson. The video attempts to illustrate the diversity of opinions within the black community. "No Monolith" is a training resource that can help people understand the multicultural diversity issues within businesses and educational institutions. The video package includes a comprehensive discussion guide. For more information circle 242 on the reader inquiry card.

Training and Development

The International City/County Management Association in Washington, D.C., has published and released the third edition of Effective Supervisory Practices: Better Results Through Teamwork. The book covers all aspects of supervision in government organizations - from planning and organizing to evaluating performance. The book also addresses topics such as managing stress, improving customer service, and increasing the diversity of the workplace. Each chapter includes short vignettes describing supervisory problems to stimulate thought and group discussions. For more information circle 241 on the reader inquiry card.

Video Arts Inc. of Chicago has released a remake of the training program "The Unorganized Manager," which features comic actor John Cleese. In the video, Cleese portrays St. Peter, the heavenly management consultant who offers tips for improving workplace organization and time-management skills. The videos illustrate the impact that poor organization has on efficiency, morale, teamwork and productivity. A leader's guide for developing time-management training sessions is included. For more information circle 231 on the reader inquiry card.

Bernstein & Associates of Atlanta have just released Design-A-Course 2.0, easy-to-use software for developing computer-based training (CBT) courses. A menu-driven question-and-answer module guides users through the process of creating CBT courses. All training courses can be customized for look, content and method of grading. Design-A-Course can also support audio and video modules within the course materials. For more information circle 243 on the reader inquiry card.

Want to keep up with your business reading but just don t have the time? Audio-Tech Business Book Summaries Inc. of Chicago may have the answer for you. Audio-Tech summarizes the top business books on 45-minute audiocassettes. Recent titles on tape include Clicking by Faith Popcorn and Only the Paranoid Survive by Andy Grove. All tapes include easy-to-reference booklets. For more information circle 239 on the reader inquiry card.

Disney University Professional Development Programs is now offering two new professional development programs called Customer Loyalty: Keeping the Promise; and Foundations of Leadership at the Wait Disney World Resort. The 3 1/2-day programs allow business professionals to learn how core business philosophies are applied at Wait Disney World, one of the world's premiere best-managed resorts. For more information circle 234 on the reader inquiry card.

What Supervisors Need to Know About Sexual Harassment is a new multimedia program released by Interactive Employment Training Inc. of Jericho, N.Y. The CD-ROM-based program can help foster responsible employment practices and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace. The program creates a virtual office in which the viewer becomes an assistant to the senior HR professional and is given "files" on different workplace scenarios. The viewer is then asked to evaluate each scenario and decide if it was an incident of sexual harassment. Wrong choices are explained and correct answers reinforced. For more information circle 237 on the reader inquiry card.

The American Compensation Association of Scottsdale, Ariz., is offering a series of four videotapes from its 1996 satellite broadcasts. The videos - "Management Incentives: Middle Management and Above," "Team-Based Rewards and Recognition," "Moving from Managed Care' to Managed Health," and "Team-Based Management Performance" - are designed to keep managers up-to-date with the latest trends in compensation, health care and performance management. For more information circle 233 on the reader inquiry card.

Network versions of its award-winning CD-ROM professional development training courses are now available from Tarragon Training International in Belmont, Mass. The network versions allow organizations to combine the instructional benefits of interactive multimedia with the efficiency of network delivery. The new versions include MPEG and QuickTime full-motion video playback options, and video stills that emulate full-motion video delivery. The first Tarragon courses offered in network versions are "Everyone Sells" and "Turning Problems into Opportunities." For more information circle 228 on the reader inquiry card.