The IPM examination system provides a unique route into professional personnel practice. The "Management Studies" series forms the essential reading for all IPM students. Management Studies I provides practical introductory texts ideally suited to students on the Professional Management Foundation Programme while Management Studies 2 covers the core subject areas of the IPM Stage 2 syllabus. All these texts will prove equally useful for practising managers who wish to enhance their understanding of contemporary management techniques and methods. The basic pillars of management - planning, organising, motivating and controlling - provide the framework to bring order out of chaos. In this book, Michael Armstrong shows how successful managers manage their own time and work, and use the key interpersonal skills of communicating, delegating, counselling and leadership to get the best from others. He provides students with invaluable insights into the structure of typical organisations and shows how the different functions interact to serve corporate strategies and goals.