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Debra Benton guarantees that if this book does not transform your life, she will personally give you your money back. She aims to advise competent senior managers how to be more effective by coaching themselves.

My main criticism of this book is that there is no reference to learning. The book’s objective is to coach the reader, but it does not help you identify how or why you learn.

Public-sector IT boost

IT systems in the public sector should be able to communicate smoothly with each other following last week’s launch of the e-Government Interoperability Framework, at www.citu.gov.uk.

Contracts investigated

The new Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) has launched an investigation into all 2,000 contracts awarded at the Millennium Dome, after former employees alleged that fraudulent claims were made on contracts. PricewaterhouseCoopers is to conduct the investigation.

Best business airlines

A low-cost airline featured among the top 10 most popular carriers for the first time ever in Company Barclaycard’s Travel in Business annual survey, announced last week at the Business Travel show.

Auctions ‘to save £700’

Using online auctions to buy automotive components could shave £700 off the cost of producing a vehicle, to the benefit of consumers, according to Nick Scheele, chairman of Ford in Europe. Scheele predicted that the Internet and e-commerce would transform vehicle manufacturing and said the potential savings were enormous.

Bills to fall in south

Customers could save 5 per cent on their water bills following the merger of four water companies in the south of England. The decision by Mid Kent Holdings, Sutton and East Surrey Water, Portsmouth Water and Bournemouth and West Hampshire Water follows big price cuts imposed this year by industry regulator Ofwat.

Language barrier found

Over 60 per cent of British firms that regularly export and purchase goods from abroad do not have foreign language skills, even though they believe that speaking more than just English would help their business. Research by Lloyds TSB Commercial revealed that French is the most popular language among firms that do have multilingual staff, followed by German and Spanish.

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Sourcerer (Rolls-Royce)

More haste, less speed

A realistic timetable is vital when implementing a new procurement system, warns Kevin Fane-Saunders, or the promised benefits may disappear