Guide for women bosses

THERE is no shortage of courses for women managers, but the Open University is adding to the number by launching a "Developing Women Managers" study pack, writes Roger Trapp.

Backed by the Department of Employment, the European Commission, the Training and Enterprise Council and the BBC, it is designed to "open up the issues confronting women at critical stages of their management careers both in the UK and continental Europe". The organisers hope it will help organisations develop their women managers as well as assist the women themselves to develop their own careers.

"We're trying to broaden awareness," said Rosemary Thomson, lecturer in management at the Open University Business School. "We're trying to target decision-makers, particularly those in Opportunity 2000."

Among the topics covered are women's leadership styles, personal career assessment and analysis, survival skills, sexual harassment, and the balance between work and family. It claims to make the link between individual management development and national performance standards, and "could make a significant contribution to companies' staff development and equal opportunities strategies".

Ms Thomson said: "I think it's raising issues that we need to be aware of, because there tends to be a lot of attitude barriers to promoting women."

The pack has two parts - one for the individual and the other for the tutor. The individual pack costs pounds 45 plus VAT, while the tutor pack costs pounds 450 plus VAT. Both can be obtained from Open University Educational Enterprises, 12 Cofferidge Close, Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes MK11 1BY.