The virtual manager is here: Leading article

St Albans accountants are beating a revolutionary path. Not for them the endless rounds of introductions, forgotten names, and sweaty handshakes whenever new staff arrive. Instead, computers will provide virtual tours of the office layout, and its inhabitants.

The accountants think it will save them time and money - but, oh dear, why do they have to live up so obviously to their impersonal stereotype? Don't they know that a little human contact goes a very long way?

Still, they might have a germ of an idea. Like, virtual goodbyes. Managers could avoid all the pain of firing people by getting a virtual version of themselves to do it instead. Or is that such a good idea ...?