The minimum system requirements for operating this disc are: For Windows: 486 or above, 33 MHz, 8 MB RAM, sound card, 256 colour display, and double‐speed CD‐ROM drive. For Macintosh: 68030 or higher with similar or better hardware to above, System 6.0.7 or higher.
Coaching and Counseling Practices. An Interactive Workshop in Facilitation Skills is the second in a series produced to help management and staff cope with organizational changes especially in re‐designed or developing businesses. The three matters stressed in the accompanying literature are: downsizing, re‐engineering, and adjusting to ever‐increasing competition; but there is no particular concentration on these features in the disc itself. It is entirely straightforward to use and, though it has built‐in help, this will rarely be needed. The user (self‐paced, always) starts with a screen which offers the headings: Background, Setting the Scene, Coach Processors, Fundamental Skills, Special Applications, Successful Coaching Situations, and Resource Center. Each of these leads to further subdivisions until a particular feature of current interest is reached. At this stage there are interactive exercises, opportunities for consulting definitions, and controlled role‐play. The enquirer is thus led to meaningful answers to whatever counseling or coaching problems have arisen. Important questions are posed; and the user can compare his answers with given, approved, replies. A few case studies add exercise material.
Because interaction between individuals is so important a feature of happy, successful life, there have been many approaches to solving everyday difficulties, Such approaches differ in form according to the underlying discipline as, for example, those based on psychology, sociology, ethics, or religion. Each defines its terms in its own specialized words, and in language which may seem esoteric to non‐specialists.
The current disc is written in what has been called “business‐speak” where choice of words is made particularly to impress. So the disc will appeal strongly to business managers who, in large organizations, have built up personnel relations into a career function. However, if the solutions to particular problems are translated into everyday language there seems to be little advice offered other than that based on common‐sense gained from experience of people’s usual reactions.
The disc will not appeal to individuals who object to filling in forms about themselves and others. To force them to co‐operate could well induce yet another stress situation. To lead to further information the disc has a short bibliography of references and a list of useful Internet sites.
