05/06/96 HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL--ON THE DESKTOP

HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL--ON THE DESKTOP

WELL, ALMOST. THE B-SCHOOL has come out with Interactive Manager, a set of CD-ROMs designed for companies to purchase as in-house teaching tools. Developed in collaboration with AT&T, Coopers & Lybrand, Morgan Stanley, Xerox, and other companies, the disks use Harvard's renowned case-study method to teach advanced management skills.
First, students view video clips in which actors present a challenging work situation. Users can delve into simulated phone calls and E-mail, too. Then, choosing from a menu of responses, they can see how the situation might evolve. The disks also provide lots of text and minilectures from academic experts.
The first three titles, priced at $450 per person for 25-49 students, are High Performance Management, Managing Across Difference, and Teams That Work. The school is also developing courses for distribution on the World Wide Web.
EDITED BY JOHN W. VERITY