Study Zone – February 2010

Welcome to our virtual student network
The new CMI website has much that is new as well as keeping all the very best content that will be familiar to you as a studying member.

To dive straight in and find out what’s available to help and support you in your studies, use the URL www.managers.org.uk/study. Why not make it a favourite?

Alternatively, if at any time you are navigating from the CMI ‘home’ page, click on: ‘Practical support & advice’ (on the pink bar); ‘Study support’ (on the left of the page); and then click on the links under ‘Already a studying member?’ (on the right of the page).

Either way, you will need to login to access the exclusive and wide ranging resources, including checklists, models, videos, library books and articles listed under each course unit as well as our Study Guides and links to information on specific decision-making models.

Rich resources
Management Direct is the name of our new database of resources (replacing Subject Search). It is designed to deliver our wide range of resources simply and efficiently.  You can start your own search using ‘New search’, or browse through lists of our popular Management Checklists, Models or Thinkers.  Simply clicking on the link will enable you to view a document. 

If you wish to explore a subject in more depth we suggest you browse through our book collection and use our simple ‘click to borrow’ tab to arrange for the selected title to be delivered to your door, on loan.

Access to e-books
As an alternative to the hardcopy textbooks, you have access to a range of 12 e-books free of charge.  These include a number of general management textbooks and also popular books on strategy, project management, marketing and finance.  Go to www.managers.org.uk/e-books and click on a title.  Once in the e-book area, use the navigation bar to browse the index and to link to specific sections, or search for a particular topic of interest.

If at any point in your studies you find it hard to locate the information you need, our team of professional information researchers is on hand to help, using their in-depth knowledge and expertise to investigate an area of interest on your behalf.  Submit your request via our online enquiry form at www.managers.org.uk/ask or call us on 01536 207400 (normal office hours) to discuss your needs.  Our aim is to deliver a response within 24 hours!

Community engagement
Many of you may already participate in discussion forums and blogs.  The new CMI community area www.managers.org.uk/community offers you the chance to engage with other managers and to benefit from their experience.  Post questions or outline a problem you face and see if other members can help by sharing their experiences managing similar issues.

Easy-to-use
Our brand new website is very easy to navigate, provides speedy access and clear and concise content that is updated on a daily basis. Added to this, the site will offer increasing opportunities to engage with other managers anywhere in the world, share ideas, discuss problems, find solutions and build your own profile – all we need to make this happen is for members like you to get engaged.

Try it out for size now and let us have your feedback – www.managers.org.uk/study

P.S. As a student member, you currently receive Professional Manager magazine. As part of the developments on the CMI website, we are publishing online news and features with opportunities for readers to add their views and opinions. Why not check it out at www.managers.org.uk/professionalmanager