How can small business managers juggle the hands-on running of their businesses with finding the time to research the latest thinking and update their skills? With so many books, journals and manuals available it can be difficult to know what is relevant and where to begin.

The Institute of Management (IM) has published Small Business Management, based on the Checklist series developed by the IM's Management Information Centre (MIC), in response to the 50,000 calls a year it receives from managers seeking quick-fix information. Often, managers are all asking the same questions and the MIC's checklists cover the most frequent enquiries condensed into practical pointers from the centre's library.

Small Business Management from the IM's Business Checklists series contains 30 checklists of wide-ranging topics, including running a business from home, writing a business plan, controlling costs, marketing and using a bank to the best advantage. It also offers the option to explore subjects further through recommended reading. Relevancy is guaranteed as these topics are based on managers' requests, rather than what an author believes is important.

Other Business Checklist titles include Marketing and Strategy, Personal Effectiveness and Career Development, People Management, Personnel Policies, and Training and Development.

Anna Lagerkvist