Book excerpt: Based on the set of managerial competencies specially developed by the American Management Association for a new core management curriculum, The AMA Guide to Management Development provides readers with a comprehensive understanding of how to continually develop managers throughout their entire organization. The book considers every factor important in management development, and features in-depth information on topics including: • The five major categories of competencies, including business knowledge and the ability to lead and manage change and innovation • The specific skills needed, including communication skills and people management skills • Alternative methods organizations may use to develop managers, including different types of training and evaluation of learning effectiveness Management development is a crucial task for every enterprise. This book gives readers the guidance they need to make sure that both current and future managers have the abilities their organizations need to prosper.