While thousands of inspirational books aimed at upper management compete for space on the shelves of Hong Kong stores, newcomer Value Publications has had to look for a less crowded niche in the business book market.
With titles like Extending Credit and Collecting Cash and The 3 Rs of E-Mails, Value's books focus on specific skills rather than grand strategy, and are aimed at more junior employees, according to managing director Gregg Westrick.
'We're not targeting these books at management, but to a level below,' he said.
'I'm rather pleased that what we have is not something simply to add to the plethora of management books available. Who covers the basics that need to be there to prep for simply good efficient office work? That's a market that's perhaps not covered here.' The books, which look like school textbooks and include exercises and blanks to fill in, are written in simple English for readers who are not fluent in the language, although some are being translated into Chinese.
Subjects include the minutiae of communications - when to be friendly and when to be formal, for instance - customer satisfaction, personal improvement - such as the etiquette of eating a formal Western dinner - and how to get the best from staff and your organisation.
About 85 titles have been available in bookstores since November, priced between $60 and $160. A further 220 are being sold directly to companies for in-house training of staff from receptionists through to junior management, complete with practical projects and assessments.