Introduction

Any organization, however large or small, only thrives if there is a sense of purpose, pride and contentment prevailing across it. This idyllic situation is unlikely to be there on a constant or permanent basis and will fluctuate as pressures and changes routinely occur. Nevertheless a carefully structured organization that recognizes the collective as well as individual input and issues is more likely to be successful, and more likely to overcome short-term problems than a disjointed group or business units however talented they may be.

In the financial markets there is an environment that presents a very real challenge to the managers. There is a mystique about money and the financial markets in general often enhanced by both the positive thought of being at the very heart of the financial process that drives the domestic and global economy and the negative publicity of events such as the Mirror Group pension scandal and rogue traders and spectacular collapses of firms such as Enron. Then there are also the highly publicized mega-salaries that can be earned. There is also a variable level of business influenced by the economic outlook of countries and continents that leads to often very long hours being worked by many in what is a complex and diverse industry. Money, and how it works, is intriguing to everyone so this volatile cocktail makes the financial markets an exciting and potentially hugely rewarding occupation and attracts recruits from a wide-ranging background. In reality there is a lot of routine,...