Information technology skills are a necessity in today's business world. Full stop. And managers don't get an opt out anymore: thus the trend towards IT training days to brief business professionals on the latest developments in office technology. (These managers will in turn of course, hopefully pass the training on to their own teams.)

Unfortunately, of course, many managers just don't manage to keep updated as much as they ideally should. Business is ultimately shaped by IT skills, along with the openness of the employer to develop those skills across the organisation. Improving IT skills to achieve competitive advantage should be on any manager's agenda.

Information technology training affects all aspects of running a business, particularly in so far as it relates to e-commerce. Whether you're a small family business or a big multinational company, innovation is seen as analogous with information technology expertise.

Business surveys prove beyond doubt that challenging IT training programmes are a vital element in the business plans of organisations and are essential in providing efficient and up-to-the-minute customer service. They are also an indicator of the sophistication of the organisation - and a guarantor of financial return.

What's on offer? There is training in the basic packages you'd expect anyone to know: Windows, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook and FrontPage. For managers the primary growth area is in web technology and e-commerce programs. The latter are of course particularly popular with managers and entrepreneurs eager to stake their business claim on the net.

Research has shown that managers from a non-IT background, in the present business environment, need an extra push to take up a course.

How IT training works: IT training has become more focused in recent years as businesses have moved away from standard public, generic sessions to customised programmes geared towards the needs and interests of the management team.

Typically the trainers will examine the company's business objectives and the team's training needs. This ensures that the exact requirements of the team or individual manager are met and that the courses are pitched at the correct level.

Courses tend to balance theory and practice and are tailored to match the experience level of the managers. Handouts and notes are offered, which are useful for managers in passing on the skills to their own teams.

The course can be delivered in the company you work in or at a training centre - these may be at the training company's building or, popularly, at a top - level technological school at one of the country's third - level institutes. Generally trainees are monitored to ensure that they are getting maximum benefit and that no one is lagging behind. You should make sure that you take advantage of post-course support provided by the training organisation.