ABSTRACT
A m anager is a craftsperson whose raw m aterial is information.1
Clinicians do not, I think, regard managem ent as a skill with an associated evidence base. When one starts to use techniques that are more grounded in theory it is interesting to watch other professionals' changing atti tudes. Senior nurse m anager
A craftsperson should understand the nature of the material with which he or she works and be skilful in his or her use of it. This chapter seeks to help managers, and clinicians in their managerial role, to understand the nature of the information with which they work and to improve their knowledge and skill in doing so. Unless that is done, evidence-based manage ment cannot be practised successfully.
