LETTERS: It's all about participation, not winning

From Mr John Cole Sir: You report that adventure courses for managers may be doing more harm than good. I'm not surprised because the focus in such courses is merely on the tasks set.

Development of people involves learning from the processes involved and the skills used in carrying out tasks. Sensitive tutors help participants to identify and transfer all this to their normal work.

The outdoors presents an abnormal context (which can be stimulating) in which good training designers will use imagination rather than mountains and offer collaboration and other organisational options rather than physical competition.

Yours faithfully, JOHN COLE Sutton Coldfield West Midlands 5 January