Plenty of folk had been poking fun at Asda this week for its decision to model its training on the American management bestseller Gung Ho. The book sounds bizarre, given that it is all about the spirit of the squirrel, way of the beaver and gift of the goose. But Asda insists it has a serious application. "Gung Ho means working together and it's a very good read," said a spokesman. "Its about a struggling US company and how management turns it round by resting the focus on customers and the core business." Some 800 staff ­ from managers to section heads ­ have now been through training based on the book Asda says the book builds on its long established management philosophies, but puts in it in another form. {{TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT }}

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