The training-requests scenario outlined earlier in this chapter is more complex than it may at first appear.

A lot will depend on available resources. In hard times, training is often the first thing to go (which is not a good idea in itself), and if the organization has been cutting back on training, you may have no choice but to say no to both on the grounds that there's just no money for it.

Assuming there is at least some money, Dave's request may represent something of a dilemma. As a general principle, it's a good idea to do more for those employees you value more highly, and requests from a valued senior employee like Dave should be taken seriously. On the other hand, it's not clear that this course will be all that useful to him, or that his taking the course will benefit the company in any way. You must make an assessment of this. If you find that you have to say, essentially, that you don't think it's worth the money for him to take this course, it's also...