1 Preparing for the real world New graduates prepare themselves for their transition into the business world. 2 Entering the real world The characters find employment in different types of organizations. 3 Making sense of the real world The differences between their organizations cause the characters to struggle with how differences impact the effectiveness of workforce management strategies. 4 Assessing organizational context The impact of the characteristics of the different contexts on policies and programs are assessed and ways to accommodate differences are explored. 5 Facing a down economy Changing economic conditions impact organizations differently and ways to operate effectively under the new conditions are sought. 6 Evaluating alternative HR strategies The different organizations attempt to find strategies that enable them to cope effectively with environmental realities. 7 Learning from others The characters attend a professional association conference and attempt to find answers for their own organizations to pressing issues. 8 Expanding horizons Annette begins facing global workforce management issues and attempts to find ways to deal with issues raised by operating with a culturally diverse workforce.

9 You win some, you lose some Don struggles with convincing the senior management team at the utility that changes are needed, meeting with limited success. 10 Considering new career frontiers Rob begins a transition into the academic world and Don continues to be frustrated in selling what he believes to be the right path. 11 Life in the (not so?) real world Rob finds his world to have transformed as he attempts to find how the findings of research can be reconciled with the practices common in.