Every manager has a story to tell. Find out how one management professional tackles a fictional dilemma. The story may be made up, but the solutions are tried and true. In this installment, Peter Clark spins a yarn of what can happen when a team member's talent goes to his head.

Turn to The Last Word, where software professionals who care about quality give you their opinions on hot topics. This month, Esther Derby explains why interpersonal skills can do more than boost your popularity; they can help you excel in the workplace.

Wondering how to maintain a competitive edge in this era of outsourcing and downsizing? Become an entrepreneur. Try managing your career as if it were a business, because in many ways it is. You will find your work more rewarding—and you'll increase your value to your employer.

Just because you have a problem does not mean you are the best person to solve it. In this issue's Technically Speaking, Mike Cohn recommends truly involving users as participants in the process instead of just asking them what they want.