The Human Equation

There's a disturbing disconnect in organizational management. On the one hand, research, experience, and common sense all increasingly point to a direct relationship between a company's financial success and its commitment to management practices that treat people as assets. Yet, even in the face of this mounting evidence, trends in management practice are actually moving away from these very principles. Why is common sense so remarkable uncommon when it comes to managing people? Why do organizations habitually overlook readily available opportunities to boost their financial performance?

In this critical examination of the people management practices prevalent in many of today's companies, bestselling author and management expert Jeffrey Pfeffer argues that much of the conventional wisdom is actually tremendously destructive to both employment relationships and organizational performance. Pfeffer marshals impressive evidence, analysis, and vivid real-life examples to prove a direct, unassailable correlation between good people management and profits.

Drawing from his research into companies ranging from the Men's Wearhouse, Service-Master, Volkswagen, and AES to Apple Computer, United Airlines, and banks in the U.S. and Germany, Pfeffer builds an irrefutable business case that the culture and capabilities of an organization — derived from the way it manages its people — are he real and enduring sources of competitive advantage. According to The Human Equation, this success comes from taking seriously the often heard, yet frequently ignored adage that "people are our most import asset."

Pfeffer explores why even smart organizations fall into harmful patterns, when managing people, and offers specific, actionable steps that can be taken to achieve improved performance. With remarkable clarity and directness, Pfeffer:

• Identifies troubling trends in compensation
• Suggests alternatives to downsizing
• Examines the economic effects of labor unions, giving special considerations to achieving positive union-management relations
• Questions the assumptions that market forces alone are sufficient
• Explores positive, effective roles for public policy

The right book at the right time, The Human Equation provides much needed guidance for managing people more profitable, more sensibly, and more humanely.

• Part I: People-Cenetered Management and Organizational Success
1. Looking for Success in All the Wrong Places
2. The Business Case for Managing People Right
3. Seven Practices of Successful Organizations>
4. Aligning Business Strategy and Management Practices
• Part II: Barriers to Implementing Performance Knowledge: How Conventional Wisdom is Wrong
5. Ten Reasons Why Smart Organizations Do Dumb Things
   
6. The "New Employment Contract" and the Virtual Work Force
   
7. How Common Approaches to Pay Cause Problems
   
8. Can You Manage with Unions?
   
9. Market Failures and the Role of Public Policy
10. People, Profits, and Perspective