The Productive Edge: How U.S. Industries Are Pointing the Way to a New Era of Economic Growth

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Alan Greenspan was quoted in 1998 as saying "the current economic performance ... is as impressive as any I have witnessed in my near half-century of daily observation of the American economy." With inflation down and corporate profits pouring in, it's hard not to share in this optimism. But in the early '90s, things weren't quite this rosy. Richard Lester opens his book The Productive Edge with a recounting of that embarrassing day in Tokyo in 1992 when George Bush coughed up "the barf heard around the world" onto the lap of his dinner companion, the Japanese prime minister. At the time, American industry was in a funk, cowering before the economic might of Japan and Germany. Today, the roles seem reversed, but are they really?

Lester believes that the insecurity and volatility that marked those years is masked but still with us today. He points out that a decade of downsizing, corporate restructuring, and new management techniques has not improved the rate of productivity growth, which he believes to be the "most important measure of any nation's economic performance." The book first looks at the dismal state of productivity in the U.S., then considers examples and extracts lessons from companies in the automobile, steel, semiconductor, and cellular communications industries that have successfully bucked the trend. Lester attacks the total quality movement and corporate reengineering as ineffective and argues that to increase productivity and to lessen the insecurity and volatility lurking just below the surface of the bubbling economy, both business and government must spend more, not less, on research, development, and people. The Productive Edge will open your eyes to the problems inherent in today's economy and offer solutions useful to anyone in business and government. --Harry C. Edwards

Book Description

Case studies of U.S. industrial performance show how recent gains in productivity in key sectors can serve as models for renewed growth in the economy as a whole. Compared to the early years of this decade, when concerns about the global "competitiveness" of U.S. industries reached an anxiety-laden peak, the past few years have looked positively rosy: inflation and interest rates under control, millions of new jobs created, the federal budget deficit well off its peak, and the stock market rising to unprecedented heights. At least one dark cloud still lurks on the horizon: the lagging overall rate of productivity growth, which has been stuck in low gear since the 1970s, retarding concurrent improvements in living standards. Recently, however, significant new productivity gains have been reported in many important industries, both old and new, including automobiles, semiconductors, steel, electric power generation, and cellular communication. What is it about such industries, and individual firms in those industries, that has enabled them to buck the general trend--in effect, to regain their productive edge? In this wise and illuminating book, a leading authority on this crucial issue searches five recent success stories for clues to shape a new national strategy for economic growth.

The Productive Edge: How U.S. Industries Are Pointing the Way to a New Era of Economic Growth.(Review): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology

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The Productive Edge: How U.S. Industries Are Pointing the Way to a New Era of Economic Growth.(Review): An article from: Issues in Science and Technology
Richard Florida
Manufacturer: National Academy of Sciences
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from Issues in Science and Technology, published by National Academy of Sciences on December 22, 1998. The length of the article is 1516 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: The Productive Edge: How U.S. Industries Are Pointing the Way to a New Era of Economic Growth.(Review)
Author: Richard Florida
Publication: Issues in Science and Technology (Refereed)
Date: December 22, 1998
Publisher: National Academy of Sciences
Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Page: 84(3)

Article Type: Book Review

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Families and Economic Distress depicts the economic, psychological, and familial consequences of unemployment, reviews political responses to economic hardships, and provides policy recommendations.

Interdisciplinary scholars offer divergent approaches and perspectives, providing a multifaceted yet well-integrated discussion of what unemployment means for families and how policies could alleviate the hardships these families experience. Individual sections consider: the effect of economic dislocation; coping with economic distress; understanding unemployment; political responses to economic distress; the sources and impact of federal policy.

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This digital document is an article from Education, published by Project Innovation (Alabama) on September 22, 2000. The length of the article is 4123 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: A NEW PERSPECTIVE REGARDING CAPACITIES OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS TO CREATE WORK.(bibliography included)
Author: Ch Van Der Linde
Publication: Education (Refereed)
Date: September 22, 2000
Publisher: Project Innovation (Alabama)
Volume: 121 Issue: 1 Page: 54

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New Perspectives in Workers' Compensation (Frank W Pierce Memorial Lectureship and Conference Series)

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New Perspectives in Workers' Compensation (Frank W Pierce Memorial Lectureship and Conference Series)

Manufacturer: Ilr Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0875461433

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New Perspectives on Unemployment

Manufacturer: Transaction Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0878559787

Understanding Unemployment: New Perspectives on Active Labour Market Policies

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Understanding Unemployment: New Perspectives on Active Labour Market Policies
Eithne McLaughl
Manufacturer: Routledge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Book Description

Understanding Unemployment argues that unemployment is symptomatic of an inherently inefficient labor market founded on structured inequalities of locality, sex, race and age. The contributors provide a multidisciplinary explanation of why unemployment has been a continuing crisis, and offer positive perspectives on unemployment and the nature of effective and active labor market policies.

The contributors to this study are an eminent group of scholars drawn from the fields of economics, social policy, sociology, geography, law, and psychology. They address such critical issues as the nature of labor supply and demand, employer recruitment practices, the effect of unemployment on individuals and families, and the potential impact of European harmonization.

Waterfront Workers: New Perspectives on Race and Class (Working Class in American History)

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Waterfront Workers: New Perspectives on Race and Class (Working Class in American History)

Manufacturer: University of Illinois Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Work poor or working poor? A comparative perspective on New Zealand's jobless households.: An article from: Social Policy Journal of New Zealand

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Work poor or working poor? A comparative perspective on New Zealand's jobless households.: An article from: Social Policy Journal of New Zealand
Susan G. Singley , and Paul Callister
Manufacturer: Ministry of Social Development
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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This digital document is an article from Social Policy Journal of New Zealand, published by Ministry of Social Development on June 1, 2003. The length of the article is 8353 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Work poor or working poor? A comparative perspective on New Zealand's jobless households.
Author: Susan G. Singley
Publication: Social Policy Journal of New Zealand (Refereed)
Date: June 1, 2003
Publisher: Ministry of Social Development
Issue: 20 Page: 134(22)

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Book Description

The authors have written the book not only for traditional on-campus students but also for the growing number of part-timers, parents, working students, commuters, and other nontraditional students. The book provides a practical philosophy based on action. The book's goal is to help students be the best in college by showing students how to master the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in higher education--how to manage their time, improve their reading and note-taking skills, handle finances, work toward their career goals, and so on. It is also shows students that the skills one needs for success in college are the same skills one needs for success in life. The Third Edition is enhanced by an interactive CD-ROM (packaged with every text) that reinforces and extends the texts content. In a unique fashion, this book describes the three keys to success in college and life: staying power, mindfulness, and technology literacy. Persistence, commitment, and discipline are necessary for achievement-in college and out. Becoming a mindful learner and thinker leads to greater success. Achieving information literacy means learning how to find, evaluate, and use information of all kinds.

Learning Success: Being Your Best at College & Life, INSTRUCTOR'S EDITION, 3RD Media Edition, w/ CDR

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Learning Success: Being Your Best at College & Life, INSTRUCTOR'S EDITION, 3RD Media Edition, w/ CDR
Wahlstrom / Williams
Manufacturer: AI 0534573150
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MLV934

Learning Success: Being Your Best at College and Life- Media Edition- Text Only

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Learning Success: Being Your Best at College and Life- Media Edition- Text Only

Manufacturer: Thomson; Wadsworth
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0005224578

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Book Description The authors have written the book not only for traditional on-campus students but also for the growing number of part-timers, parents, working students, commuters, and other nontraditional students. The book provides a practical philosophy based on action. The book's goal is to help students be the best in college by showing students how to master the academic and personal skills needed to succeed in higher education--how to manage their time, improve their reading and note-taking skills, handle finances, work toward their career goals, and so on. It is also shows students that the skills one needs for success in college are the same skills one needs for success in life. The Third Edition is enhanced by an interactive CD-ROM (packaged with every text) that reinforces and extends the texts content. In a unique fashion, this book describes the three keys to success in college and life: staying power, mindfulness, and technology literacy. Persistence, commitment, and discipline are necessary for achievement-in college and out. Becoming a mindful learner and thinker leads to greater success. Achieving information literacy means learning how to find, evaluate, and use information of all kinds.

Learning Success: Being Your Best at College Media Edition

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Learning Success: Being Your Best at College Media Edition
Carl Wahlstrom , Brian K. Williams , and Carl M. Wahlstrom
Manufacturer: Wadsworth Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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In a unique fashion, this book describes the three keys to success in college and life: staying power, mindfulness, and technology literacy. Persistence, commitment, and discipline are necessary for achievement-in college and out. Becoming a mindful learner and thinker leads to greater success. Achieving information literacy means learning how to find, evaluate, and use information of all kinds.

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A bestseller, "The Leadership Wisdom of Jesus provides practical leadership lessons at a time when religious-themed works like "The Purpose-Driven Life are increasingly popular. This updated and expanded edition shows how Jesus' teachings apply to contemporary workplace issues, including how to motivate and empower employees. Manz challenges readers to evaluate their own leadership style, improve interpersonal management skills, and consider how time-tested spiritual wisdom can increase their effectiveness. The book explores such themes as servant leadership, letting go of judgment, and the wisdom of recognizing and affirming the value of every person. The new chapter addresses issues like accountability and justice in relation to compassion and forgiveness, and provides more examples of women in management and other leadership situations.

Customer Reviews:

Powerful truths seldom practiced.......2006-08-18

As a 20-year veteran of global sales training, leadership development and communications training, I found this book to be profoundly important. The lessons in leadership and communication that were taught by Christ are just as relevant today as they were in Palestine over 2000 years ago. And they will remain so eternally.

Cute, but useless.......2006-06-30

The book's theme is attractive, but useless. To explain using the author's own paradigm: Jesus Christ, for all of his goodness and potential as a leader, was still crucified. This is the same path that servant leadership leads to in the corporate world. While the spiritual world may have offered reward for this destiny, the business world is far less accommodating.

The book is well written and persuasive, perhaps good as the foundation of a management theory course (stressing the word theory, here). But in the end it is not worth the purchase simply based upon this reality.

Great for new managers and old who care for their followers.......1999-08-23

I am a Christian and was looking for a book on managagement that would help me to be a good leader and also help me learn to creatate a win-win type situation. I found that this book confurmed that what I have been doing in regard to my leadership style is how God would have me to be. I have to say that Mr. Manz stretches for the passage and the subject to meet, He in the most part does a very good job. I would recemmened this book to everyone, leader or not .It give good advice on how we should treat people.

Outstanding lessons in sound leadership practice........1998-09-07

I enjoyed Manz's perspective on leadership. In the age of mergers, aquisitions, and emphasis on the bottom line, Manz offers sound leadership for the business executive based on the fundamental wisdom of Jesus Christ. The subject manner offers huge challenges for the executive of today. Ideas such as lead by serving, passiveness, lifting up employees, and leadership through example are all sound but seem to be huge challenges in todays world. Those who are critical are unwilling to accept the challenge but it does work. It is refreshing to see a perspective based solely on the truth. Leadership based on the truth will not fail and I congradulate Dr. Manz on his stance and his thoughts.

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