Productivity and Quality through Science and Technology

Major topics addressed include the global competitive challenge, human resource strategies, information systems and automation, productivity, quality, manufacturing technologies, and managerial strategy. Although this collection emphasizes the role of science and technology in enhancing the competitive position, the editors and participants point out that science and technology are not the only requisites to achieving quality increases in productivity; the presentations do not fail to recognize the importance of the interpersonal or humanistic element in the managerial process. Many of the readings present actual case studies from the American corporate experience. Choice This volume addresses a key question confronting American businesses today: How can we simultaneously achieve gains in productivity and quality? The essays collected here report on individual company experiences and public policy measures for improving U.S. competitiveness in the global economy. The emphasis throughout is on the role of science and technology in enhancing competitiveness. The focus is on practices that have been proven effective in managing people, information, innovation, quality, productivity, and manufacturing strategy. Among the contributors are such distinguished business experts, scholars, and entrepreneurs as Rosabeth Moss Kanter, John Kenneth Galbraith, Nucor's Ken Iverson, Intel's Andrew Grove, and T. Boone Pickens.