Baker has written a practical, procedure-oriented book with the purpose of helping individuals identify the causes of failure of performance appraisal systems in order to improve their design and operation. To do this, he describes procedures useful for identifying discrepancies in a performance appraisal system, determining if the system is being effectively implemented, and assessing whether the desired objectives are being achieved. . . . In general I would agree that Baker has met his goals, and his book will be useful to practitioners if they are interested in understandig what they should be doing to conduct effective performance appraisals. . . . an organized, generally well-written book on the performance appraisal process.

"Personnel Psychology"

Here is a practical, procedure-oriented guide for managers, supervisors, human resource professionals, and training and development specialists--to help identify the causes of failure of performance appraisal and supervision. Baker begins with a discussion of the need for procedures to identify the causes of failure of performance appraisal and supervision, and describes a sound practical concept of evaluation that can be used to meet this need. Systems analysis is used to describe a comprehensive performance appraisal system that contains all of the parts necessary to function effectively. The consequences of failure are also enumerated for each step of the process. Procedures are included to identify discrepancies in the system design of an organization, to determine if the parts of the system are being carried out in practice, and to determine if the desired objectives are being achieved. These procedures also include ways to determine if appropriate methods are being used to measure performance and ways to control human error. Finally, the requirements for a continuing evaluation effort are discussed.

The business world is in the midst of a radical transformation. The turbulent 90s have made fast responses, innovation, adaptability and customer orientation key behaviours of tomorrow's successful organization. These capabilities depend on a radical change in the form and character of all aspects of business organization and management. In Managing for the Future the author details the essential organizing concepts and patterns that will characterise tomorrow's successful organization. The book examines the emerging and alternative approaches to: the business process, the customer, the management of people, organizational design, the uses of information technologies, organizational culture, the management of the business, and life in the Tomorrow's Organization. This book is essential reading for those executives and managers who are passionately concerned with what has to be done today to re-shape their businesses to succeed in the turbulent 90s. It is an important guide to the characteristics of the successful organizations of the 1990s and beyond, and on the transformations that are required to bring it about. It is perhaps above all a participants guide to the future that is rushing towards us all.

As the world s economy develops into a more dynamic, fast-moving, and unpredictable entity, it is crucial that the workers who create wealth have the ability to assess and respond to new and unforeseen challenges. In other words, the future will require a more competent workforce. What, though, does this mean in practice? In this, the fully revised second edition of Christine Velde s book, a variety of researchers from around the world provide a truly international perspective on the issue. They help to redefine the term competence. Rather than responding to challenges using a pre-existing set of skills, they see competence as having the ability to assess new situations, and then adapt one s response accordingly, particularly in collaboration with others.

Providing the reader with insightful perspectives about competence in different situations and contexts, the book s sections explore the concept of competence in industry and vocational education, in schools and colleges, in small businesses and companies, and in universities. The interpretation, experience and teaching of competence in the workplace is boiled down to five essential components that in themselves represent an argument for a more holistic conception of competence. Velde herself concludes the book by synthesizing and reflecting on the contents.

This book provides the reader with insightful perspectives on competence, and the characteristics of learning environments in different workplace contexts. Drawing on phenomenographic insights allows it to present a more enlightened view of competence, at the same time as opening up an international dialogue about the meaning and interpretation of competence in the workplace. Useful not only to educators and researchers, this volume will also assist leaders and managers in a variety of contexts to develop more meaningful workplaces."

Dear Reader This is a book about mobile virtual work. It aims at clarifying the basic concepts and showing present practices and future challenges. The roots of the book are in the collaboration of few European practitioners and - searchers, who met each other under the umbrella of the Swedish SALTSA programme (see next page) in January 2002 in Stockholm. The group was first called 'ICT, Mobility and Work Organisation' but redefined itself quickly as 'Mobile Virtual Cooperative Work' group. The change of the name reflects the development of reasoning in the group. We could not find much material on mobile work, certainly not systematic studies, - though a growing interest in mobile technologies and services could be found. Practices of telework and virtual organizations were better known, but we were convinced that the combination with mobile work was so- thing different and new. Our main target became to understand what it was all about. The next step was an expert meeting in October 2004 at Ranas Castle again in Sweden. A wider group of experts was invited to present their views on mobile virtual work and ideas about book chapters from different perspectives of working life. Some of the expertise could be found through the network of the AMI@Work family created by the New Working En- ronments unit of the European Commission's Information Society Dir- torate-General. Also close collaboration was developed with the related MOSAIC program."

The competitive edge and creativity which globalization demands of corporations and states alike requires fresh management methods. There is growing awareness that unlocking human potential is a key to sustaining growth. However, hierarchical management structures, which reward adherence to outdated thinking and hamper creative and energetic citizens and employees, are still widespread in government and private sectors in Southeast Asia. The articles on Human Resource Development (HRD) in this volume span and link the concerns of states and business. The first section contains advice on HRD for government leaders and policymakers. The second considers HRD in the corporate sector, with analysis and advice on strategic HRD, developing competence, and corporate case studies. ""HRD for Developing States and Companies"" is intended to be an inspirational and practical guide for change and will be useful for statesmen, policymakers, businesspersons and students of management.

The authors review the state of the art in employee development, identifying what human resource development is, how it functions in today's organizations, what kinds of programs and methods are available, and how such programs are evaluated. They offer an integrated and comprehensive model of employee development through which programs can be implemented and coordinated in order to achieve better results. Finally, they provide case studies of two organizations that have utilized the integrated approach to employee development that they advocate.

This book draws on studies that quantify the link between individual development and organizational value creation. Strengthening this link is key to building a strong sense of affiliation and a more productive workforce. The author provides frameworks for characterizing the workforce, listening to the organization, using inclusion as a key differentiator, and applying mathematical modeling techniques to explore and quantify related areas.

We are entering an era when it makes sense to move away from mere retention strategies of control and toward more mutually beneficial strategies of affiliation. This trend can be traced to the recognition of the knowledge worker's influence and the value of human capital in today's economy. To succeed in this emerging work world, organizational leaders and human resource professionals must create new relationships with individuals built around the concept of affiliation. This will mean changed roles and behaviors that respect mutual interests, and will require a culture of inclusion expressed internally through workforce diversity, externally through workforce partnerships, at a community level through philanthropy, and globally through the pursuit of a greater good.

This book, first published in 1987, gives valuable insights into the characteristics of employment in the hotel and catering industry and useful guidance on personal techniques. It deals with fundamental issues, such as personnel policy, as well as with practical techniques. Human Resource Management in the Hotel and Catering Industry has been written as an introductory text to human resource management in the hospitality industry. It is suitable reading for students, line managers and personnel managers in the many different sectors of the business.

The Social Organization sheds light on how social media usage is transforming the way organizations make sense of their identity and processes. By adopting a human capital perspective and merging research from communication studies and management, it argues that social media could be fruitfully exploited by organizations as a competitive advantage.

This book discusses the concepts of volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA) that are the core of various paradigms used in strategic management to understand competitive advantage as well as flexibility in organizational boundaries. It serves as a valuable reference resource in the area of VUCA markets. An increase in the levels and types of uncertainty has important implications potentially for the durability of a company's advantages, the way firms learn and adapt, approaches for managing innovation and knowledge, and the attractiveness of different strategies and organizational models. In today's world, strategic flexibility in VUCA is essential for business leaders to sustain market advantage and attain a clear vision amid the chaos. Business leaders who stay focused and are aware of external volatility as the prevalent characteristic are successful, while those who are not flexible in this VUCA world and lock themselves into fixed positions lose out. The book includes empirical and conceptual research papers along with case studies and models discussing strategies for emerging markets in volatile and uncertain environments. It also covers a variety of issues, including innovation, people and processes, financial management, and leadership and strategies in VUCA markets. Apart from research fraternity and academia, the contents of the book will be useful for practitioners as well as industry watchers.

For the first time in one volume, the leading proponents and practitioners of action learning define their approach, and describe how action learning and executive and organizational development are practiced in the public, private and 'not-for-profit' sectors around the world. Described in detail are the experiences of General Electric, Merck, Volvo, Japanese and Korean multinationals, as well as the Canadian Civil Service and The World Council of Churches, among others.

Contextualising humanitarian work in history, justice, methods and professional ethics, this book articulates process skills for transformational partnerships between diverse organizations, motivating education, organizational learning and selecting the disaster workforce.

This book provides practical insights into improving the effectiveness of labour negotiations in the public sector. It outlines the common conceptions, goals, needs, and obligations the different parties involved in public sector labour negotiations bring with them to negotiations. It also offers useful guidelines for all participants in negotiations - showing, for example, how management can assess the added cost of a proposed employee contract, how unions can most effectively prepare a case for arbitration, and how employees can best handle strikes should negotiations break down.

The Islamic labor market rests on the principles of the free market exchange of Islamic economics. Regrettably, the latter has failed to keep pace with the rapidly growing academic and professional developments of the former. Much of the published work within Islamic economics is idealistic if not radically ideological with little relevance to the Islamic labor market, leaving students of Islamic economics without a coherent body of economic theory to understand the practical objectives of Shariah that gives a sense of direction to the developments in this field. Drawing upon received sources of goals of Shariah, the authors present an independent academic work which: Emphasizes the common conceptual grounds of labor market behavior shared by the objectives of Shariah approach as well as the conventional approach to economics. Adopts standard tools of contemporary economics to explain the industrial relations. Extends the conventional scope of the labor market and forces of the labor market under the umbrella of Shariah. Enables readers and practitioners of Islamic economics to make economic sense of Shariah compliance and human resource development. Explains how the economics of Shariah is liable to offer moral guidance and a sense of direction to regulators and practitioners of the Islamic labor market. Labor in an Islamic Setting will be of interest to postgraduate students, academics, middle and senior management in both the western and the Islamic business communities, researchers and policy makers.

Fact: Wellness programs benefit the bottom line. Motorola, for example, found that each dollar invested in wellness benefits returned $3.93 in health and disability cost savings. "Next-Generation Wellness at Work " tells how to get in on the action. A nuts-and-bolts, how-to guide for managers, it delivers the latest thinking on how to take full advantage of the benefits that wellness programs can offer both employees and companies. And the effort couldn't be more important. With the soaring cost of medical care and the increase in obesity and lifestyle-related illnesses, there is growing recognition that companies must build a culture of health and enable employees to become better guardians of their own well being. This book illustrates, in detail, exactly how to accomplish those goals.

Good health saves in ways that go beyond smaller insurance premiums. It also has a direct relationship with employee productivity, making wellness a matter of high-level strategy. However, many workplace wellness programs are not as effective as they could be. They are not comprehensive, not long-term, and not marketed to the people who could benefit most. Wellness expert Stephenie Overman helps managers take practical steps to overcome these deficiencies and build successful workplace wellness programs that result in tangible, bottom-line benefits for organizations. And the book starts from the ground up, first by explaining how to take a company's temperature, get management buy-in, and design a program that fits a company's unique needs and situation.

Building a program is one thing, but will they come? That's where Overman's expertise is essential: She shows how to motivate workers to take advantage of the program and reap its many benefits. And she explains how to partner with local health providers and integrate methods to promote psychological well being, two key ingredients for success. Not many corporate programs benefit both employees and the company equally, but a well-planned wellness initiative will boost the health and productivity of employees, leading to a happier--and more competitive--workplace.

REMOTE WORKING IS HERE TO STAY. But 70% of remote workers say they feel isolated, and many managers struggle to know how to support them. In Your Resource is Human, award-winning marketer and global remote business leader Melissa Romo explores the five unspoken remote work emotions, and identifies the five remote-ready leadership behaviors that can help all teams, large or small, rise above the sometimes emotional undertow of working alone. This book aims to give remote leaders the counsel and courage to embrace empathy, adapt their communication and inspire optimism so they can help their people do their best work. MELISSA ROMO has more than 20 years' experience as a business leader for FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies around the world and has spent more than a decade building and leading globally dispersed teams. She earned an MBA from the Yale School of Management, where she studied organizational behavior and leadership, has been recognized as a marketing and advertising industry "40 Over 40," and is a regular speaker on communication, content and community for business events around the world.

This book explores the core themes of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) highlighting the digital transformation that has been occurring in society and business. Representing an interface between technologies in the physical, digital and biological disciplines the book explores emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage, and quantum computing. The findings of collaborative research studies on the potential impact of the 4IR on the labour markets, occupations, future workforce competencies and skills associated with eight industry sectors in Australia are reported. The sectors are: agriculture and mining; manufacturing and logistics; health, medical and nursing; education; retail; financial services; government services and tourism.

"Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management" publishes monograph length conceptual papers designed to promote theory and research on important substantive and methodological topics in the field of human resources management. It is considered to be one of the most respectable publications in the field of human resources management and acts as a primary resource to both individuals and series.

Introduction to Intelligent Simulation of Complex Discrete Systems and Processes: RAO Language focuses on a unique approach in modeling and simulation of complex systems. In this volume are considered features of complex systems and processes, their mathematical description, and modeling. Theoretical foundations of the RAO (Resource-Action-Operation) language as well as its syntax and utilisation are given. Examples of simulation models of different complexity levels, related to different fields, are also presented. The RAO intelligent modeling system, introduced and described in Introduction to Intelligent Simulation of Complex Discrete Systems and Processes is unique because: (1) it makes simulation modeling universal for the classes of systems and processes modeled; (2) it is simple to modify the models; and (3) it has the capacity to model complex control systems together with the object controlled (including simulation modeling for on-line control). The RAO tool allows the user to use a language very similar to his professional language and rids him of intermediary, supplementary description of the system modeled. In fifteen chapters this volume provides an overview of general modeling trends, and hence serves the research community in guiding their modeling methods; intelligent simulation modeling is introduced to solve complex systems and processes.

Exploring the diversity of small firms, this contributed volume focuses on the crucial topic of work and the ways in which it is regulated, and offers reflections on the future of labour more generally. Traditionally managed through informal and adaptive processes, small firms allow us to understand the challenges and opportunities facing larger companies within an increasingly fragmented global production system. Analysing the case of Italy, a country characterised by a high number and wide variety of small firms, the authors draw on the results of a survey involving over 2,300 firms and face-to-face interviews with owner-managers working in 60 small and micro firms across several different sectors. Providing detailed analysis which will be useful for scholars of human resource management and small business, as well as managers, practitioners and policy-makers, the book enables a better understanding of the world of work in a globalised economy.