A volume in Research in Management Consulting Series Editor Anthony F. Buono, Bentley University This book is the 20th volume in the Research in Management Consulting series and the sixth major collaboration with Henri Savall, Veronique Zardet, and their team of intervener-researchers from the Socio- Economic Institute for Firms and Organizations (ISEOR) in Lyon-Ecully, France. In 2013, for the first time, ISEOR co-sponsored a conference on its Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) paradigm and methodology in the United States. The volume captures the ideas, applications, and exchanges of that meeting hosted by the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The book attempts to bring the reader into the conference itself. The different chapters include the contributors' presentations ("Chapter Prologue: Conference Remarks"), revised conference papers, and the question and answer dialogue for the session. For those interested in delving further into the SEAM approach, the volume also contains a general bibliography on the development, critique, and application of the framework.

In May 2014, the French research laboratory ISEOR (Socio?Economic Institute for Firms and Organizations) and the University of St. Thomas co?sponsored a second conference on the application of the Socio?Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) paradigm and methodology in the United States. SEAM is a scientific approach to consultancy that focuses on uncovering the dysfunctions and hidden costs that exist in organizations, "hidden" in the sense that they are not captured by traditional accounting methodsand financial analyses. Through intervention that encompasses the entire organization - what the ISEOR team refers to as the HORIVERT approach (combining horizontal and vertical intervention) - the underlying goal is to enhance organizational performance by attacking the "TFW virus," a vestige of the early work by Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, and Max Weber that has sufficiently infiltrated our thinking about management and organization to the point where are falling well short of our own potential. The resultant dysfunctions this virus unleashes creates hidden costs that readily destroy a firm's value?added possibilities. The volume captures the ideas, applications, and exchanges of that meeting, attempting to bring the reader into the conference itself. Chapters include the contributors' presentations ("Chapter Prologue: Conference Remarks"), revised conference papers, and the question and answer dialogue for the session.

Many organizational leaders may not even realize that most of their strategic decisions are made without accurate or full information. And yet more than 40 years of socio-economic research indicate that around 40% of what happens economically in organizations is not taken into consideration by traditional accounting. This lack of information affects an organization's effectiveness by turning organizational functions into dys-functions which leads to hidden costs. Socio-economic research shows that average hidden costs are more than $20,000 per employee per year.Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) is a different way to lead and manage organizations - or to put simply steer them. What differentiates SEAM from traditional management? First, SEAM focuses on both the people and economic sides of the workplace. Second, SEAM identifies and reduces hidden costs through engaging employees and developing their potential. The results are increased efficiency and profitability, sustainable organizational development, and higher employee engagement.SEAM was developed in France and is little known in the US. This book provides a sound introduction to SEAM for the English-speaking audience. The book will be of interest for organizational leaders and managers who search new ideas, techniques, and tools to increase the efficiency of their organizations. The book will also be beneficial for change management and HR practitioners.

In May 2014, the French research laboratory ISEOR (Socio?Economic Institute for Firms and Organizations) and the University of St. Thomas co?sponsored a second conference on the application of the Socio?Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) paradigm and methodology in the United States. SEAM is a scientific approach to consultancy that focuses on uncovering the dysfunctions and hidden costs that exist in organizations, "hidden" in the sense that they are not captured by traditional accounting methodsand financial analyses. Through intervention that encompasses the entire organization - what the ISEOR team refers to as the HORIVERT approach (combining horizontal and vertical intervention) - the underlying goal is to enhance organizational performance by attacking the "TFW virus," a vestige of the early work by Frederick Taylor, Henri Fayol, and Max Weber that has sufficiently infiltrated our thinking about management and organization to the point where are falling well short of our own potential. The resultant dysfunctions this virus unleashes creates hidden costs that readily destroy a firm's value?added possibilities. The volume captures the ideas, applications, and exchanges of that meeting, attempting to bring the reader into the conference itself. Chapters include the contributors' presentations ("Chapter Prologue: Conference Remarks"), revised conference papers, and the question and answer dialogue for the session.

A volume in Research in Management Consulting Series Editor Anthony F. Buono, Bentley University This book is the 20th volume in the Research in Management Consulting series and the sixth major collaboration with Henri Savall, Veronique Zardet, and their team of intervener-researchers from the Socio- Economic Institute for Firms and Organizations (ISEOR) in Lyon-Ecully, France. In 2013, for the first time, ISEOR co-sponsored a conference on its Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) paradigm and methodology in the United States. The volume captures the ideas, applications, and exchanges of that meeting hosted by the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The book attempts to bring the reader into the conference itself. The different chapters include the contributors' presentations ("Chapter Prologue: Conference Remarks"), revised conference papers, and the question and answer dialogue for the session. For those interested in delving further into the SEAM approach, the volume also contains a general bibliography on the development, critique, and application of the framework.