NEW WORK SYSTEMS AND SKILL REQUIREMENTS

Improving competitiveness without reducing wage standards is the conce rn of many industrialized countries. The authors consider the attribut es, achievements and failures of new work systems (lean production and high performance) and their skill needs, contrasting them with earlie r systems. The typically participative, autonomous yet highly interdep endent work groups in high performance systems often hold requisite sk ills collectively; job rotation, cross-training and supportive personn el practices also occur. The authors examine future prospects, given t he need for flexibility and ''quick response'' production to meet rapi dly changing consumer tastes, and for a wider skill range and greater worker autonomy.