In this excerpt from his recently published book, The Human Equation:
Building Profits by Putting People First, the author argues that many
managers continue to overlook the extent to which the more effective m
anagement of people can improve firm economic performance. Firms that
seek to produce enhanced economic performance through the management t
heir human capital have adopted a number of common personnel practices
. These include the provision of employment security the selective hir
ing of new personnel, decentralized decision making, high compensation
contingent on organizational performance, extensive training, minimal
status distinctions and barriers, and the extensive sharing of financ
ial and performance information throughout the firm.