As change compels businesses to reconsider corporate performance, whether in the strategic, process, people or systems dimensions of organizational outputs, measurement of the effectiveness of best practice initiatives becomes critical to competitiveness.

In an increasingly complex and crowded marketplace, only fit for purpose organizations will succeed. This requires a fit for purpose HR function ‐ one that delivers flawless process services, business partnering and, most importantly, builds organizational capability to deliver on the business...

Getting the right people in pivotal roles at the right time should be nothing new to HR professionals, but done effectively, talent management can create long‐term organizational success. Here, Lynne Morton and Chris Ashton show how to align talent management strategies to business goals,...

Analyses the use of compensation systems and the signals that they give out to employees. Suggests that they may often get mixed messages about the system′s intentions and objectives. Examines the case of performance‐related pay, which a recent survey found did not help create sustained high...

Examines the implementation of profit sharing and employee ownership schemes, uses some case examples to show how the popularity of these concepts has grown over the years. Presents the results of recent research on top management views of such schemes, which show a high percentage of managers...

Comments on the changes in attitude of sales personnel now that customers wield more power; customer satisfaction, customer care and quality are priorities now that companies cannot afford to lose existing customers and have to work hard to attract new ones. Studies examples of how sales staff...

Even though companies are loading themselves up with the full TQM armoury, the benefits do not always appear to match the effort. One of the main reasons for this is a reluctance by senior management to inspire and empower their first‐line managers and supervisors.

Nissan's Sunderland plant in the UK is a shining example of employee ownership and participation in action. This strategy of continuous Training and development has helped the company achieve its many successes and, it is hoped, will continue to do so in the future.

To successfully ride out the stormy recession, a company needs to sustain its competitive advantage. A major part of this is due to the inclusion of ‘factor X’ — that indefinable and thus difficult to imitate ingredient that keeps you one step ahead.

According to Ian Wood of John Wood Group Plc, the key to surviving the recession is to continuously diversify and adapt to your strengths.