One of the most significant and yet largely overlooked factors influencing performance and workplace problem solving in many large organizations is that of national culture. Managers, and the organizations for which they work, need to be able to understand the influence of cultural values and beliefs on performance in order to identify appropriate solutions; strategies appropriate in one part of the world may be ineffective or even counter-productive in another. Bryan Hopkins' ground breaking book relates the concept of cultural dimensions, as developed by writers such as Hofstede and Trompenaars, to the performance engineering approaches of Gilbert and Mager and Pipe, to show how strategies for solving workplace performance problems need to consider the cultural composition of the workforce. It then provides a practical structure for problem solving within the context of an international, multi-cultural environment. This is a book for both managers working in an international setting or for those in national organizations who are dealing with the challenge of culturally diverse workforces. It's also a book for governments seeking to understand the potential implications of national culture on civilian or even military interventions.

An international business expert helps you understand and navigate cultural differences in this insightful and practical guide, perfect for both your work and personal life. Americans precede anything negative with three nice comments; French, Dutch, Israelis, and Germans get straight to the point; Latin Americans and Asians are steeped in hierarchy; Scandinavians think the best boss is just one of the crowd. It's no surprise that when they try and talk to each other, chaos breaks out. In The Culture Map, INSEAD professor Erin Meyer is your guide through this subtle, sometimes treacherous terrain in which people from starkly different backgrounds are expected to work harmoniously together. She provides a field-tested model for decoding how cultural differences impact international business, and combines a smart analytical framework with practical, actionable advice.

Total quality management (TQM), reengineering, the workplace of the twenty-first centuryâ€"the 1990s have brought a sense of urgency to organizations to change or face stagnation and decline, according to Enhancing Organizational Performance. Organizations are adopting popular management techniques, some scientific, some faddish, often without introducing them properly or adequately measuring the outcome. Enhancing Organizational Performance reviews the most popular current approaches to organizational changeâ€"total quality management, reengineering, and downsizingâ€"in terms of how they affect organizations and people, how performance improvements can be measured, and what questions remain to be answered by researchers. The committee explores how theory, doctrine, accepted wisdom, and personal experience have all served as sources for organization design. Alternative organization structures such as teams, specialist networks, associations, and virtual organizations are examined. Enhancing Organizational Performance looks at the influence of the organization's norms, values, and beliefsâ€"its cultureâ€"on people and their performance, identifying cultural "levers" available to organization leaders. And what is leadership? The committee sorts through a wealth of research to identify behaviors and skills related to leadership effectiveness. The volume examines techniques for developing these skills and suggests new competencies that will become required with globalization and other trends. Mergers, networks, alliances, coalitionsâ€"organizations are increasingly turning to new intra- and inter-organizational structures. Enhancing Organizational Performance discusses how organizations cooperate to maximize outcomes. The committee explores the changing missions of the U.S. Army as a case study that has relevance to any organization. Noting that a musical greeting card contains more computing power than existed in the entire world before 1950, the committee addresses the impact of new technologies on performance. With examples, insights, and practical criteria, Enhancing Organizational Performance clarifies the nature of organizations and the prospects for performance improvement. This book will be important to corporate leaders, executives, and managers; faculty and students in organizational performance and the social sciences; business journalists; researchers; and interested individuals.

"This book offers the latest research in the field of Business Performance Management in the global economic environment of present conditions while looking at business as a whole entity instead of only at the divisional level"--Provided by publisher.

Going far beyond previous empirical work, John Kotter and James Heskett provide the first comprehensive critical analysis of how the "culture" of a corporation powerfully influences its economic performance, for better or for worse. Through painstaking research at such firms as Hewlett-Packard, Xerox, ICI, Nissan, and First Chicago, as well as a quantitative study of the relationship between culture and performance in more than 200 companies, the authors describe how shared values and unwritten rules can profoundly enhance economic success or, conversely, lead to failure to adapt to changing markets and environments. With penetrating insight, Kotter and Heskett trace the roots of both healthy and unhealthy cultures, demonstrating how easily the latter emerge, especially in firms which have experienced much past success. Challenging the widely held belief that "strong" corporate cultures create excellent business performance, Kotter and Heskett show that while many shared values and institutionalized practices can promote good performances in some instances, those cultures can also be characterized by arrogance, inward focus, and bureaucracy -- features that undermine an organization's ability to adapt to change. They also show that even "contextually or strategically appropriate" cultures -- ones that fit a firm's strategy and business context -- will not promote excellent performance over long periods of time unless they facilitate the adoption of strategies and practices that continuously respond to changing markets and new competitive environments. Fundamental to the process of reversing unhealthy cultures and making them more adaptive, the authors assert, is effective leadership. At the heart of this groundbreaking book, Kotter and Heskett describe how executives in ten corporations established new visions, aligned and motivated their managers to provide leadership to serve their customers, employees, and stockholders, and thus created more externally focused and responsive cultures.

Fundamentals of Performance Improvement, 3rd Edition Fundamentals of Performance Improvement is a substantially new version of the down-to-earth, how-to guide designed to help business leaders, practitioners, and students understand the science and art of performance technology and successfully implement organizational and societal change. Using the Performance Improvement / Human Performance Technology (HPT) model, the expert authors explain step-by-step how to spot performance indicators, analyze problems, identify underlying causes, describe desired results, and create workable solutions. “It does not matter what function you align yourself to in your organization, this book allows you to tap into the secrets that drive organizational success. Several books work to define what is performance improvement and performance technology. This one also provides insights into the Why? And How?” —CEDRIC T. COCO, CPT, SVP, Learning and Organizational Effectiveness, Lowe’s Companies “Fundamentals of Performance Improvement is full of practical models and tools for improving the world by partnering with customers, clients, constituents, and colleagues. It provides a path forward for successful transformation and performance improvement at personal, group and collective levels. It is a must read for leaders and consultants seeking to advance opportunities in new and emerging situations.” —DIANA WHITNEY, PhD, president, Corporation for Positive Change “If you have an interest in performance improvement, this is simply the best available book on the topic. It addresses the science and craft as well as the intricacies of how to improve workplace performance. Van Tiem, Moseley, and Dessinger have incorporated into this work the best available research on the Certified Performance Technology (CPT) standards and process.” —JAMES A. PERSHING, Ph.D., CPT, professor emeritus, Workplace Learning and Performance Improvement, Indiana University “Its international flavor, with practitioner comments and examples drawn from across the world, enhances its appeal as more and more professionals operate in an increasingly global context.” —DALJIT SINGH, Asia Pacific Director of Talent Management, Baker & McKenzie, Sydney, Australia

In the dynamic landscape of organizational management, the challenge of effectively evaluating and enhancing employee performance stands as a pivotal obstacle to maximizing workplace productivity and motivation. Traditional performance appraisal methods often fall short in providing meaningful insights into employees' contributions and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This gap between outdated evaluation techniques and the evolving demands of the modern workforce presents a pressing dilemma for Human Resource Management professionals and organizational leaders worldwide. Employee Performance Management for Improved Workplace Motivation emerges as a definitive solution to this critical problem, offering a comprehensive guide to revolutionizing performance management systems. This book meticulously explores the intricacies of performance evaluation, from planning and monitoring to reviewing and rewarding. By integrating theoretical frameworks, practical case studies, and strategic insights, the book equips HR professionals, managers, and scholars with the tools and knowledge needed to implement effective performance management practices that drive employee motivation and organizational success.