Journal for Quality and Participation vol. 24 issue 3 - September 2001
Abstract: Organizations that continue to prosper during an economic slowdown are those that first focus on developing employee skills and confidence, and then provide the opportunity for them to succeed. As downsizing forces the organization to do more with less, a leader must serve as a role model for accepting challenges in a proactive manner. A number of strategies can help increase productivity and ensure success in economically difficult times. First, keep employees aware of the organization's vision through a regular communication campaign. Second, let employees know what is expected of them and ask for feedback. Third, explain the top priorities and how they affect the success of the organization. And finally, create a proactive environment that gives employees opportunity for creativity and innovation. In a "no fear" atmosphere employees are free to take the calculated risks that help build a high-performance organization. Sidebar articles provide real-life examples of the four strategies for success.
Keywords: Business process reengineering (BPR) - Change management - Downsizing - Productivity - High performance organizations - Leadership - Employee involvement (EI)
