Why Work: Leading the New Generation - Hardcover

MacCoby, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 067147281X ISBN 13: 9780671472818

Publisher: Simon & Schuster, 1988

Synopsis

Based on seven years of research and more than four hundred interviews, this survey of today's young professionals reveals changing attitudes toward work, new innovative styles of leadership, and a desire for more expansive, opportunistic positions

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Reviews

Psychologist Maccoby (The Leader, The Gamesman) here examines how basic "value drives"survival, pleasure, mastery, dignity, etc.function in a rapidly evolving American social order of indulgent affluence, entrepreneurial work-as-play and dual-career parenthood. What happens, for example, when quality-conscious workers are allowed to stop the assembly line? New employee-participation policies, like those of AT & T and SAS, among others, not only can enhance consumer satisfaction, Maccoby suggests, but also revolutionize the workplace social climate in terms of human values. In the technological age, argues the author, management innovators must grant workers free expression, "respect as adults," access to information, clear notice of expectations and competent coaching to develop their potential. As incisive and temperate guidance for today's imperfectly understood social challenges, this work should prove invaluable. First serial to Spectrum magazine, Fortune Book Club alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Maccoby ( The Leader ) presents a study of how the individual relates to the organization, analyzing work motivation factors and leadership styles within the framework of "technoservice." The opposite of a bureaucratic-industrial hierarchy, technoservice "is characterized by . . . networks and teams; flexible work roles . . . management as strategic planning; and leadership that develops a motivating corporate culture which supports teamwork." Social character types studied within the organization are the Expert, Helper, Defender, Innovator, and Self-Developer. Maccoby concludes that today's ideal leader "balances higher valuesintegrity, expert knowledge, innovation, responsiveness, equitywith pragmatic toughness and skill in facilitation and dialogue." An important study, highly recommended for all business collections. BOMC alternate. Lucy Heckman, St. John's Univ. Lib., Jamaica,
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Publication date: 1988
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 067147281X
• ISBN 13: 9780671472818
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 272