America and the New Economy

The author looks behind the demographics and economic statistics that characterize most discussions about America's place in the global economy to reveal a new set of market standards that should guide successful competition. Demonstrating that productivity by itself is no longer sufficient to assure success, the author calls upon American organizations to meet the increasing demand for quality, variety, customization, convenience, and rapid delivery of products and services. The text attempts to show how these new competitive standards are changing the real economy: the actual organizations, people, jobs and technologies that make up the American workplace. Arguing that economic growth is fuelled by learning - through inquiry, innovation, and investment - Carnevale presents state-of-the-art management practices for encouraging employees' desire to learn and for building networks within and between companies to increase flexibility and foster rapid dissemination and application of new ideas and technologies. He identifies the employee skills - such as problem solving and communication - necessary to achieve the new market standards.