Executive Guide to Business Success through Human-Centred Systems [Paperback]

This book is about people and skilled work. There has been much turmoil in the business environment about how to best manage the balance between people and technology, at a time when pressures for cost reduction are ever greater. Our argument is that people are central to business success, and the appropriate use of technology should support their needs. This is not always easy in practice. We work in a period when change occurs in ever-shortening cycles. Black-and-white solutions may seem attractive, but the long-term consequences are rarely advantageous. A new system is required, build? ing on lessons from the past. Human-centred systems build upon core skills of the workforce within a rich, emancipatory environment, utilising the benefits of tech? nology. Change can be embraced to achieve competitive advantage and mutual benefit. The three authors are, respectively, engineering director of an inno? vative international manufacturing company; analyst for an inter? national merchant bank; and university business school professor. The book is intended to offer a new synthesis of theory and practical experience, derived from recent British and European collaborative pro? grammes. We are grateful to our colleagues and families for their tolerance during the writing of this book. Even human-centred books impose pressures on busy people. Old Windsor, Brighton and Kingston, June 1995 A.A. R.K.1. Introduction.- Why Read this book?.- What is the Role of Technology in Human-Centred Systems?.- What Will You Learn?.- The Role of Case Studies.- Human-Centred Systems as a Critique.- Knowledge-Based Industry and World Markets.- Competition in Europe.- Innovation vs. Productivity.- Research and Development.- 2. Insights Into Human-Centredness.- Reuniting Hand and Brain.- Taylor and Scientific Management.- McGregors Theory X and Theory Y.- What are Human-Centred Systems?,..- Human-Centred IT.- Designing Tools for Skilled Workers.- Technocentric and Human-Centred Approaches.- Intrl#