After Atlantis: Working, Managing, and Leading in Turbulent Times

Today, most managers agree that there is no single ""silver bullet"" solution for their company's woes; and Hamson, the editor of the Journal for Quality and Participation, argues here for multiple ""silver bullets."" Companies, he contends, need to integrate a number of different approaches--including shared learning, a flexible organization and management of all aspects of customer relations--if they are to thrive. Toward that end, he has experts in each approach contribute a chapter. It is an intriguing idea but one that ultimately does not work. For one thing, some of the concepts, indeed some of the material itself, has already appeared in Hamson's journal, which features ""articles by organizations which are using total quality and participation processes to improve quality, customer satisfaction, labor-management relations and productivity."" These topics give the book a dated feel. In addition, because experts concentrate on their own field, it is hard for a manager to see how all these different ideas come together, let alone how they should be implemented. (Oct.)