Second to None: How Our Smartest Companies Put People First

Cooperative rather than adversarial manager-employee relations are the mark of today's innovative and successful companies, reports Garfield ( Peak Performance ) in this somewhat long-winded but unfailingly cheerful account. At America West Airlines, Semco and Preston Trucking, among other companies, he observes that managers have become coaches, factory hands are planners and designers and clerks double as public relations experts--all with decision-making authority. With compensation based on results and profits ``only one goal among many,'' self-managed employee teams develop or revise products and services, usually having sought input from suppliers, retailers and consumers. In an ongoing conversion ``from machines to living systems,'' such new-breed firms, says Garfield, embrace ethnic and gender diversity, support high ethical and environmental standards and espouse community concerns. 40,000 first printing; major ad/promo; author tour. (Nov.)