Human Capability: A Study of Individual Potential and Its Application [Hardcover]

Elliott Jaques (Author), Kathryn Cason (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1994 | ISBN-10: 0962107077 | ISBN-13: 978-0962107078

Reporting research that provides an invaluable tool for utilizing individual capability, it makes it possible for talent pool development programs to effectively meet the organization's future human resource requirements.

Editorial Reviews

Review

In Human Capability, Jaques and Cason construct the framework and offer supportive research for a new method of objectively measuring human capability and predicting individual success in the workplace. . . intended for both academic psychologists studying cognitive processes as well as human resource development professionals engaged in the application of such research within organizations.

Jaques and Cason, building upon extensive previous research by Jaques, offer a detailed system of measurement to apply when assessing an individual's mental complexity and potential capability. The ideas in Human Capability are provocative and powerful. . . successfully challeng[ing] society's reliance on imperfect instruments of intelligence measurement and capability assessment.

I recommend this book to large academic libraries serving graduate programs in human resource development studies, business and management, psychology and education. Well organized and includes a detailed index and a bibliography. The appendices include illustrative case material and a summary of Jaques' previous publications on the subject. -- Excerpt from Anne Muchoney, Subject Specialist, Virginia Campus Library, George Washington University, 05/18/94

From the Publisher

A major breakthrough in understanding human capability, intelligence, and development theory is reported with the results of Cason/Jaques' conclusive 3-year study. Their field work demonstrates with high reliability and validity that when heavily engrossed in work, individuals process information in four and only four ways which recur in a series of higher orders of information complexity. Further, this hierarchy of mental processing methods corresponds with levels of individual capability and is congruent with levels of work complexity, explaining, at last, the very nature of managerial systems.

This book also presents support for the concurrent theory, first formulated by Dr. Jaques in 1956, that individuals mature in capability within predictable patterns, a maturation process that continues throughout life. The authors demonstrate the nature of this maturation beyond adolescence and into old age, and discuss how this view compares with that of Piaget and of IQ studies which posit that capability and intelligence are fully mature by late adolescence. The ability to plot and predict the growth of human potential capability throughout life will alter dramatically our present conceptions in developmental psychology. The social consequences of this work are likely to be substantial and extensive and are addressed by the authors.

An important outcome of this study is the further development of managerial procedures that enable companies to match people with roles, and to develop programs that effectively meet the organization's future human resource requirements.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 165 pages
• Publisher: Cason Hall & Co Pub (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0962107077
• ISBN-13: 978-0962107078
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #729,965 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, intuitive, and well worth reading, October 14, 1999

By 

Daniel LeBoeuf (Lakeland, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Human Capability: A Study of Individual Potential and Its Application (Hardcover)

Dr. Jaques is re-writing our understanding of the human mind and how to use it best. Forget IQ, Meyers-Briggs, and the other flim-flam out there. This book offers us the hope that we can work to our potential without overload, balance our task output and spiritual needs at work, and organize our companies as effectively as possible, without sacrificing our humanity. So far every criticism I've seen leveled at Jaques has proven baseless. High level writing may put off some, but this is great research work.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine Conclusion of Series, October 31, 2004

By 

Neal J. Pollock (VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Human Capability: A Study of Individual Potential and Its Application (Hardcover)

Elliott Jaques devised a system for analyzing executive ability based upon an individual's time horizon--the maximum period of time in the future toward which his/her work activities were aimed in their performance. He reached this conclusion during extensive, longitudinal, empirical studies in England. His series of books reflect his elaboration and extension of this finding. He worked, for a time, with Dr. Owen Jacobs of the U.S. Army (and then the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, ICAF). Jaques prior, groundbreaking book, "Requisite Organization" is more pictorial than "Executive Leadership" or this volume. While the present work may be oriented more towards human resource personnel, it is also useful to practicing executives. After reading it, I bought a copy (and of "Executive Leadership" too) and loaned it to my boss! I wish more bosses would read Jaques' works--and carefully at that. The charts provided are engaging and thought-provoking. The more extensive, "Executive Leadership" preceded this book in sequence. Jaques wrote "Human Capability" with is wife and publisher: Kathryn Cason. It is a fine sequel to "Executive Leadership", adding some additional perspectives on the ways people perceive and think and it completes the time-horizon charts that Jaques developed over time and published in this fine series. These books are most strongly recommended for serious students and practitioners of management as well as human resource professionals. They go far in attempting to move management into management science.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for those concerned with developing human capital., March 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Human Capability: A Study of Individual Potential and Its Application (Hardcover)

This book presents the results of a three year study by Jaques and Cason, providing a major breakthrough in understanding human capability, intelligence, and development. An outcome of this study is further development of managerial practices to match people with roles and develop training and development programs. This is a highly interesting and informative volume that will be of significant value to all HR professionals whose agenda includes HRD and the cultivation of an organization's human capital. Reviewed by Gerry Stern, founder, Stern & Associates and HRconsultant.com InfoCenter.