Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs [Hardcover]

Wayne F Cascio (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2002

Restructuring is a hot topic right now -- companies need to figure out how to weather the current economic storm and still be well-positioned to take advantage of the next upswing. Using real-life illustrations of successful, responsible restructurings at companies such as Charles Schwab, Cisco, Motorola, and Intel, this book provides alternatives to downsizing. Wayne Cascio examines the specific practices these leading firms use instead of layoffs -- including retraining, labor-management partnership, and compensation linked to organizational performance. These practices demonstrate that these companies view their workers as assets to be developed rather than as costs to be cut. Cascio presents compelling evidence showing that businesses adopting these measures fare better than businesses in similar circumstances who choose downsizing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Responsible Restructuring is a thoughtful, responsible and necessary outline for management of all levels of Corporate America. Professor Cascio has with a short, but powerful, book issued a common-sense blueprint for restructuring in today's rapidly changing business world. A mustread for all levels of management. - Eugene K. Anthony, U.S. Administrative Law Judge, Ret.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers; 1 edition (August 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576751295
• ISBN-13: 978-1576751299
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,327,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read!, January 8, 2003

By 

Rolf Dobelli "getAbstract" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs (Hardcover)

University of Colorado-Denver management professor Wayne F. Cascio says your company will make more money during tough times if it finds a way to grow with its current employees instead of laying them off. Citing ample research (just see those careful footnotes and all those charts and graphs), he argues that it is simply good business to treat employees as assets to be developed, so they can help your organization reach its goals. If you downsize them out the door, you lose their expertise and commitment. Cascio cites companies that restructured successfully - Compaq, Cisco Systems, Sage Software - to illustrate different approaches. He wraps up with a critical bit of training: how to communicate internal information about the company's plans to restructure, always a touchy matter. We from getAbstract refer owners, top executives and human resource managers to this book because they will appreciate its combination of hard facts and how-to guidelines.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars CHARTING A BETTER WAY TO SUCCESS IN HARD TIMES!, October 17, 2002

By 

Gerry Stern "Stern's Management Review Online" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs (Hardcover)

This book challenges the traditional knee-jerk response of the cost-cutting mentality and charts a better way to organizational success in hard times. Based on extensive research on the approaches companies take to restructuring, Cascio has found a huge distinction between those that see people as a cost (the downsizers) versus assets to be developed (the responsible restructurers). The book presents an analysis of the financial consequences of alternative restructuring strategies in terms of profitability and attractiveness as an investment. Cascio exposes the myths about downsizing and presents the hard facts. He examines the approaches of the responsible restructurers, i.e., high-performance work practices...and explores the practices and experiences of many companies. The final chapter illustrates what to do, and not do, when restructuring. Stern's Management Review finds this book rich in insights and sound advice-very highly recommended!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars responsible restructuring, September 14, 2002

By 

Mike Cook (Anacortes, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs (Hardcover)

Every once in a while I read something that confirms an intuition I've had for some time.Responsible Restructuring is one of those books.Wayne Cascio does us all a favor by staying away from the moral argument around using massive layoffs to cure organizational ills,and bascially demonstrates that, from a pure business perspective, it is a flawed tactic.From a pragmatic perspective he doesn't rule out the possibility of layoffs,just suggests that CEO's put that card on the bottom of the deck.I actually think many of us knew this but he provides the facts.

In just over 100 pages and seven concise chapters he puts some telling facts in front of us,making a case for restructuring that has more to do with long term success than "making the numbers." What a concept,he is endorsing "being good" over "looking good.'

This is a book to be read by anyone in a management position then shared.If you are a CEO,Board member or Senior Manager who has ever been through a big layoff this is a must read.If you are any of these and can imagine that someday you might face this possibility,this is also a must read.And its quick! I read the entire book on a plane ride from Rochester to Detroit.