Skill Wars: Winning the Battle for Productivity and Profit [Paperback]

Edward E. Gordon (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 21, 1999

Skill Wars shows how to increase productivity and profits by making investments in human capital development. It addresses the disparity between the available jobs and available workers. By education and training only 20% of all American workers can fit well into our demanding high-tech workplace. How do we train the 80%?

Skill Wars defines the race between advanced technology investment and human resources investment and shows managers how to measure that investment. It introduces a Human Capital Scoreboard of seven new business management/measurement tools including a more accurate calculation of ROI (Return on Investment) for employee performance improvement programs. It also provides case studies of how quality training can deliver on more problem-solving/thinking skills. It has a foreword by Joseph Boyett, author of The Guru Guide and Workplace 2000.

Skill Wars is a "basic workplace performance primer" that presents complex issues in a simple language and format that will move both business leaders and the American public to give their popular support. There are few viable alternatives. Gordon believes that, "Only at great peril can Americans continue to largely ignore the workplace as an important arena that helps structure learning for life."

Addresses the 'hot' topic of increasing worker skill shortages in American business
Offers a Human Capital Scorecard of seven new business management/measurement tools
Very important ROI (return on investment) chapter

Editorial Reviews

Review

'This is the book every employee would love to have his/her employer read. Just as important, virtually every worker, regardless of profession, would love to see concepts from this tome implemented at the workplace...penned a powerful, surprisingly easy-to-read book that's simply a must for anyone in business today." - Harvey Star

From the Publisher

Skill Wars is a "basic workplace performance primer" that presents complex issues in a simple language and format that will move both business leaders and the American public to give their popular support. There are few viable alternatives. Gordon believes that, "Only at great peril can Americans continue to largely ignore the workplace as an important arena that helps structure learning for life."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Butterworth-Heinemann; 3 edition (September 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750672072
• ISBN-13: 978-0750672078
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Edward E. Gordon, President of Imperial Consulting, is an internationally recognized researcher, writer, and acclaimed keynote speaker. An innovative strategist on the future of jobs and talent creation, he provides programs to assist organizations of all types and sizes in developing their human capital and aids communities in reinventing thier education-to-employment systems. Please visit www.imperialcorp.com to learn more about Ed Gordon's areas of expertise.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Vital Book for Our Times, August 10, 2002

By 

Roger E. Herman (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Skill Wars: Winning the Battle for Productivity and Profit (Paperback)

America-and the world-face a serious, probably debilitating shortage of skilled workers. Oh, there are plenty of people out there, most of whom want to work. However, if they don't have the skills that are in demand by employers, their work opportunities and career futures are limited. Employers will compete to attract and hold the people with the skills to get the job done. Savvy workers will compete to acquire and market skills that will be in demand and that will make them unique and marketable in the world of work. Many will do well. Other employers and workers will not fare so well, changing the face of employment.

This book addresses a wide range of topics, organized into three sections: Measuring Human Capital Development, Reports from the Firing Line: Improving Productivity and Performance, and Developing People. The content is not directed just toward educators or professionals in the field of training and development. It is more broad-based. As explained by the author in his introduction, "For the business person, "Skill Wars" is a policy book about managing and measuring workplace performance and profit. For the union leader and employee, "Skill Wars" is about employability and personal growth. For parents, "Skill Wars" is about their children's future careers and guaranteed participation in "the American Dream." For politicians and government leaders, "Skill Wars" is a blueprint for what new voters are beginning to demand in every state across America: new laws to create a more knowledgeable workforce. For educators and trainers, "Skill Wars" offers new ideas on how to better collaborate with all these groups and create innovative, diverse curricula, whether in a schoolroom or the corporate classroom."

Ninety figures illustrate the book, accompanying the text to illuminate the concepts delivered on page after page by Edward Gordon, PhD, a consultant specializing in human/intellectual capital for over two decades. His teaching experience at DePaul, Loyola, and Northwestern Universities complement his work as a consultant, writer, and speaker. Gordon certainly has the credibility and background to write this important book.

You will bob your head up and down in agreement as you read this book. You'll also shake your head in disbelief and amazement as you realize how far behind we are-how much remains to be done. Gordon cites the numbers, concentrating on the ROI: the Return on Investment in building skills and capacity. The research has been done on this book, as evidenced by the number of footnotes offering bibliographical references. The pages are packed with information.

The final chapter, Investing in Human Capital: A Blueprint for the 21st Century, is particularly powerful . . . and should be carefully considered by everyone in a position to help build the skill base that will be needed. And that's all of us. Gordon warns that "The gap between the so-called 'knowledge workers' and low skilled workers is widening at an alarming rate." Why is the gap growing? "Because too many businesses are engaged in an act of financial levitation, trying to make bigger and bigger stacks of money from companies that are barely growing. Their magic act centers on cost-cutting, squeezing staffs, slashing training, eliminating everything except their 'core business operations.' The predominant American management philosophy of the 1990s has been that business exists only to drive up stock prices and enrich shareholders."

As we've seen in recent months, this strategy has been damaging, to say the least. More sensitive employers are creating life-work balanced environments, demonstrating stewardship for the world around us, and taking other steps to correct and improve our corporate society. "Skill Wars" should stimulate more serious efforts to build workforce competencies or all the other efforts will be smoke-and-mirrors and façade.

More people need to read this book. Now.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everybody's In The Skill War!, April 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Skill Wars: Winning the Battle for Productivity and Profit (Paperback)

This book is about a key topic--how do you get and keep the people you need to grow? It is a solid read for leaders whose companies must compete for the best people. The book is a primer on how to compete for talent--one of the toughest jobs a company has to face. It is an easy read--probably good for someone to take on their next plane trip. Highly recommend!