Competitive Advantage Through People explores why--despite long-standing evidence that a committed work force is essential for success--firms continue to attach little importance to their workers. The answer, argues Pfeffer, resides in a complex web of factors based on perception, history, legislation, & practice that continues to dominate management thought & action. Yet, some organizations have been able to overcome these obstacles. In fact, the five common stocks with the highest returns between 1972 & 1992--Southwest Airlines, Wal-Mart, Tyson Foods, Circuit City, & Plenum Publishing--were in industries that shared virtually none of the characteristics traditionally associated with strategic success. What each of these firms did share is the ability to produce sustainable competitive advantage through its way of managing people. Pfeffer documents how they--& others--resisted traditional management pitfalls, & offers frameworks for implementing these changes in any industry.
