Describes differences between total quality management and self-directed teams in terms of job design, decision making, flexibility, supervision, labor relations, quality, customers, and training. Offers suggestions for which method to choose when. (SK)

The traditional multinational approach to business strategy and human resource management, as well as the global approach, are not effective in a world no longer insular. A transnational approach requires global strategy and perspective, local responsiveness and flexibility, teamwork, shared responsibility, and empowered and innovative workers.…

Kaizen is a Japanese management concept that means gradual, ongoing improvement involving everyone from top management to production workers. This concept is starting to appear in American companies, and it requires the personnel department to do a much more thorough assessment of job applicants, testing for leadership skills, interpersonal…

Self-directed teams, in which the people who do the work are responsible for managing it, are changing the practices and structures of many organizations. Self-managing teams are based on trust and empowerment, on treating workers as responsible adults. (SK)

A strategy for planning a new training center will help you find out what you want and why. (Author)