Responsible Restructuring

Creative and Profitable Alternatives to layoffs

By Wayne F. Cascio

" For business, the 'bottom line' is usually economic. But as Wayne Cascio shows, it is the human bottom line that is critical for achieving economic goals. Filled with sharp insights and clear guidelines, this book is a must-read for anyone concerned about the future well-being of the workplace.

-- Christina Maslach, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology and Vice Provost, University of California, Berkeley

"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 must-read for all levels of management."

-- Eugene K. Anthony, U.S. Administrative Law Judge, Ret.

Firms that restructure through downsizing are not more profitable than those that don't, and often end up hurting themselves in the long run. Responsible Restructuring draws on the results of an eighteen-year study of S&P 500 firms to prove that it makes good business sense to restructure responsibly-to avoid downsizing and instead regard employees as assets to be developed rather than costs to be cut.

Wayne Cascio explodes thirteen common myths about downsizing, detailing its negative impact on profitability, productivity, quality, and on the morale, commitment, and even health of survivors. He uses real-life examples to illustrate successful approaches to responsible restructuring used by companies such as Charles Schwab, Compaq, Cisco, Motorola, Reflexite, and Southwest Airlines. And he offers specific, step-by-step advice on what to do-and what not to do-when developing and implementing a restructuring strategy that, unlike layoffs, leaves the organization stronger and better able to face the challenges ahead.

"A model of what a business book should be, and a must read for any executive who wants to be prepared to cope with tough times."

-- Joanne Martin, Merrill Professor of Organizational Behavior, and by courtesy, Sociology Graduate School of Business, Stanford University

"Knowledge businesses depend on the engagement of their people to innovate and grow. Cascio makes the point, with compelling evidence, that the responsible management of restructurings can sustain, if not enhance, this level of engagement. Clearly, the more common practice of far less responsible behavior can have a devastating impact on the future of the enterprise. This book provides the needed guidance to know the difference and to take an informed path."

-- Debra Engel, former Senior Vice President, Corporate Services, 3Com

Wayne F. Cascio has written extensively about employment downsizing and restructuring, and has consulted to a wide variety of firms on six continents. He is past chair of the Human Resources Division of the Academy of Management, past president of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, and is currently a professor of management at the University of Colorado-Denver.

*****

Responsible Restructuring: Creative and Profitable Alternatives to Layoffs
By Wayne F. Cascio
ISBN: 1-57675-129-5
Paperback Original: $27.95
Number of Pages: 160, 6 1/8" x 9 1/4"
Publication Date: October 2002

Published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers
For author interview or serial rights contact:
Heather Vaughan
415-743-6477
[email protected]