Knowledge that Transforms

ACQUISITION OF DETROIT RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD BY EMINENT DOMAIN AND SALE TO GENERAL MOTORS AS SITE FOR AUTOMOBILE ASSEMBLY PLANT

Guidelines and principles are presented and discussed for successfully matching jobs with people, based on a careful understanding of the most important capabilities that a given job requires and of the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate. Five decision steps are highlighted: thinking through the assignment; examining a number of potentially qualified people; evaluating whether the individual strengths for the assignment; discussing each of the candidates with several people who have worked with them; and making certain that the appointee understands the job assigned. The unforseen reasons for failure in job assignments also are discussed. Real-world examples are given to illustrate the points covered. (WZ)

Because of deregulation, transportation has undergone rapid and radical change over the past five years. Railroads, airlines, trucks, and barges have all become more competivtive, flexible, and responsive to customer's needs. Carriers and shippers are adjusting to these recent shifts and seeking to anticipate the next round of developments. To take advantage of the new opportunities, managers first need to understand the important trends shaping the transportation environment and the strategic responses of the carriers in each of the modes. Then managers need to answer three key questions: What transportation services does their company need? How should these transportation services be provided? What resources are required to support the company's transportation strategies and how should they be managed? By developing careful and systematic answers to these questions, managers can make transportation part of their overall operations and take full advantage of the new environment. (Author)