Skip to main content

The Wall Street Journal:
The 'same ol' is actually good enough for many

8 September 2008

Do common management techniques such as setting targets, monitoring performance and "lean" manufacturing actually help companies become more productive and profitable? An extensive new study suggests the answer is yes. Researchers from Stanford University, the London School of Economics and consulting firm McKinsey & Co. interviewed plant managers and examined financial data. They found U.S. factories to be the best-managed and most-productive, though the authors sound warnings for the U.S. as well.

This article appeared in the the Wall Street Journal on September 8, 2008
Link to article

Related Publications
Can Better Management Sustain Growth in China and India?, Nick Bloom and Rebecca Homkes, CentrePiece Volume 13, Issue 1, Spring 2008
What Drives Good Management Around the World?, Nick Bloom, Christos Genakos, Raffaella Sadun and John Van Reenen, CentrePiece Volume 12, Issue 2, Autumn 2007
Work-Life Balance: the Links with Management Practices and Productivity, Nick Bloom, Tobias Kretschmer and John Van Reenen, CentrePiece Volume 11, Issue 1, Summer 2006
'Measuring and Explaining Management Practices Across Firms and Countries', Nick Bloom and John Van Reenen, Centre for Economic Performance Discussion Paper No.716, March 2006

Related links
Nick Bloom webpage
John Van Reenen webpage
Tobias Kretschmer webpage
Rebecca Homkes webpage
Christos Genakos webpage
Raffaella Sadun webpage
Management and Organisational Practices and their Impact on Productivity and Growth Programme webpage
Productivity and Innovation Programme webpage