Good Work Toolbox

Publisher’s abstract: “The Brazilian company Semco may be one of the world’s most unusual workplaces. Instead of a mission statement, business plan, and long-term budget, it has relied on democratic processes and employee autonomy to produce a two-decade record of enviable growth and profits. Its cardinal operating philosophy? Harness the wisdom of the people. Employees control their work hours, location, and pay to achieve the work/life balance they need, and participate in all decisions, including what businesses Semco should pursue. By continually asking why, they avoid the trap of fixed assumptions, opening the organizations to learning and the discovery of new approaches and opportunities.” - Hewitt Associates