Peter Docherty Boeken

European competitiveness in a global perspective is a major issue on the agenda of the European Union and European industry. The question of competitiveness is often re­ lated to continual technological change and changing work structures to create more flexible and adaptive work places. But these changes are in themselves insufficient to meet the demands of a turbulent business environment, if they are not brought about in close relationship with and anchored to the development of the human resource poten­ tial. Technological innovation and modern post-Tayloristic work structures place new demands on workers. Workers' abilities and competencies must be raised in virtually every sphere - in what are termed the new key/core competencies related to knowl­ edge and cognitive skills, social skills, general and work related personality character­ istics together with a high level of technological ability. At the same time, to make optimal use of the human potential, the way in which work is organised and accord­ ingly the way in which people are managed, must allow workers to develop and use the required competencies. An integrated Human Resource Development approach is needed in which workers abilities and competencies take a central place. European competitiveness, from this perspective, implies a strategic choice by European compa­ nies and policy makers to invest in people and their (potential) abilities.

Hardbound. The conference from which these papers originate forms a continuation of the working conference ``System Design For, With and By the Users'' held in Italy in 1982. The participants included many engineers and computer scientists as well as behavioural and social scientists. The papers selected form a cross-section of the perspectives and priorities guiding research and development efforts in the various scientific and professional disciplines concerned. The conference and this volume confirm and strengthen the conviction of the members of IFIP WG9.1 ``Computers and Work'' that an active and meaningful participation by users should be an essential feature of the development and introduction of information technology in working life.