Suggested Readings on Organizational Downsizing

American Management Association. AMA Survey on Downsizing and Assistance to Displaced Workers. New York: American Management Association.

Annual surveys of downsizing policies and practices among AMA member firms, with a comparison of trends back to 1990.

Burton, Garry D., J. Kay Keels, and Christopher L. Shook. "Downsizing the Firm: Answering the Strategic Questions." Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 10, May, 1996, pp. 38-45.

Argues for downsizing when undertaken for strategic refocusing on core competencies.

Kim Cameron, "Strategies for Successful Organizational Downsizing," Human Resource Management Journal, Vol. 33, Summer, 1994, pp. 189-211.

Drawing on studies of a number of organizational downsizings, recommends implementation strategies and an array of best practices.

Peter Cappelli, Laurie Bassi, Harry Katz, David Knoke, Paul Osterman, and Michael Useem. Change at Work. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Synthesizes a broad range of recent research and analysis of restructuring and change in the workplace.

Wayne F. Cascio, "Downsizing: What Do We Know? What Have We Learned?" Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 7, No. 1, 1993, pp. 94-104.

A synthesis of studies and accounts of company downsizing and its consequences.

Daniel C. Feldman, "Managing Careers in Downsizing Firms," Human Resource Management, 1996, Vol. 35, 145-161.

Advice to firms and individuals on how to manage careers in an era of diminished opportunities.

Daniel C. Feldman and Carrie R. Leana, "Better Practices in Managing Layoffs," Human Resource Management, Summer, 1994, Vol. 33, 239-260.

Draws on eight case studies to identify effective steps managing downsizing.

Robert W. Keidel, "Rethinking Organizational Design," Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 8, November, 1994, pp. 12-27.

Suggests that managers should approach restructuring, reengineering, and downsizing with a focus on not only shareholders and customers but also employees.

David M. Noer. Healing the Wounds: Overcoming the Trauma of Layoffs and Revitalizing Downsized Organizations. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 1993.

Draws on case studies and consulting to offer guidelines for revitalizing downsized firms.

O'Neill, Hugh M., and D. Jeffrey Lenn. "Voices of Survivors: Words that Downsizing CEOs Should Hear." Academy of Management Executive, Vol. 9, November, 1995, pp. 23-34.