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Work in the 21st Century
In the first three editions of this book, we pursued the premise that the world of work in
the 21st century was very different from what it had been as recently as 15 years earlier.
That premise is even more relevant today and worth repeating. Today’s workplace is tech-
nological and multicultural. Work is often accomplished by teams rather than by single
individuals. In any given company or department, there is greater diversity in terms of
demographic characteristics, interests, and styles than in past decades. Although mental
and physical abilities remain important attributes for predicting job success, other
attributes such as personality, interpersonal skills, and emotional intelligence are receiv-
ing increased attention. A satisfying life is increasingly defined as striking a balance
between work and non-work. In addition, the psychological stability of work may be at
an all-time low. Mergers, acquisitions, downsizing, outsourcing, the challenges to finan-
cial and housing markets, and rapidly changing technologies have all made the idea of
lifelong employment at one company, or even in one occupation, an elusive dream. This
text ties together all of these themes in a way that explores the rich and intriguing nature
of the modern workplace.
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