High-performance companies don't get the extraordinary performers they need by tossing another fad management program on their people. Instead, they adhere to fundamental beliefs and operating strategies that pay off in the long run--both in higher profits and more productive employees. Now the founder and president of the prestigious Saratoga Institute identify best practices in human asset management. Based on four years of research involving more than 1,000 companies worldwide and filled with illuminating case studies, The 8 Practices of Exceptional Companies documents how the best organizations practice: balanced value fixation . Commitment to a core strategy. Culture-system linkage. Massive two-way communication. partnering with stakeholders . functional collaboration . innovation and risk . never being satisfied. The book shows managers and executives how to shift their primary focus away from short-term process improvement (reengineering, benchmarking, quality) and toward the enduring human asset management practices that can make these efforts long-term successes