This book explores the reasons for persistent differences in work practices both within and between industries. The authors found that the strategy that a firm chooses to follow often determines the kind of work practices it fosters. Therefore a firm may not adopt the approach now advocated by many management thinkers—in which decision-making is pushed down to the lowest level of the firm—because this choice may not be consistent with its competitive strategy. The authors discuss the ways that public policy can aid workers without subverting the strategic choices made by firms.