Book excerpt: The original hardback edition of The New Workplace examined modern business terms such as total quality management, just-in-time production, e-business, lean manufacturing and teleworking. It explored what these terms really mean and what effect they have in practice - especially their impact on productivity and performance and their social and psychological consequences. This paperback is a shorter, revised version of the original book. It will focus on working practices, especially technology orientated ones, which are the most relevant and innovative for consultants.