Flexibility-based competition: Skills and competencies in the new Europe

In this paper the competitive strength and weaknesses of unifying and enlarging Europe in the global economy are examined. The focus is on people at work, their skills, and competencies. The idea of flexibility-based competition is developed implicating product and services portfolios, technologies, volumes, quality standards, distribution networks, and development cycles. Flexibility calls for speed maximizing management and special work force and labor markets characteristics. A new employment policy should change European labor markets making them more flexible and enabling "high-speed management." People able to adjust to flexible labor markets are described as "niche finders." Those who are equipped to excel in such markets and to win the competition game are presented in this paper as "top performers." Educational systems and particularly management education and development have to undergo deep restructuring to meet the challenge. An outline of new management education is provided. (C) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.