Competitiveness survey: HBR readers respond.

More than 3,000 HBR readers from across the country and around the world responded to the May-June HBR survey, "Do You Think There Is a Competitiveness Problem?" Their answers--both statistical responses to specific questions and, in the case of 1,412 readers, written commentaries with their own insights--provide important information on how America's managers view the current national debate on competitiveness. According to survey results, HBR readers believe that: America's competitiveness is declining--largely because of the performance of U.S. managers--and it is up to U.S. managers to respond to that challenge. While the government shares part of the blame, government-led remedies--particularly a national economic strategy--are not solutions to the problem. Basic U.S. values--such as the work ethic, pride in quality, and deferred gratification--have slipped and must be restored if the country is to get back on track. The survey results put to rest any notion that managers are unconcerned about competitiveness. It also challenges the idea that a new approach to government policy-making is the route to enhanced competitive performance. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]