The most important, and indeed the truly unique, contribution of management in the 20th century was the fifty-fold increase in the productivity of the MANUAL WORKER in manufacturing. The most important contribution management needs to make in the 21st century is similarly to increase the productivity of KNOWLEDGE WORK and the KNOWLEDGE WORKER.

Summary

This quote highlights the significant role of management in the 20th century, which was marked by a substantial increase in the productivity of manual workers in manufacturing. It emphasizes that management's primary contribution in the 21st century should be focused on enhancing the productivity of knowledge work and knowledge workers. With the shift towards a knowledge-based economy, the quote argues that management must adapt its practices to effectively leverage the potential of this sector. By emphasizing the importance of managing knowledge work, the quote calls for a shift in focus from manual labor to intellectual capital.

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