One key reason for creating high-performance work systems is to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by improving both employee performance and overall organizational results.

In practice, that means organizations design high-performance work systems so that:

  • Employees are more engaged and productive, which boosts efficiency and quality.
  • The organization can deliver better service and value to customers, improving performance over the long term.
  • The collective skills and motivation of employees become a unique asset that competitors find difficult to copy.