But, as the new administration begins to navigate the economic challenges that will haul this country along, I was stuck by the relevance of a new business book titled, “Profit Building: Cutting costs Without Cutting People,” by Perry J. Ludy. This groundbreaking book offers a new paradigm for preparing people, businesses and organizations for change. Already, businesses are reorganizing around Mr. Ludy’s business model, a five-step technique called Profit Building Process, aimed at siphoning creative input from everyone in the organization. As Mr. Ludy explains, “Leaders must develop the total means available to improve profit, reduce costs and create a better place to work.”

One may glean little pockets of Mr. Ludy’s organization strategies in Mr. Bush’s attempt to choose advisers and Cabinet members from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. Mr. Ludy relates the importance of a diverse group in fostering a dynamic work atmosphere that is not constrained by insular group think. Mr. Ludy quotes author and manager Roger von Oech, “We all need an occasional whack on the side of the head to shake us out of routine patterns, to force us to rethink our problems, and to stimulate us to ask the questions that may lead to other right answers.” Some out-of-the-box thinkers can give us that whack.”

The ideal team, as Mr. Ludy envisions it, should have cross-discipline, complementary skills; meaning it should include representatives from as many departments in the company as possible to take advantage of their specialized skills and knowledge. Appropriately, the Profit-Building Team members are held individually accountable by a monthly review, as they analyze the profit-and-loss statement. Implementing a diverse team not only allows for specialized contribution of individual members, but keeps the organization in touch with the needs of a diverse populace.

In “Profit Building,” Mr. Ludy makes the following points: Share with your people these words of Peter Drucker, “The first performance requirement in a business is economic performance. Indeed, the first social responsibility for a business is to produce a profit… Adequate profitability alone can provide for the risks, growth needs and jobs of tomorrow.”

Managers need to be better prepared and trained when it comes to developing profit-improvement strategies that fit their organization. Organizations looking for an enduring competitive edge should put into place profit-building teams whose only task is to focus on cost reduction and profit improvement. Cost reduction is possible and necessary on every line of a company’s profit-and-loss statement. Recognize the downside of downsizing. Instead use employee skills, knowledge, diversity and creativity to build your organization by increasing sales and profits.

An unusually provocative feature of Mr. Ludy’s book is his 110 steps for profit improvement. Did you know you might be able to rent “antenna space” to cellular phone companies, or that you can challenge your property tax assessment annually, and that it is good business to “manage your trash”? From bank fees to insurance costs, form travel and entertainment to marketing, Mr. Ludy has ideas that will energize any executive, manager or entrepreneur to more effectively deal with our new economy.

The most innovative concept introduced in “Profit Building” is a technique called “Questions Brainstorming”, which is a new twist on traditional brainstorming. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “When we arrived at the question, the answer is already near.” Using this principle, Questions Brainstorming draws on the ingenuity of every person on the profit-building team. It’s a great way to stir up new ways of thinking about old problems and brings people closer together on important issues. Questions Brainstorming could be particularly useful within our government, corporate America and various organizations that are planning structural changes.

If innovation, creativity, inclusion and participation have become the new mantra for our national agenda, then the book “Profit Building” hit the streets at an ideal time in our political and economic history. Business and political leaders, including my friend George w. Bush, would benefit by its messages.