What is SEAM?

The  Socio-Economic Approach to Management (SEAM) is an intervention designed to address both the human or social aspect of organizations, and the economic aspects. SEAM began in 1973 in France, and has been the most researched organizational change process in the world. SEAM begins with the leaders of the organization, assessing what is not functioning well, and correcting these dysfunctions. The interventions combines the diagnosis and correction with the introduction of six management tools, assessment of hidden costs, and political and strategic aspects of the change process. At the heart of SEAM is the dual emphasis: reduce hidden costs, and then develop the human potential of all the employees.

How is SEAM different from other change interventions?

SEAM is based on a set of values and a belief system about management that is different from traditional management premises. Traditional management features a fragmented analysis of organizations that is based on incomplete financial data and without sufficient attention to the persons involved.  SEAM, the socio-economic approach, factors both people and finances into analysis.  Moreover, SEAM insists that the primary cause of employees’ poor productivity is with the way  employees are managed. Management that focuses on reducing hidden costs and developing human potential  quickly leads to increased profit and development of new opportunities.