A study identified workplace know-how skills and characteristics that employers in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph counties in Michigan feel workers need to succeed and be productive. Employer input was obtained in fall 1993 at 12 focus group meetings during which a total of 103 of 192 invited local employers (a 53.6% attendance rate) completed individual workplace know-how skills surveys and then compiled "master lists" of know-how skills and prioritized the identified skills through a voting process. The following 23 basic academic and interpersonal skills, personal characteristics, task achievement competencies, and behaviors were identified on at least 2 consensus lists and received at least 10 votes: basic reading, basic verbal/speaking, written, listening, and math skills; honesty/integrity; responsibility/reliability; willingness to learn throughout life; initiative, motivation; attendance; punctuality; flexibility; problem solving skills; common sense; time management; consistently accurate/conscious of quality; understands and embraces mission and the "big picture"; Taking ownership; teamwork skills; interpersonal skills; works well with coworkers; customer orientation; interpersonal skills; and respects diversity. (Appendixes contain the following: survey instrument, taxonomy of workplace know-how skills, and focus group consensus lists. Contains fourteen tables and 21 references.) (MN)