Organization and Management in an Anglo-French Consortium: The Case of Transmanche-Link

This paper presents the results of a comparative organizational assessment of the behaviour and organization of the British and French managers who constructed the Channel Tunnel. In the context of a common adhocratic organization, a principal components analysis of the survey results differentiates the British and French respondents on five dimensions: fonceur /procedural; competitive/collegial; involved/distanced; individualistic/supportive; and stress. These quantitative results are supported by qualitative data from interviews and open-ended questions. A preliminary explanation of the results in terms of a configurational analysis of the differences between the British and French managers surveyed is then offered. The paper argues that an organizational assessment methodology is compatible with societal approaches which attempt to understand nationally distinctive configurations of organization and management.     

MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS: THE CASE OF THE BRITISH BREAKFAST CEREALS INDUSTRY

In this paper the authors apply simple econometric techniques to market share models for brand products in the British breakfast cereals market. Brand product price and advertising coefficients, as estimated by regression equations, are explored in the context of assumed profit and market share maximization, and an attempt is made to evaluate empirically firms' actual marketing strategies.     

THE TROUBLE WITH FINAL SALARY PENSION SCHEMES

The decline in final salary pension schemes (FSS) is a result of increasing costs caused in part by legislative interference. In this paper it is argued that FSS have always been detrimental to the economy. In a misguided attempt to save FSS, the government risks bankrupting large sections of the British corporate sector. Other policy measures could allow greater flexibility for trustees of pension schemes and remove counter-productive legislation and encourage innovative market-based solutions to pensions problems.     

The challenge of change: the positive agenda of the TGWU

This article looks at the response of a major British trade union, the Transport and General Workers Union, (TGWU), to changing circumstances. The paper focuses on the union's response to human resources management and looks at the debate within the union and the elements of the union's strategy for dealing with HRM. It also examines the attempt by the union to move from a ''servicing culture'' to an ''organizing culture'' in response to changes in the nature of work and in society in general.     

The “systems view” and planning theory

This paper evaluates the British “systems view” of planning in terms of its success in providing a basis for planning theory. It is argued that it falls short of fulfilling all the criteria of a satisfactory base for planning theory, i.e. it does not provide a rationale for physical planning. Instead of making full use of the potential for criticising their practise inherent to its concept, the systems view merely rationalises what physical planners do anyway. In an attempt to investigate what the rationale of physical planning might be, the author then suggests one should conceive physical development plans as resource budgets which act mainly as constraints on, rather than as guides for, action.     

Does British economic policy have a future?

It is frequently claimed that Britain's withdrawal from the EU would be tantamount to national economic suicide. The paper examines that proposition by assessing the costs and benefits of EU membership, concluding that the net effect of withdrawal on the British economy would be small-certainly not large enough to stop British governments standing up for British interests in Europe.     

Distinguishing between stochastic and deterministic behavior in high frequency foreign exchange rate returns: Can non-linear dynamics help forecasting?

This paper investigates the dynamic properties of high frequency foreign exchange rate returns. Using hourly data for four exchanges rates, the British Pound, the Deutschemark, the Japanese Yen and Swiss Franc, we attempt to differentiate between stochastic and deterministic behavior in hourly rates of returns. While the autocorrelation coefficients and the Brock-Dechert-Scheinkman test point to the presence of some non-linear dependence, correlation dimension estimates reveal little evidence in favor of low-dimensional chaos. The analysis appears to support the view that although it is not possible to exploit deterministic non-linear dependence in exchange rate time series in order to improve short-term forecasting, non-linear stochastic models can be used for conditional volatility forecasts.     

T.H. Huxley's Critique of Henry George

A bstract . In 1890 Thomas Henry Huxley launched an extremely harsh attack against Henry George. The basis for the attack has until now remained unclear. The opening in 1959 of Charles Darwin's research journals, has led derivatively to reconsideration of Huxley's position as an advocate of evolutionary biology and proponent of science and scientists in Britain, and thereby offers new perspective on the roots of the Huxley-George controversy. The reasons for the conflict are to be found in Huxley's attempt to attract British workers to acceptance of evolutionary science , and to market scientists to employers as defenders of order and progress, who should be supported by the public and the public purse. The challenge George made was to appeal for social reform and fairer treatment for workers through more traditional, non-science based appeals. Thus, George accepted the concept of natural order and religion as valid. The heart of the science Huxley propounded had a Malthusian beat, but George, perhaps unknowingly, turned the primary argument of evolutionary science—Malthusian dynamics—against Huxley. George was not only a threat to Huxley personally but also to the enormous efforts Huxley had invested in attempting to professionalize science through the vehicle of having British workers accept the cosmic kaleidoscope and concepts of biological man. George, holding the older human self-image was triumphant in appealing to British workers since his message.     

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SUPERVISION AND PAY: EVIDENCE FROM THE BRITISH NEW EARNINGS SURVEY†

ABSTRACTS This paper looks at the relationship between supervision and pay using British data, that refer to a different institutional context. The analysis is based on information provided by the British New Earnings Survery over the period 1975–1982. The empirical investigation reveals that the relationship between supervision and pay is likely to be affected in a significant way not only by the estimation technique, as stressed by the existing literature, but also by errors in the measurement of the main variables.     

Economic systems in developing countries – A macro cluster approach

This study is an attempt to close a gap in the comparative capitalism literature. Studies in that field focus mostly on industrialized countries, discuss economic systems in developing regions separately, and do not provide evidence based on a worldwide sample. We use an established macroeconomic cluster approach to identify economic systems in a worldwide sample of 115 developing and industrialized countries. We use an innovative approach to correct for income-related differences that would otherwise distort the cluster results. The major results are (1) that two broad categories of economic systems exist in developing countries (liberal and coordinated), which mirrors the results for industrialized countries, and (2) that economic systems in developing countries are apparently determined by a mixture of colonial heritage—with the transfer of more liberal institutions in the case of British colonialization—and regional affiliation, which explain differences within continents and between continents.     

ENGINEERS,MANAGEMENT AND WORK ORGANIZATION: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERS' WORK ROLES IN BRITISH AND JAPANESE ELECTRONICS FIRMS*

Many commentators have attributed the poor performance of British manufacturing to the ‘under-representation’ of engineers in management, and have proposed policies for bringing more engineers into management so as to develop a technologically oriented management culture. This paper argues that the under-representation of engineers in management is a symptom not the root cause of the problem, which lies in the split between technical and managerial expertise at the enterprise level. Based on a comparative analysis of engineers’ work roles and the relationship between technical and managerial functions in British and Japanese electronics firms, the paper argues that the mechanistically structured organization systems in the British firms generate a vertical polarization between technical and managerial roles, inhibit knowledge sharing and lead to the gross under-utilization of engineers in product development. A technologically oriented management cannot simply be achieved by getting more engineers into management. It requires, instead, organizational restructuring and changes in work practices to enable a better integration between technical and managerial expertise.     

Classical Equality: On the Content of Analytical Egalitarianism

A bstract .   Sandra Peart and David Levy in The "Vanity of the Philosopher" champion a concept of "analytical egalitarianism." Equality is a difficult concept. Peart and Levy attempt to reconstruct analytical egalitarianism from the classical writing of British political economy from Adam Smith to John Stuart Mill. Aspects of this reconstruction touch on a number of different egalitarian conceptions, including: (1) equality of capacity and talent, (2) racial equality, (3) equality in the marketplace, (4) equality of opportunity, (5) equality of material conditions, (6) equality of happiness, (7) equality before God, and (8) political equality. This paper briefly considers the relation of each of these equalities to Peart and Levy's analytical egalitarianism. The hope is that such exercises can help elucidate Peart and Levy's reinterpretation of classical economic's understanding of equality. A central theme does emerge. Peart and Levy, echoing the classical economists themselves, seem reluctant to follow their radical assumptions concerning talent and capacity for happiness to radical conclusions concerning the appropriate provenance of redistributional policies.     

CHALLENGING THE EMPIRICAL EMPIRE

Many of the problems in the British public sector directly relate to the attempt to create a world fit for the central planner in which all tasks can be set down in a system of rules. The philosophy of 'empirical consequentialism' underpins this entire venture. This is the view that the empirically-proven consequences of an action are the most valid basis for moral judgment of the action and that these can be fully evaluated through expert research rather than democratic dialogue. A crucial policy challenge is to restore the value of 'tacit knowledge' in the public sector, allowing individuals to exercise choice and judgment responding to feedback in a process of trial and error.     

REGIONAL DISPARITIES IN THE PROCESS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA: A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

This paper examines the policy actions of earlier administrators in Nigeria. The account reveals that regional inequalities in the country evolved during the 100 years of British Colonial Administration. Moreover, activities of various ethno-linguistic groups in the country after political independence undoubtedly exacerbated the situation. The paper concludes that the major structural changes in agriculture, transportation and education initiated by the British during the colonial period: (a) had profound effects on the evolution of regional disparities; and (b) established an important basis for further development of the country. Nonetheless, activities of post-independence administrators have perpetuated and even aggravated the regional and individual socio-economic disparities in the country.     

Exploring the value of party political advertising for youth electoral engagement: an analysis of the 2001 British General Election advertising campaigns

One of the central, non‐party issues in the latter days of the 2001 British General Election campaign was encouraging the electorate to vote. With turnout at British elections in decline, particularly among young people, British democracy appears to be facing a crisis. This disengagement offered both opportunities and challenges for the election advertising campaigns, however, the campaigns employed have been accused of failing to engage a disinterested young electorate. The aim of this paper is to explore youth attitudes to electoral advertising and to explore its value for public servants tasked with increasing voter engagement and turnout among young people for future British general elections. Copyright © 2004 Henry Stewart Publications     

Strategic interventions of management accountants: everyday practice of British and German brewers

A popular stereotype has it that German firms are somehow ‘long-term strategically oriented’ and British firms focus on short-term financial gain. Analysing ethnographic material from British and German brewers, this paper explores how management accountants in the two countries conceive of their relationship with processes of strategic formulation and how they seek to mobilize strategic arguments in their day-to-day contacts with operational management. The focus of this study is not on the strategy debates which one might expect among senior management, but on routine interaction between management accountants and managers in which the mundane events of organizational life are made to happen in the name of loftier ‘strategic’ priorities. From observations of such interaction and management accountants' reflections on them, contrasting ways of integrating management accounting expertise with operational knowledge of the firm are suggested for the British and German brewers studied. Those contrasts are developed by drawing on the relationship between time and the possibility for strategic intervention more generally.     

英国开发控制系统的分析与其特征

本文较为深入地阐述和分析了英国开发控制系统的背景、尺度和程序。通过分析,作者认为英国规划系统具有两个特点,一是倾向于中央集权制,即"介入"权力;二是具有灵活性。这两个特点既是英国规划体系的优点,也是存在的主要问题。中央的集权和"介入"权力可以保证政令在全国的实施和重要的项目与国家的方针政策相吻合,但可能造成一些项目与地方的发展方向产生矛盾;灵活性能够应对多变的市场,但也带来发展的不确定性,以及规划审批的拖延。解决这些问题将是英国规划体系变革创新的方向。     

Building integrated workforces across national borders: the case of British and Japanese engineers

Increased competition in the global market and the rapid pace of technological development have led to the proliferation of cross-border partnerships among multinational firms. However, diversity in national backgrounds, management systems and work practices between partner firms can limit the development of robust co-operative relationships and impede the formation of integrated work teams. This study provides a concrete analysis of how the diversity in the technology management systems and work practices between a Japanese and British electronics firm has constrained their collaboration. It examines how the two firms attempt to co-ordinate the work of their engineers and analyses the limitations of their adaptive strategies. The paper argues that mutual adaptation and organizational learning can have only limited effect in accommodating some of the fundamental differences between the partner firms many of which are closely interwoven with diversity in national institutions and societal contexts. It also argues that ‘integration’ and ‘acculturation’ do not really address the full range of the problems. Inter-firm diversity, although conflict-inducing, is also a source of competitive advantage for the partnership. Firms engaged in global collaboration must face the persistent tension between the need to preserve their core strengths and the pressure for global adaptation.     

Beyond ‘Euroland’: British trade unions,the single currency and European integration

British trade unions have differing perspectives as to the desirability of UK membership of the eurozone. This paper provides a critical review of the spectrum of union views and highlights key points of disagreement and areas of common ground. An agenda for further reflection upon the euro by the unions is also offered. Finally, the paper considers union positions on the implications of the wider process of European integration for industrial relations.     

Tensions and variations in call centre management strategies

Management strategies in call centres face a series of tensions stemming from conflicts between achieving efficiency and providing a quality service to the customer. Recent research suggests high commitment management (HCM) techniques are being applied in call centres in a paradoxical strategy of ‘low discretion, high commitment’(LDHC). This article presents case findings on four British call centres that confirm the LDHC model but suggest that it operates in a variety of forms. By characterising the research sites according to the combined dimensions of HCM orientation and job design implementation, a typology of LDHC approaches is proposed. These are containment, alleviation, structured employee development and involvement. In essence, the LDHC model is an attempt to reconcile the costs of control with the levers of commitment. However, an examination of the realities of LDHC in action reveals a varied but persistent pull towards control. Fundamentally this exposes LDHC as a substitute for, rather than a reflection of, commitment.