The study of the evolution of an urban system raises a number of practical questions, as to the operational definition of the components of the system as well as to the incorporation of the factor time in the analysis. In this chapter the fo cuss is on the urban centres, the nodes of the urban system. One of the first pro blems to be solved now is the definition of such a node. It has been argued above that population size can be used as an approximation of the complexity of the spatial economic structure of a region. The acceptation of this notion makes it possible to study the urban system...

The old ways break down, times change, and new life blossoms from the ruins. Frederich Schiller These words of a great poet express a basic fact of life-the inevitability of change. If marketers were asked to envision the future, they would not hesitate to answer that the entire globe is involved in a human revolution like no other in history. The changes now taking place, in both industrially developed and developing nations, are indications of the problems, chal lenges, and opportunities confronting future economic growth and development. Perhaps the most prominent characteristic of this...

The purpose of this study is to analyze the alternative growth paths open to a region under various policies designed to control the growth oftour ism. This is motivated by the current interest of decision-makers in con trolling the growth of tourism. Such interest and any policies which emanate from it may prove detrimental unless a thorough understanding of the consequences of these policies are the foundation upon which the decisions are made. The study consists of four parts, each is written by an author or a group of authors. Thus, while the logical sequence of the parts and the...

In August 1976 the research seminar 'Decision-making in business' was organized at Nijenrode, The Netherlands School of Business. More than fifty scientists and practitioners from nine countries presented research papers in one of the six discussion groups. Some ofthem also presented some of their ideas in front of a large mixed audience at a one-day symposium. Many of the papers presented at Nijenrode were of such a high quality that the decision to publish a selection of them was an easy one. At the same time the new series Nijenrode studies in business was initiated. All who were involved,...

In August, 1976 the research seminar 'Decision-making in business' was organized at Nijenrode, The Netherlands School of Business. More than fifty scientists and practitioners from nine countries presented research papers in one of the six discussion groups. Some of them also presented some of their ideas in front of a large mixed audience at a one-day symposium. Many of the papers presented at Nijenrode were of such a high quality that the decision to publish a selection of them was an easy one. At the same time the new series Nijenrode studies in business was initiated. All who were...

Project Set Strategies focuses on an issue of vital concern to corporate managers: the development and implementation of strategy. Regretfully, this topic has received too little attention in the literature of finance and has been treated in completely in the management journals. In fact, not everyone recognizes that it falls within the sphere of finance. However, since the important issues discussed in this book strategically shape the destiny of the company and can seal its fate long before the point is reached where conventional finance considerations come into play, it is essential that...

The old ways break down, times change, and new life blossoms from the ruins. Frederich Schiller These words of a great poet express a basic fact of life-the inevitability of change. If marketers were asked to envision the future, they would not hesitate to answer that the entire globe is involved in a human revolution like no other in history. The changes now taking place, in both industrially developed and developing nations, are indications of the problems, chal lenges, and opportunities confronting future economic growth and development. Perhaps the most prominent characteristic of this...

The business environment, particularly after the continuing oil crises of the seventies, can be characterized as evolving rapidly in complex and often unpre dictable ways. Such things as high interest and inflation rates, fluctuating ex change rates, volatile commodity markets, and increasing political turmoil have led to a situation in which explicit consideration of environmental dynamics is becoming much more important for successful business planning than was true in the past. Companies are finding that it is no longer possible to conduct "busi ness as usual" under these changing...

This volume contains a selection of the most notable contributions delivered at the research conference "Industrial Relations and Conflict Management: Different Ways of Managing Conflict," which was hosted by the Nether lands School of Business in July 1980. Held at Nijenrode Castle, the confer ence brought together an international gathering of thirty-five of the most distinguished scholars in these fields to present research papers and to en gage in round-table discussions. One of the principal aims of the conference was to explore cross-links and differences between the areas of conflict...