Recent trends like lean production and McDonaldisation indicate that Taylorism is a persistent, underlying principle of many organisations. Despite global competition and the need for speed, flexibility and quality, still the principle of Taylorism remains in the contemporary workplace. Moreover, information technology is often being used in way's that reinforce Taylorist patterns. For some this may be a fact of life. Hans D. Pruijt argues that this is not the case. There is a countermovement, particularly in North-West Europe where viable alternatives are being purseued. But, a systematic...

Is marketing in crisis? Some commentators have contended that marketing principles no longer appear relevant to the real world of marketing managers. The foremost figures in the field are marketing's most outspoken critics rather than disseminators of the marketing message. Indeed, a number of noted academic authorities have announced nothing less than the end of marketing. While such apocalyptic sentiments are very much in keeping with our degraded, post-modern, pre-millenial times, the present volume of essays examines the extent to which the end of marketing is nigh. The authors explore...

This book is the first major in-depth study of the impact of contemporary management practices on a rapidly expanding set of white-collar occupations, namely technical workers. It investigates whether HRM schemes such as employee appraisals and performance related pay have transformed technical work to such an extent that it can no longer be described as a 'service contract'. The book contains detailed examination of the nature of managerial control over employees who, by virtue of their committment, present their employers with problems that are often ignored by prescriptive models of...

Much has been written on telecommunications regulation, but little has been written on the actual processes used in regulation. Using access to the key actors inside the UK Office of Telecommunications (Oftel). This text explains how telecommunications regulation works on the inside. It provides an insight into the dynamic process of regulation in the United Kingdom - a pioneer in the development of regulatory institutions and practices and includes a re-evaluation of key regulatory issues including: the importance of culture in the decision-making process; the role of information in...

Much discussion among researchers and academics has focused on the ongoing transition to a new economy and to a new society. Popular terms to describe this transition have been post-industrial society, information society and late capitalism. Yet, perhaps the most profound changes have concerned the way in which economic activities are organised in industry as well as elsewhere. This book explores an emerging area in management and organisation studies, namely the trend towards a projectization of the economy as a whole and the inter- and intra-organisational relations of renewal projects.

Public-private partnerships are an increasing aspect of the delivery of public policies and services across the world. This book draws upon a range of disciplines to offer theoretical perspectives upon their analysis as well as a range of case studies of their management from around the world. It also offers a number of frameworks for the evaluation of their management.

Marketing has long been the subject of moral criticism and critique. Now, with the growing awareness of the impact it can have on the natural environment, both directly and through its influence over social values and behaviours, this attention has intensified. This volume provides a new look at marketing, and in particular the move to establish ostensibly green marketing. Presenting evidence from extensive case studies, covering conventional companies, social mission companies and business-NGO collaborations, these concerns are addressed through an examination of the morality at the heart of...

Over the past decade, the Resource-Based Perspective (RBP) has become a dominant force in strategic thinking. Under the influence of the RBP, managers have become increasingly aware of their ability to gain control over the destinies of their firms through the accumulation and efficient use of resources including production capabilities, marketing prowess, finance and organizational culture. Technology is undoubtedly one of the most important factors in the strategic management of resources. As the rate of change has accelerated in recent decades, firms have been challenged to use...

In the last decade there has been an increasing interest in the role of people management in formulating key business decisions. This book offers a counterbalance to the predominant view that Human Resource and Personnel managers have little influence in the strategy making process.
The book offers guidance to Personnel / HR managers aspiring to raise their status in organisations, as well as an indication of the future development of the role of people management at the highest levels of business. It will be essential reading for all those with a professional or academic interest in Human...