- Email: [email protected]
Developmental management: Principles of holistic business
Book Divided IVe Srarrd: Redt$ttirty Polirics, Tec/~nal~~~y atld .Soh[ Choice, MICHIEL SCHWARZ and MICH.AELTHO.VPSON, Harvester Wheatsheaf (1990). 176 pp., ~33.00. Claims to create a new line of inquiry into societal consequences of technology. Argues that politics, technology and social choice are best analysed through cultural theory.
hovatitzg for hIi/ure: Coverrrmerlt Polisy and rhe Ear/y Brifisft Comprrter Ittdrrstry, JOHN HENDRY, The MIT Press (1989), 240 pp., L31.50. Focuses on the creation, implementation and management of government sponsorship policies and the responses of businesses to those policies, nithin the context of the early development of the British computer industry. .Makes sobering reading, and ends with the conclusion: ‘Government sponsorship ofinnovation should be directed at small firms as well as large, and unless there is good evidence to the effect that a large firm \vill make use of the sponsorship in the spirir in which it is intended, the presumption should always be in favour of supporting the smaller and younger firm.’
Conrrnerrial Property: A Practical Guide MICHAEL HALEY, Croner Publications R19.93.
to Bm%ress Lemrs, (1990), 308 pp.,
The legal language of leases, conveyancing practice and the obligations of all parties to the lease are made clear and understandable for management.
Lersottrfrottt the Great Deprehon, (1989), 193 pp., AlS.25.
PETER TEMIN. The MIT Press
The author finds, in his Lionel Robbins Lectures for 1989, some parallels between the 1930s and the 1991ls, and some differences. He believes that The Great Depression was caused by politicians and policymakers following the wrong economic ideology, not by a mechanical breakdown of the system. J. K. Galbraiths’ Tile Grear Crasfz is still the classic.
Developtnerltal Mar~agemettt: Prirtcipies of Hohtic Btrsitterj, RONNIE LESSEILI,Basil Blackwell (1990), 265 pp., At6.95. The author examines the principles of ‘holistic business’. He analyses the character of the changes involved in what he considers the new order of management, and how we can learn to manage the Lvhole business developmentally. A thought provoking approach, but it is nxessary to be careful about setting up companies as role models; they can easily be overtaken by events (see Bank of Credit and Commerce).
Etzvixiottitzg a Sustaitlable Society: Lenrttittg our IIvLlyOut, LESTER W. MILBRATH, State University of New York Press (1990), 403 pp., S18.93. A powerful, thorough, analysis of Lvhere the planet is going and how we can improve our prospects. Argues that science and technology Lvill not solve our problems; society needs to
125
Reviews
change in order to avoid ecological catastrophe. Unfortunately not xvritten for busy managers or planners, but it should be required reading on all Futures Studies courses.
Techical Cftattge arid Erotlomic Tlreory, Edited by GIOV.INNI Dosr, CHRISTOPHER FREEMAK, RICHARD NELSON, GERALD SILVERBERCand LVC SOETE, Pintsr Publishers (19S9). 616 pp., E45.00. A massive volume of 28 papers. The book emerged out of the growing dissatisfaction felt by a number of economists and non-economists alike lvith the \\\-a? technical change has been and continues to be treated in mainstream economics. Some of the authors believe that we are entering a new era with a drastically different operative economic-technological paradigm. But more concerned with economic theory than people and corporate issues. It is not ditiicult to feel that many of the authors kvould benefit from being closer to the real lvorld.
Europe itt tfte Year 2000, 337 pp., Al60.00.
Euromonitor
Publications
(1990).
A useful introduction. but more concerned with historical data than new insights about the future; already overtaken b) events in Eastern Europe.
Europe 1992 attd The .yew World Power Game, MICHAEL S1rv.4 and BERTIL SJOCREX, John Wilry (1990), 301 pp., S22.95. Predicts four major shifts resulting from Europe 1992 that lvill influence the world power game: the decline of Japan; the revitalization of America; an explosion of consumer technology; and the coming global trade war. A readable scud) that speculates about the future. Stimulates thought, but some important areas relatively ignored, such as the environment.
Tfte Gower Hattdbook of Logisrit-s md Distribntiott :~fnttagetttetrt, Edited byJoHN L. GATTORNA, Gower (1990). Fourth Edition. 518 pp., A47.50. Takes a managerial perspective, Lvith 25 out of the 30 chapters being entirely new. Essential reading for those involved in logistics or distribution management.
Tfte Japatt Experience: Coping ml Beyottd, TAZUKO SHIBUSAWA and JOY NORTON, The Japan Times (1989). 151 pp., 65.93. Aimed at those who Lvould like both a theoretical frame\vork for and practical advice on dealing with fears, frustrations and loneliness that can accompany a foreign assignment, either into or out of Japan.
Leadersflip and the Quest@ hfegriry, JOSEPH L. B.%DAR.\CCO,JR. and RICHARD R. ELLSWORTH, Harvard Business School Press (1989). 222 pp., ,&lS.SS. The first half of the book describes
three distinct
philosophies
hovatitzg for hIi/ure: Coverrrmerlt Polisy and rhe Ear/y Brifisft Comprrter Ittdrrstry, JOHN HENDRY, The MIT Press (1989), 240 pp., L31.50. Focuses on the creation, implementation and management of government sponsorship policies and the responses of businesses to those policies, nithin the context of the early development of the British computer industry. .Makes sobering reading, and ends with the conclusion: ‘Government sponsorship ofinnovation should be directed at small firms as well as large, and unless there is good evidence to the effect that a large firm \vill make use of the sponsorship in the spirir in which it is intended, the presumption should always be in favour of supporting the smaller and younger firm.’
Conrrnerrial Property: A Practical Guide MICHAEL HALEY, Croner Publications R19.93.
to Bm%ress Lemrs, (1990), 308 pp.,
The legal language of leases, conveyancing practice and the obligations of all parties to the lease are made clear and understandable for management.
Lersottrfrottt the Great Deprehon, (1989), 193 pp., AlS.25.
PETER TEMIN. The MIT Press
The author finds, in his Lionel Robbins Lectures for 1989, some parallels between the 1930s and the 1991ls, and some differences. He believes that The Great Depression was caused by politicians and policymakers following the wrong economic ideology, not by a mechanical breakdown of the system. J. K. Galbraiths’ Tile Grear Crasfz is still the classic.
Developtnerltal Mar~agemettt: Prirtcipies of Hohtic Btrsitterj, RONNIE LESSEILI,Basil Blackwell (1990), 265 pp., At6.95. The author examines the principles of ‘holistic business’. He analyses the character of the changes involved in what he considers the new order of management, and how we can learn to manage the Lvhole business developmentally. A thought provoking approach, but it is nxessary to be careful about setting up companies as role models; they can easily be overtaken by events (see Bank of Credit and Commerce).
Etzvixiottitzg a Sustaitlable Society: Lenrttittg our IIvLlyOut, LESTER W. MILBRATH, State University of New York Press (1990), 403 pp., S18.93. A powerful, thorough, analysis of Lvhere the planet is going and how we can improve our prospects. Argues that science and technology Lvill not solve our problems; society needs to
125
Reviews
change in order to avoid ecological catastrophe. Unfortunately not xvritten for busy managers or planners, but it should be required reading on all Futures Studies courses.
Techical Cftattge arid Erotlomic Tlreory, Edited by GIOV.INNI Dosr, CHRISTOPHER FREEMAK, RICHARD NELSON, GERALD SILVERBERCand LVC SOETE, Pintsr Publishers (19S9). 616 pp., E45.00. A massive volume of 28 papers. The book emerged out of the growing dissatisfaction felt by a number of economists and non-economists alike lvith the \\\-a? technical change has been and continues to be treated in mainstream economics. Some of the authors believe that we are entering a new era with a drastically different operative economic-technological paradigm. But more concerned with economic theory than people and corporate issues. It is not ditiicult to feel that many of the authors kvould benefit from being closer to the real lvorld.
Europe itt tfte Year 2000, 337 pp., Al60.00.
Euromonitor
Publications
(1990).
A useful introduction. but more concerned with historical data than new insights about the future; already overtaken b) events in Eastern Europe.
Europe 1992 attd The .yew World Power Game, MICHAEL S1rv.4 and BERTIL SJOCREX, John Wilry (1990), 301 pp., S22.95. Predicts four major shifts resulting from Europe 1992 that lvill influence the world power game: the decline of Japan; the revitalization of America; an explosion of consumer technology; and the coming global trade war. A readable scud) that speculates about the future. Stimulates thought, but some important areas relatively ignored, such as the environment.
Tfte Gower Hattdbook of Logisrit-s md Distribntiott :~fnttagetttetrt, Edited byJoHN L. GATTORNA, Gower (1990). Fourth Edition. 518 pp., A47.50. Takes a managerial perspective, Lvith 25 out of the 30 chapters being entirely new. Essential reading for those involved in logistics or distribution management.
Tfte Japatt Experience: Coping ml Beyottd, TAZUKO SHIBUSAWA and JOY NORTON, The Japan Times (1989). 151 pp., 65.93. Aimed at those who Lvould like both a theoretical frame\vork for and practical advice on dealing with fears, frustrations and loneliness that can accompany a foreign assignment, either into or out of Japan.
Leadersflip and the Quest@ hfegriry, JOSEPH L. B.%DAR.\CCO,JR. and RICHARD R. ELLSWORTH, Harvard Business School Press (1989). 222 pp., ,&lS.SS. The first half of the book describes
three distinct
philosophies