- Email: [email protected]
About the author article
THOMAS
A. PETXT
In addition to his recently published book, Freedom in the American Economy, Mr. Petit has contributed to periodicals. A former assistant dean at U.C.L.A., he is Professor of Business Administration and Economics and Director of the Breech School of Business Administration at Drury College, Springfield, MO.
A. L. MCDONALD,
JR.
After four years with the management consulting firm of McKinsey 8a Company in New York City, Mr. McDonald has recently transferred to the firm’s London office. Previously, he was Western Zone Manager of the Air Conditioning Division of Westinghouse Electric.
Imagery
As a Management
Skill
For the man who cannot know everything himself, images are valuable assets. The image is an operational concept, and the manager who must make decisions under varying degrees of uncertainty necessarily becomes a dealer in images. Projecting an image within an organization or to the public requires skill. 23
Do
Your
Distribution
Channels
Need
Reshaping?
The key importance of distribution to a company’s marketing success is undeniable, yet too many executives are unwilling to disrupt traditional channels to make the necessary changes. This article offers suggestions on how a company can prevent its distribution channels from becoming profit drains. 29
about the
AUTHOR
GEORGE
M.
SMERK
Mr. Smerk recently joined the faculty of the University of Maryland as Assistant Professor of Transportation in the College of Business and Public Administration. His new book, Urban Transportation: The Federal Role, will be published this fall by Indiana University Press.
ROBERT
Mr.
E. THOMPSON
Thompson, who lives in Mountain Lakes, of Management Systems in N.J., is Supervisor the Aerospace Group of General Precision, Inc. He also lectures at New York University.
ARTICLE
Three
Experiments
in Urban
Transport
Three research projects, financed under the Housing Act of 1961, have so far produced results that can help America out of its devastating crush of traffic congestion. Tests in Detroit, Seattle, and Massachusetts indicate that public acceptance of mass transport will increase significantly if the quality of service is sufficiently improved. 39
Span of Control-Conceptions and Misconceptions
Certain firmly held concepts and several organizational forces often cause managements to structure organizations with unjustifiably short spans of control. The gains to be enjoyed by broadening average spans can be realized through seme clear-headed thinking and hard-headed decisions by management. 49
BUSINESS
HORIZONS
A~LLAPZ HARVEY
Systems
Mr.
F. MEE
Zdeafional
Mee is Mead Johnson Professor of Management at the Graduate School of Business, Indiana University. The author’s most recent addition to his long list of writings in the field of management is a book published by the New York University Press, ~anage~enf Thoughf in a Dynamic Economy.
RALPH
WESTFALL
Business
M.
WEIMER
AND HOWARD
E. BARNES
L. TIMMS
Zfems/Mafrix
Organization
Management
Under
Nasser
This firsthand study of Egyptian management contributes insight into the question of whether American management methods are exportable and are pertinent to societies differing from our own. The author explores the characteristics of Egyptian managers and their organization into moassessas. Under Nasser, the outlook for improved management is good. 73
Z~du5iriaZ
Mr. Barnes began his career as a research chemist and in his two most recent positions held the title of Corporate Vice-President, Research, with Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company in St. Paul ( 1958-1961) and with FMC Corporation in New York City (1961-1963). At present he lives in New Canaan, Corm. and is engaged in organizing a new company.
ARTHUR
Be Practical
Matrix organization is used to establish a flexible and adaptable system of resources and procedures to achieve a series of project objectives. Although it emerged from the aerospace industry, other industrial managers can adapt the concept for uses in new 70 product or market developments.
In 1961-62 Mr. Westfall spent fifteen months in Egypt as a Ford Foundation consultant to the National Institute of Management Development; during his stay he met and worked with Egyptian managers. At the present time the author is Chairman of the Department of Marketing at Northwestern University.
CARL
Too
The systems approach is widely known in business, but only a handful of companies have put it to work. In defining it and extolling its virtues, proponents have made it sound too cosmic to be practical and too costly to be profitable. This article suggests how to close the gap between what has been learned about managing complex systems and the use to which that knowledge is being put. 59
Mr. Harvey is a consulting engineer who has specialized in the analysis, design, engineering, and installation of product distribution systems. He is President of Dasol Corporation, a firm he organized in 1954, and has written on aspects of distribution engineering for leading technical and business publications.
JOHN
Can
Research-Zs
It
Outmoded?
Many investors seriously question the wisdom of large research budgets and point to inadequate returns. Often, companies have made the mistake of abandoning basic research in favor of end-product-oriented research; they would do better to seek a good balance between the two. Industrial research is a mature business worthy of a scientific approach. 85
/
Case Report: Applications
The Aerospace Center
Research
I Both authors are associated with Indiana University and the Aerospace Research Applications Center. Mr. Weimer is Special Assistant to the President and Co-Director of ARAC. He was formerly Dean of the Graduate School of Business. Mr. Timms is Director of Operations for ARAC and a professor of management.
SUMMER,
1964
Originating as an experiment by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to disseminate the scientific and technical information generated in the nation’s space program, ARAC services are characterized by their problemsolving and idea-generating approach. ARAC'S first year of operation is summarized in this report outlining its services to industry. 93
A. PETXT
In addition to his recently published book, Freedom in the American Economy, Mr. Petit has contributed to periodicals. A former assistant dean at U.C.L.A., he is Professor of Business Administration and Economics and Director of the Breech School of Business Administration at Drury College, Springfield, MO.
A. L. MCDONALD,
JR.
After four years with the management consulting firm of McKinsey 8a Company in New York City, Mr. McDonald has recently transferred to the firm’s London office. Previously, he was Western Zone Manager of the Air Conditioning Division of Westinghouse Electric.
Imagery
As a Management
Skill
For the man who cannot know everything himself, images are valuable assets. The image is an operational concept, and the manager who must make decisions under varying degrees of uncertainty necessarily becomes a dealer in images. Projecting an image within an organization or to the public requires skill. 23
Do
Your
Distribution
Channels
Need
Reshaping?
The key importance of distribution to a company’s marketing success is undeniable, yet too many executives are unwilling to disrupt traditional channels to make the necessary changes. This article offers suggestions on how a company can prevent its distribution channels from becoming profit drains. 29
about the
AUTHOR
GEORGE
M.
SMERK
Mr. Smerk recently joined the faculty of the University of Maryland as Assistant Professor of Transportation in the College of Business and Public Administration. His new book, Urban Transportation: The Federal Role, will be published this fall by Indiana University Press.
ROBERT
Mr.
E. THOMPSON
Thompson, who lives in Mountain Lakes, of Management Systems in N.J., is Supervisor the Aerospace Group of General Precision, Inc. He also lectures at New York University.
ARTICLE
Three
Experiments
in Urban
Transport
Three research projects, financed under the Housing Act of 1961, have so far produced results that can help America out of its devastating crush of traffic congestion. Tests in Detroit, Seattle, and Massachusetts indicate that public acceptance of mass transport will increase significantly if the quality of service is sufficiently improved. 39
Span of Control-Conceptions and Misconceptions
Certain firmly held concepts and several organizational forces often cause managements to structure organizations with unjustifiably short spans of control. The gains to be enjoyed by broadening average spans can be realized through seme clear-headed thinking and hard-headed decisions by management. 49
BUSINESS
HORIZONS
A~LLAPZ HARVEY
Systems
Mr.
F. MEE
Zdeafional
Mee is Mead Johnson Professor of Management at the Graduate School of Business, Indiana University. The author’s most recent addition to his long list of writings in the field of management is a book published by the New York University Press, ~anage~enf Thoughf in a Dynamic Economy.
RALPH
WESTFALL
Business
M.
WEIMER
AND HOWARD
E. BARNES
L. TIMMS
Zfems/Mafrix
Organization
Management
Under
Nasser
This firsthand study of Egyptian management contributes insight into the question of whether American management methods are exportable and are pertinent to societies differing from our own. The author explores the characteristics of Egyptian managers and their organization into moassessas. Under Nasser, the outlook for improved management is good. 73
Z~du5iriaZ
Mr. Barnes began his career as a research chemist and in his two most recent positions held the title of Corporate Vice-President, Research, with Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company in St. Paul ( 1958-1961) and with FMC Corporation in New York City (1961-1963). At present he lives in New Canaan, Corm. and is engaged in organizing a new company.
ARTHUR
Be Practical
Matrix organization is used to establish a flexible and adaptable system of resources and procedures to achieve a series of project objectives. Although it emerged from the aerospace industry, other industrial managers can adapt the concept for uses in new 70 product or market developments.
In 1961-62 Mr. Westfall spent fifteen months in Egypt as a Ford Foundation consultant to the National Institute of Management Development; during his stay he met and worked with Egyptian managers. At the present time the author is Chairman of the Department of Marketing at Northwestern University.
CARL
Too
The systems approach is widely known in business, but only a handful of companies have put it to work. In defining it and extolling its virtues, proponents have made it sound too cosmic to be practical and too costly to be profitable. This article suggests how to close the gap between what has been learned about managing complex systems and the use to which that knowledge is being put. 59
Mr. Harvey is a consulting engineer who has specialized in the analysis, design, engineering, and installation of product distribution systems. He is President of Dasol Corporation, a firm he organized in 1954, and has written on aspects of distribution engineering for leading technical and business publications.
JOHN
Can
Research-Zs
It
Outmoded?
Many investors seriously question the wisdom of large research budgets and point to inadequate returns. Often, companies have made the mistake of abandoning basic research in favor of end-product-oriented research; they would do better to seek a good balance between the two. Industrial research is a mature business worthy of a scientific approach. 85
/
Case Report: Applications
The Aerospace Center
Research
I Both authors are associated with Indiana University and the Aerospace Research Applications Center. Mr. Weimer is Special Assistant to the President and Co-Director of ARAC. He was formerly Dean of the Graduate School of Business. Mr. Timms is Director of Operations for ARAC and a professor of management.
SUMMER,
1964
Originating as an experiment by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to disseminate the scientific and technical information generated in the nation’s space program, ARAC services are characterized by their problemsolving and idea-generating approach. ARAC'S first year of operation is summarized in this report outlining its services to industry. 93