The MBA handbook: An essential guide to effective study

The MBA handbook: An essential guide to effective study

Long 128 Range Planning Vol. 25 June 1992 of logistics services; together with the important development of the rise of ‘mega’ carriers. The O...

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Long

128

Range

Planning

Vol.

25

June 1992

of logistics services; together with the important development of the rise of ‘mega’ carriers.

The Open Learning 592 pp., L29.50.

Directory

1991, Pergamon

Press (1991),

Comprehensive guide to Open Learning material. Over 2000 Open Learning materials available for use in training programmes; 170 Open Learning support service organizations, plus much other useful material including an overview of Open Learning in the context of recent developments such as TECs, NVQ and the growing Europeanization of training.

The Strategy Handbook, MICHAELHAY and PETERWILLIAMSON, Blackwell Business (1991), 284 pp., Al5.00. An A to Z guide to strategy related terminology, from acquisition to zero-sum game. Useful reference but pity no definition of strategy itself.

profitable, by reassessing products in relation to emerging markets and world class competition. Excellent in theory, but what happens when companies try to use it in practice?

Principles

of Eficient

Information

Springer-Vcrlag (1991), tion, 305 pp., DM50.00.

Management,

Second,

Completely

A.-W. SCHEER, Revised Edi-

Examines the relationship between computer science and business economics, which are integrated into a EDPorientated business economics information model. Well translated from the German. Another related study is Business Strategy and Information Technology, EWAN SUTHERLANDand YVES MORIEUX, Routledge (1991), 243 pp., A35.00. Based on papers (15) for two conferences organized by the European Institute for Advanced Studies. Invaluable reading for those with a special interest in the subject-and a summary of the key issues would be valuable for management as a whole.

The

MBA

Handbook:

An

Essential

Guide

to Efictive

Study,

SHEILA CAMERON, Pitman (1991), 369 pp., A16.99. Economics

Approaches

SYTSEDOUMA and HEIN (1991), 185 pp., A16.95.

to Organizations,

SCHREUDER,Prentice-Hall

Attempts to integrate economic and organization theory to explain when and why decisions will be co-ordinated by the market or by the organization. The authors suggest that information requirements play a crucial role in understanding why markets and organizations coexist.

Usefully designed to help students pass their MBA, as well as develop their managerial skills. The author has had extensive experience with the Open Business School and her book is practical, relevant and user-friendly. Another study where similar remarks could be made is Total Career Management, FRANCESA. CLARK, McGraw-Hill (1991), 223 pp., A19.95.

Operational

Research

‘90,

HUGH E. BRADLEY, Pergamon

Press

(1991), 821 pp., A90.00. Energy and the Environment in the 21st Century, Edited by JEFFERSON W. TESTER, DAVID 0. WOOD and NANCY A. FERRARI, The MIT Press (1991), 1006 pp., A49.50.

A massive reference, sponsored by the MIT Energy Laboratory, that provide assessment of world wide energy requirements and of the environmentally acceptable means of meeting them. Over 80 original contributions address the broad, underlying issues of environmental science, energy technology, demographics, economics and policy. An invaluable starting point for anyone concerned with the subject area. Based on a conference held at MIT in March 1990.

Teleworking-Flexibility&r

tute of Manpower

ANDREW WILSON, InstiStudies (1991), 60 pp., A30.00. the Few,

A brief introduction to Teleworking, combined with several case studies (Bull U.K.), CPS, Digital Equipment, IBM, ICL, Solicitors Complaints Bureau. More flexible working arrangements are likely to be a key trend in the years ahead and the problems and potential need to be more widely recognized.

Sixty-seven selected papers from the twelfth triennial conference of the International Federation of Operational Research Societies (IFORS), where 700 delegates participated in 200 sessions on the theme ‘OR: Wisdom for the Problems of Today’. A massive amount of material but although ‘Wisdom’ was mentioned in the introduction it did not merit mention in the Index!

Designing

Organizations:

RICHARD BUTLER, Routledge

A

Decision-Making

Explores the current concepts of organizational design and attempts to relate them to theories about strategic decision making. Useful discussion of many vital organizational issues but a chapter on organizational life-cycle analysis would have helped; as would, probably, some reference to articles from Long Range Planning. (None cited in the 10 pages of references!)

The

Management

Research

Handbook,

SMITH and PAUL DAINTY, Routledge Competitive ment

Manufacturing:

A Practical

Approach

Strategy, Department (1991), 77 pp., L19.95.

of a Manufacturing

se/IFS Publications A workbook

to the Develop-

designed

to help to make

for Enterpri-

businesses more

Perspective,

(1991), 281 pp., Ll2.99.

Edited by N. CRAIG (1991), 318 pp., E40.00.

Anything that encourages more meaningful management research is to be welcomed and this book is essential reading for anyone involved with this vital and demanding area, particularly those providing funding support.