This volume provides a rigorous examination of key issues relating to employment in small businesses. These include an anlysis of the true extent of job crreation provided by small firms, the rleative quality of jobs in small firms, the growth of self-employment during the 1980s and the way in which the small firm interacts with its local labour markets. These issues are examined in an international context, wth comparative examples from the USA, the UK and Europe.

When originally published in 1993 this book was one of the first to present a systematic comparison of small enterprises in both urban and rural areas in contemporary Britain. Key issues such as relative performance levels and the relevance of recent develoopments to the economy as a whole are discussed by well-known contributors. Throughout, insights derived from dialogues with real entrepreneurs are provided. An internatinal dimension is added with a comparative discussion of the problems of rurality suffered in many areas of North America and Europe, and the continuing effects of the recession of the late 80s and early 90s are also examined and important policy recommendations made.

Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.

This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.

This book, originally published in 1982, review the resurrection of the small firm, partly by a multi-disciplined examination of the existing literature on small and new firms and partly by reporting the results of a study of firms new (in the early 1980s) to the North East of England. Part 1 deals with the role of small firms as sources of potential or actual competition, and their role in research and innovation. In Part 2 the theoretical foundations for the study of entrepreneurs and their new firms are laid, using concepts from a cross-section of the social sciences. Part 3 tests some of the theories outlined in Part 2 and reviews the problems which the entrepreneurs faced in starting and developing their business and the impact which such businesses had upon the local economy. Part 4 reviews the lessons of the preceding parts in the context of the regional and national economy of the UK.

Innovation is increasingly identified as "the" critical factor in ensuring economic competitiveness. Departments of state and quasi-governmental organizations in many countries including, Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, have issued reports and calls to action; but implementation will continue to be problematic unless the points made in this book are taken into account.

Drawing on 350 in-depth interviews with senior managers, this book presents an original theory about the characteristics of managers in “good innovative organizations” and “poor innovative organizations”. It pays close attention to the attitudes, understandings, assumptions and interpretations of managers, who are often the ultimate decision-makers when it comes to innovation. The text is supported by real-life, internationally-known cases such as Hewlett-Packard, Zeneca and the BBC, as well as voluntary sector cases such as Oxfam. It is also enriched by substantial and highly revealing quotations from senior managers themselves.

This book, originally published in 1988, analyzes the regional importance of small and medium sized enterprises, supplmenting a discussion of key issues in both regional development and th eeconomics of small firms with a wide range of national case studies from Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, Greece, Spain, Israel and Indonesia.

This book, originally published in 1982, review the resurrection of the small firm, partly by a multi-disciplined examination of the existing literature on small and new firms and partly by reporting the results of a study of firms new (in the early 1980s) to the North East of England. Part 1 deals with the role of small firms as sources of potential or actual competition, and their role in research and innovation. In Part 2 the theoretical foundations for the study of entrepreneurs and their new firms are laid, using concepts from a cross-section of the social sciences. Part 3 tests some of the theories outlined in Part 2 and reviews the problems which the entrepreneurs faced in starting and developing their business and the impact which such businesses had upon the local economy. Part 4 reviews the lessons of the preceding parts in the context of the regional and national economy of the UK.

When originally published in 1993 this book was one of the first to present a systematic comparison of small enterprises in both urban and rural areas in contemporary Britain. Key issues such as relative performance levels and the relevance of recent develoopments to the economy as a whole are discussed by well-known contributors. Throughout, insights derived from dialogues with real entrepreneurs are provided. An internatinal dimension is added with a comparative discussion of the problems of rurality suffered in many areas of North America and Europe, and the continuing effects of the recession of the late 80s and early 90s are also examined and important policy recommendations made.

Originally published in 1994, this text analyses the key issues that influence the growth and development of small businesses. Looking at the concept in which they operate, the book outlines the factors that are dominant in the sector and explores the effects if has on the economy. Is the creation of small businesses the answer to unemployment? Has the lowering of interest rates or taxation encouraged the self-employed to work harder? Have banks given small business a raw deal? These are just some of the questions discussed as David Storey explains the issues of employment, finance and policy and the issues dictating failure or success.

Focussing on the relatively few small firms which grew rapidly, this book, originally published in 1993 uses face-to-face interviews as well as published records to identify and analyse the managerial factors most closely associated with successful small firms. The volume concentrates on the following key managerial issues: In what respects do the managerial backgrounds and aspirations of the founders of fast-growth small firms differ from those of non-fast-growth small firms? How is the process of growth managed? What incentives, remuneration packages and communication systems are instituted? How do these characteristics and experiences differ in fast-growth small firms from both the traditional small firm and large-firm sector? To what extent is it possible to explain the relative economic performance of small firms in terms of differences in their ownership, organizational and management structures.

This volume provides a rigorous examination of key issues relating to employment in small businesses. These include an anlysis of the true extent of job crreation provided by small firms, the rleative quality of jobs in small firms, the growth of self-employment during the 1980s and the way in which the small firm interacts with its local labour markets. These issues are examined in an international context, wth comparative examples from the USA, the UK and Europe.

Originally published in 1983, this book reviews trends in the small-firm sector. The areas chosen cover the full spectrum of economic development. Part 1 deals with case studies from the USA, Japan, the UK, Australia, Germany and Sweden. In Part 2 Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Africa are surveyed. In all cases the authors review the variety of definitions used for the small-firm sector and present such data as are available on the changing importance of the sector. This is followed by a review of the roles of small firms in each of the economies.

This study, originally published in 1987, addresses the question of small firm performance. Drawing on an extensive database containing financial, employment and ownership data for several thousand small firms, the book examines whether small firms do actually provide jobs, whether they grow and why small firms fail. Guidance is given on how to spot the signs of impending failure in a small business, which is of use to accountants small business PR actioners and government grant providers.

This book contains 26 entirely new cases from a wide range of sectors and countries. "Blackwell Cases in Human Resource and Change Management" vividly captures the crucial contemporary issues and trends in HR and strategic change management.

Each case is a product of in-depth research by a leading authority in the relevant topic area. Taken alongside the accompanying analyses and lists of further readings, the cases offer real life illustrations of modern theory and practice. Each case also includes pertinent questions for students which facilitate engagement with the issues raised. A tutor's manual is available which gives answers to the questions set.

The cases are drawn from Australia, India, the US, the UK, Sweden, Germany, The Netherlands and Denmark.

The topic coverage is also wide. In addition to coverage of all of the core areas of resourcing, developing, equal opportunities, industrial relations, and other staples, there are lively and accessible treatments of process engineering, mergers and acquisitions, novel ways of limiting the need for redundancies and, unusually, insight into how managers can learn to enact strategic change.

This collection is as much about the management of change as it is about the management of human resources. The prominence of both sets of issues in this new collection of cases itself sharply reflects the realities of the contemporary work scene.

This is an essential resource for undergraduate and graduate students of HRM and change management.

Innovation is increasingly identified as "the" critical factor in ensuring economic competitiveness. Departments of state and quasi-governmental organizations in many countries including, Austria, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, have issued reports and calls to action; but implementation will continue to be problematic unless the points made in this book are taken into account.

Drawing on 350 in-depth interviews with senior managers, this book presents an original theory about the characteristics of managers in “good innovative organizations” and “poor innovative organizations”. It pays close attention to the attitudes, understandings, assumptions and interpretations of managers, who are often the ultimate decision-makers when it comes to innovation. The text is supported by real-life, internationally-known cases such as Hewlett-Packard, Zeneca and the BBC, as well as voluntary sector cases such as Oxfam. It is also enriched by substantial and highly revealing quotations from senior managers themselves.

This book, originally published in 1988, analyzes the regional importance of small and medium sized enterprises, supplmenting a discussion of key issues in both regional development and th eeconomics of small firms with a wide range of national case studies from Sweden, the Netherlands, the UK, Greece, Spain, Israel and Indonesia.

Originally published in 1983, this book reviews trends in the small-firm sector. The areas chosen cover the full spectrum of economic development. Part 1 deals with case studies from the USA, Japan, the UK, Australia, Germany and Sweden. In Part 2 Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Africa are surveyed. In all cases the authors review the variety of definitions used for the small-firm sector and present such data as are available on the changing importance of the sector. This is followed by a review of the roles of small firms in each of the economies.

Originally published in 1994, this text analyses the key issues that influence the growth and development of small businesses. Looking at the concept in which they operate, the book outlines the factors that are dominant in the sector and explores the effects if has on the economy. Is the creation of small businesses the answer to unemployment? Has the lowering of interest rates or taxation encouraged the self-employed to work harder? Have banks given small business a raw deal? These are just some of the questions discussed as David Storey explains the issues of employment, finance and policy and the issues dictating failure or success.

"Inventing Popular Culture" is a lively and accessible history of the idea of popular culture by one of the leading experts in the field. Written from the critical perspective of cultural studies, this book traces the invention and reinvention of the concept of popular culture from the eighteenth-century 'discovery' of folk culture to contemporary accounts of the cultural impact of globalization. "Inventing Popular Culture" argues that the idea of popular culture is an invention of intellectuals. This book does not present an analysis of particular texts and activities which have been, or could be defined as, popular culture; instead it explores the changing intellectual ways of constructing texts and activities as popular culture and how these intellectual discourses articulate questions of culture and power.Examining the relationship between the concept of popular culture and key issues in cultural analyses such as hegemony, postmodernism, identity, questions of value, consumerism, and everyday life, "Inventing Popular Culture" presents an engaging assessment of one of the most debated concepts of recent times.