Terry Gourvish – författare

For generations, the uneasy relationship between Britain and France has captured the popular and scholarly imagination. Comparative studies between the two countries abound, from political systems to eating habits: hitherto they have not extended to business history.There is now growing interest in comparative business systems, practices, and performance. In these areas comparison with America, Germany, or Japan have taken precedence. This volume, with contributions from leading British and French experts, explores comparative developments and trends in the two countries which for so long were the guiding lights of Europe and the world. In particular it looks at three main dimensions - the family firm; education and training; and mergers and company structure.With a mixture of case-studies, sectoral analysis, and wider-ranging comparison, the book will be a useful addition to an understanding of the evolution of business organization, competitivness, and performance.

Britain's leading railway historian provides a critical examination of the Blair governments' involvement in the rail industry from 1997 as they attempted to deal with the UK's fragmented, privatized railways.The book focuses particularly on the work of the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA), and considers the role of individuals - John Prescott, Stephen Byers, Alistair Darling, Sir Alastair Morton, and Richard Bowker - and events - the Hatfield accident (2000), the demise of Railtrack (2001-2), and the funding crisis of 2003-4 - in the shaping of emerging policy.The book was commissioned by the SRA, and written with access to government files. Dr Gourvish argues that the establishment of the SRA as a Non-Departmental Public Board proved largely unsuccessful. It produced tensions with the industry's existing institutions - Railtrack/Network Rail, the operating companies and the economic regulator. There were some gains from the experiment, notably the rescue of the West Coast Main Line project. However, it remains to be seen whether by winding up the SRA and taking responsibility for strategy and funding back into its own hands the Department for Transport has resolved the problem of managing a fragmented industry.This important book is essential reading for those concerned with, and interested in, railway policy, both in the UK and elsewhere in the world.

Britain's privatised railways continure to provoke debate about the organisation, financing, and development of the railway system. This important book, written by Britain's leading railway historian, provides an authoritative account of the progress made by British Rail prior to privatisation, and a unique insight into its difficult role in the government's privatisation planning from 1989. Based on free access to the British Railway Board's rich archives, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the main themes: a process of continuous organisational change; the existence of a persistent government audit; perennial investment restraints; the directive to reduce operating costs and improve productivity; a concern with financial performance, technological change, service quality, and the management of industrial relations; and the Board's ambiguous position as the Conservative government pressed home its privatisation programme. The introduction of sector management from 1982 and the 'Organising for Quality' initiative of the early 1990s, the Serpell Report on railway finances of 1983, the sale of the subsidiary businesses, the large-scale investment in the Channel Tunnel, and the obsession with safety which followed the Clapham accident of 1988, are all examined in depth. In the conclusion, the author reviews the successes and failures of the public sector, rehearses the arguments for and against integration in the railway industry, and contrasts what many have termed 'the golden age' of the mid-late 1980s, when the British Rail-government relationship was arguably at its most effective, with what has happened since 1994.

Britain's privatised railways continure to provoke debate about the organisation, financing, and development of the railway system. This important book, written by Britain's leading railway historian, provides an authoritative account of the progress made by British Rail prior to privatisation, and a unique insight into its difficult role in the government's privatisation planning from 1989. Based on free access to the British Railway Board's rich archives, the book provides a comprehensive analysis of the main themes: a process of continuous organisational change; the existence of a persistent government audit; perennial investment restraints; the directive to reduce operating costs and improve productivity; a concern with financial performance, technological change, service quality, and the management of industrial relations; and the Board's ambiguous position as the Conservative government pressed home its privatisation programme. The introduction of sector management from 1982 and the 'Organising for Quality' initiative of the early 1990s, the Serpell Report on railway finances of 1983, the sale of the subsidiary businesses, the large-scale investment in the Channel Tunnel, and the obsession with safety which followed the Clapham accident of 1988, are all examined in depth. In the conclusion, the author reviews the successes and failures of the public sector, rehearses the arguments for and against integration in the railway industry, and contrasts what many have termed 'the golden age' of the mid-late 1980s, when the British Rail-government relationship was arguably at its most effective, with what has happened since 1994.

First published in 1999, this volume aims to reflect on the changing structure, experience and aspirations of European business as it approaches the Millennium, including chapters in issues including business scandals in the Weimar Republic, the evolution of management consultancies in Portugal and Spain and the British Public Sector. The yearbook exploits these changes by serving as a forum for debate in Europe and aims to bring work on individual countries to a wider, European audience. Responding to the challenge of globalization, cooperation within a single European market and an increasing interest in corporate governance and environmental issues, the yearbook broadens to include socio-political issues along with stimulating new types of scholarship among European business historians and new preservation strategies by business archivists.

First published in 1999, this volume aims to reflect on the changing structure, experience and aspirations of European business as it approaches the Millennium, including chapters in issues including business scandals in the Weimar Republic, the evolution of management consultancies in Portugal and Spain and the British Public Sector. The yearbook exploits these changes by serving as a forum for debate in Europe and aims to bring work on individual countries to a wider, European audience. Responding to the challenge of globalization, cooperation within a single European market and an increasing interest in corporate governance and environmental issues, the yearbook broadens to include socio-political issues along with stimulating new types of scholarship among European business historians and new preservation strategies by business archivists.

The field of business history has changed and grown dramatically over the last few years. There is less interest in the traditional `company-centred' approach and more concern about the wider business context. With the growth of multi-national corporations in the 1980s, international and inter-firm comparisons have gained in importance. In addition, there has been a move towards improving links with mainstream economic, financial and social history through techniques and outlook. The International Bibliography of Business History brings all of the strands together and provides the user with a comprehensive guide to the literature in the field.The Bibliography is a unique volume which covers the depth and breadth of research in business history. This exhaustive volume has been compiled by a team of subject specialists from around the world under the editorship of three prestigious business historians.

For the past two centuries, brewing has been a constantly innovative and evolving industry, subject to changes in technology, taste and industrial structure. This ground-breaking book is one of the first to examine the industry from the perspectives of economic and business history. It combines chapters on the major European nations with chapters on the United States and Australia.

Commissioned by the Cabinet Office and using hitherto untapped British Government records, this book presents an in-depth analysis of the successful project of 1986-94. This is a vivid portrayal of the complexities of quadripartite decision-making (two countries, plus the public and private sectors), revealing new insights into the role of the British and French Governments in the process. This important book, written by Britain’s leading transport historian, will be essential reading for all those interested in PPPs, British and European economic history and international relations. The building of the Channel Tunnel has been one of Europe’s major projects and a testimony to British-French and public-private sector collaboration. However, Eurotunnel’s current financial crisis provides a sobering backcloth for an examination of the British Government’s long-term flirtation with the project, and, in particular, the earlier Tunnel project in the 1960s and early 1970s, which was abandoned by the British Government in 1975.

This book reflects an increased interest in establishing connections between the political history and the business history of Europe in the twentieth century. The book includes research on the interactions of politicians, businessmen and their institutions in eight countries, with particular focus on the highly charged inter-war period. Fourteen essays cover subjects under four main headings: the business - politics paradigm; banking finance; business and politics in the National Socialist period; and the business community and the state. Together they form a fitting tribute to the academic scholarship and inspiration offered by Alice Teichova. In her distinguished career, and in particular after the publication of her path-breaking book An Economic Background to Munich in 1974, she did much to stimulate a collaborative approach to international comparative work in the field of economic, political and business history. The case studies presented here demonstrate her considerable legacy to the subject.

This book reflects an increased interest in establishing connections between the political history and the business history of Europe in the twentieth century. The book includes research on the interactions of politicians, businessmen and their institutions in eight countries, with particular focus on the highly charged inter-war period. Fourteen essays cover subjects under four main headings: the business - politics paradigm; banking finance; business and politics in the National Socialist period; and the business community and the state. Together they form a fitting tribute to the academic scholarship and inspiration offered by Alice Teichova. In her distinguished career, and in particular after the publication of her path-breaking book An Economic Background to Munich in 1974, she did much to stimulate a collaborative approach to international comparative work in the field of economic, political and business history. The case studies presented here demonstrate her considerable legacy to the subject.

First published in 1998, The European Yearbook of Business History publishes research and review articles in English on the history of private enterprises based in individual European countries as well as studies of transnational corporations. It also includes work on public and state corporations. Its scope is all of Europe, not merely the countries of the European Union, and its prime, but not exclusive, period of interest is the 19th and 20th centuries. The first issue includes reviews of the present state and future prospects of business history in most European countries, together with articles summarising current Japanese and American perspectives on the history of European industrial and commercial enterprises.

First published in 1998, The European Yearbook of Business History publishes research and review articles in English on the history of private enterprises based in individual European countries as well as studies of transnational corporations. It also includes work on public and state corporations. Its scope is all of Europe, not merely the countries of the European Union, and its prime, but not exclusive, period of interest is the 19th and 20th centuries. The first issue includes reviews of the present state and future prospects of business history in most European countries, together with articles summarising current Japanese and American perspectives on the history of European industrial and commercial enterprises.

For the past two centuries, brewing has been a constantly innovative and evolving industry, subject to changes in technology, taste and industrial structure. This ground-breaking book is one of the first to examine the industry from the perspectives of economic and business history. It combines chapters on the major European nations with chapters on the United States and Australia.

Commissioned by the Cabinet Office and using hitherto untapped British Government records, this book presents an in-depth analysis of the successful project of 1986-94. This is a vivid portrayal of the complexities of quadripartite decision-making (two countries, plus the public and private sectors), revealing new insights into the role of the British and French Governments in the process. This important book, written by Britain’s leading transport historian, will be essential reading for all those interested in PPPs, British and European economic history and international relations. The building of the Channel Tunnel has been one of Europe’s major projects and a testimony to British-French and public-private sector collaboration. However, Eurotunnel’s current financial crisis provides a sobering backcloth for an examination of the British Government’s long-term flirtation with the project, and, in particular, the earlier Tunnel project in the 1960s and early 1970s, which was abandoned by the British Government in 1975.