David Farmer

Book Review: The Economist as Management Briefings - Special Report No. 1202‘Drucker, Ohmae, Porter and Peters‘, published by Vie Economist as Management Briefings - Special Report No. 1202, pp. 86, hardback

But publishing is management is it not? (Or, as some would argue, mis-management). So the pros and cons of each project need to be closely examined in this way. In the process opinions will be expressed, accepted and rejected, and conclusions reached. In the present case that the book should be published; that the (no doubt) considerable fees of the authors could be met along with all other costs; that sufficient copies could be sold to yield a profit.

Book Review: Strategic ManagementGreenleyGordon E., Strategic Management, Prentice Hall, 1989, pp. 405, £14.95 paperback.

of the concept of technological paradigms and trajectories, the hook is at its strongest. The analysis sets out to cover six countries USA, Japan, UK, France, West Germany and Italy. Inevitably, this leads to a concentration on American experiences, for the biotechnology industries are most developed there, though it is too much of a concentration for a balanced analysis. Moreover, much of the analysis is repeated from oft-cited references. The analysis of the patterns of industrial innovative activities that the author presents (Chapter 5) suffers from the same principal weakness as his analysis of Government policy (Chapter 6), namely a failure to take developments beyond 1984/5. Patent data, which proliferates despite the problems of relying on it that the author acknowledges, ends with the period 1980-84. Details of commercial activity, again largely reproduced from Kenney and the OT A report, end in 1984 or exceptionally in 1985. Details of Government policies are again accurate up to 1984, but fail to mention developments since then. The exception is the analysis of Italian policy (the authors country), but even then we only progress to 1987. There are other niggling points which also deter the reader use of the acronym NBTFs (NFTBs in the index) when surely Orsenigo intends NTBFs; occasional changes in the density of text; a reference to Chapter 9 when no such chapter exists. However, as an accumulation of the central statistical information relevant to the study of biotechnology the book performs a useful, if unintended, task. Orsenigos book is not the worthwhile addition to the literature that it could have been. Had the author concentrated more on using the development of biotechnology for an exegesis of Dosis conceptual framework of technological paradigms and trajectories, and less on reproducing the work of others, then a very valuable contribution would have been made.

Book Review: The IBM WayRogersBuck, The IBM Way, Harper & Row, pp. 235, £12.95 hardback.

the re-appraisal of management accounting theory. In this book, Scapens considers the latter of these two approaches in a very readable fashion and re-appraises the theory as portrayed from his examination of 24 management accounting textbooks. The book is divided into four parts: a review of management accounting theory and practice; quantitative models; information costs and benefits; and current and future developments. He has excluded investment appraisal and working capital management from the topics for review in the book, because he views them as being more appropriately placed within a book on financial management rather than management accounting. The book is very well written and illustrates the impact of the assumptions that underpinned the management accounting research which was undertaken in the 1950s and 1960s and which have been most influential in the development of the current body of literature on the subject of management accounting. The historical importance of cost accounting in the literature, the emphasis upon the manufacturing environment and the economic framework, is placed firmly within context. For the management accounting researcher, MBA student and 2nd/3rd year accounting/business studies undergraduate this book is a must. For my teaching programmes it will be placed alongside the course textbooks, a number of which were in the 24 reviewed by Scapens and many of which receive criticism from my MBA students upon the grounds of relevance and bias upon a manufacturing environment. This book was not really designed by Scapens as being for the postexperience manager, although the first 30 pages and the final chapter would be very appropriate. Much of the remainder would probably be difficult for such an individual to digest without having a reasonably good accounting background. I commend Scapens for the book. It will certainly be thrust at any potential researcher of management accounting who is directed to seek my advice upon essential background reading!

The Dilemmas of Transfer Pricing

“Transfer pricing problems take up more executive time in this organisation than we spend in considering our competitors.”