The British Motor Industry, 1945-94: A Case Study in Industrial Decline

by Timothy Whisler

Overview

In this fascinating and well-researched book, Timothy Whisler considers why there are now no major car manufacturers in Britain and makes valuable comparisons with overseas manufacturers operating both in the UK and abroad. This book covers the issues of product development, quality, design, and range and is destined to make a distinctive contribution to our understanding of the performance of UK manufacturers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780198290742
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	11/11/1999
Pages:	440
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.30(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	1480L (what's this?)

About the Author

Dr Timothy Whisler is in the Department of History at Saint Francis College, Loretto, Pennsylvania. He has a PhD from the London School of Economics and has contributed to many books and journals on the subject of the motor industry, including Wada and Shiomi, Fordism Transfomed (OUP, 1995).

Table of Contents

Introduction1. Reconversion: confirming the inter-war course2. Corporate Structure and Management Strategy: decision making and path dependence, 1945-683. British Leyland and Chrysler UK: lock-in, path overlap, and dysfunction4. The Final Stage in the Indigenous Path: British Leyland under Edwardes, 1977-95. Design and Development: the practical man and the myth of engineering excellence6. British Production Methods: the evolution of flexibility and failure of Fordism7. Distribution Structures: dealers, agents, and self-interest8. Domestic and Export Markets: demand, differentiation, and product characteristics9. Product Quality and Reliability: the silver British lemon10. U-Turn, New Path, or Market Failure? 1979-94ConclusionIntroduction1. Reconversion: confirming the inter-war course2. Corporate Structure and Management Strategy: decision making and path dependence, 1945-683. British Leyland and Chrysler UK: lock-in, path overlap, and dysfunction4. The Final Stage in the Indigenous Path: British Leyland under Edwardes, 1977-95. Design and Development: the practical man and the myth of engineering excellence6. British Production Methods: the evolution of flexibility and failure of Fordism7. Distribution Structures: dealers, agents, and self-interest8. Domestic and Export Markets: demand, differentiation, and product characteristics9. Product Quality and Reliability: the silver British lemon10. U-Turn, New Path, or Market Failure? 1979-94Conclusion

Editorial Reviews

"The British Motor Industry is a fascinating and well-researched book, which will appeal to both academic readers and practitioners alike. [It] is destined to make a distinct contribution to the understanding of the performance of UK manufactures."—Nanty Glo Journal

From the Publisher