Pattern in Corporate Evolution - Hardcover

Kay, Neil M.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198290470 ISBN 13: 9780198290476

Publisher: OUP Oxford, 1997

Synopsis

Questions relating to the existence and nature of firms have become major issues in economics in recent years. The agenda in this area has been largely set by transaction cost economics. This approach has provided a basis for explaining the boundaries and structure of the firm in a variety of contexts. Neil Kay follows the agenda set by transaction cost economics, but he is unique in providing improved explanations of individual phenomena as well as a more general framework for analysing the nature and behaviour of firms. He illustrates his argument with sixty figures which present the relations between firms in a graphic form. The book develops a resource-based perspective of the firm. This in turn provides the foundations for the analysis of the firm as a complex system, in which links composed of shared resources constitute basic building blocks. The evolution of th efirm from simple beginnings to complex system is then studied in a number of areas, including vertical integration, diversification, multi-national enterprise, joint venture, alliance, network, and internal organization. Neil Kay's analysis advances current theories of the firm and will be essential reading for academics and researchers involved in business economics, strategic management, and organization theory.

About this title

Review

`Throughout, he uses well-constructed figures to illustrate relationships and structures ... very useful and well-written.' Times Higher Education Supplement |d 24/03/1998

About the Author

Professor of Business Economics at the University of Strathclyde. He was previously Reader in Economics at Heriot-Watt University and also Lecturer at Nottingham and Strathclyde Universities. He has held two Visiting Associate Professorships in the University of California (Irvine, 1980-2) and was Visiting Professor at the European University (Florence, 1987-8). He has been a member of ACOST (Cabinet Office) and DTI working parties. He has advised private and governmental institutions, including the EC Commission and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). He has published four books and numerous articles of research on industrial economics and corporate strategies, particularly on topics of diversification, multinationalism, and innovation.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP Oxford
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198290470
• ISBN 13: 9780198290476
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 340