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List of contents
Acknowledgements; Themes; Part I. The Origins of British Pre-eminence in Europe: 1. The rise of the British motor industry before 1914; 2. War and its aftermath: gains and losses; 3. The framework of protection: demand at home and overseas; 4. Fordism and the British system; 5. The dynamics and limitations of 'personal capitalism'; 6. Fordism and the British approach to markets and marketing; 7. Debilitating environment: structures and strategies; Part II. The Roots of Decline: 8. Postwar pre-eminence: attainment and erosion; 9. Private investment and public policies: government and industry; 10. Manufacturing systems: management and labour; 11. The role of organised labour: strikes and productivity; 12. Industrial relations: Fordism and post-Fordism; 13. Fordist structure and strategy: the managerial organisation; 14. Industrial structure, organisation and corporate culture: the origins and performance of BMC; Part III. The Vicissitudes and Collapse of a 'National Champion': 15. Anatomy of a merger: the rise of British Leyland; 16. The effects of merger; 17. British Leyland's productivity dilemma: markets and productivity; 18. The nationalised champion: policies and personalities; 19. From nationalisation to privatisation; 20. Globalisation and the role of multinationals; 21. Explaining decline; Bibliography; Index.
Summary
This 1995 book is a concise and lucid review of the strengths and weaknesses of the British motor industry since its formation. Placing the industry firmly in a European context, the author assesses its achievements before 1960, and tests the various explanations which have been offered to explain its decline over the previous thirty years.
