Argues that groups within the organization play a significant role in enabling it to face a hostile environment. Describes how groups translate their culture into work patterns and argues that this is an important factor in any change programme. Questions the motives and effectiveness of culture...

Reassesses the role of the grapevine in employee communications. Argues that it has a role to play in socializing employees to a company, initiating behavioural change, disciplining employees and providing information. Discusses the implementation of the grapevine as a part of the employee...

The study of corporate culture is a valuable contribution to the study of organisations. Corporate culture consists of values, norms, feelings, hopes and aspirations held by members of organisations. These aspects may not be instantly discernible; however, it is important that managers are aware...

Purpose – To examine Mary Parker Follett's writings with respect to organizational justice and highlight insights that can advance contemporary organizational justice theory as well as help justice scholars effectively address challenges currently facing the field. Design/methodology/approach...

Recounts how medieval English Jewry began when Jews were invited to immigrate by William I and ended with their expulsion by Edward I in 1290. The Jewish community was important and for most of its existence it was prosperous, owing to its particular social function – being the bankers,...

This article examines the construction and operation of a service industry information system in the early years of the twentieth century. It sets the operations of the Birmingham, UK, company of Mitchells & Butlers in the context of the brewing industry and the operation of public houses. The...

Purpose – To publicise the little known work of Eli Devons (1950) as a source of practical operations management “know how”, collated by an economist but of direct interest to wider academe. Design/methodology/approach – Evaluation of World War II UK aircraft production procedures...

Purpose – This paper aims to offer a conceptualization of how and why corporate level strategic change may build on historical differentiation at business unit level. Design/methodology/approach – Methodologically, an historical case study of Nokia Corporation's drastic business model...

Large public companies restructure themselves on a regular basis with the primary goals of achieving better financial performance and demonstrating responsiveness to shareholder interests. However, it is well know that such discontinuities typically result in great stress and confusion amongst...