There is an ambivalence in many people’s attitudes to Japanese business techniques in the West. An admiration for their management styles and ability to penetrate Western markets is occasionally tempered by an ill‐informed suspicion that in some way the Japanese have created – or been...

If this company were split up, I would give you the property, plant and equipment and I would take the brands and trade marks and I would fare better. This commonly held belief illustrates the immense value of the brand today, but how do you create and manage a star brand? Perhaps this question...

One of the UK’s most exciting new companies, Cambridge Display Technology (CDT), has won The Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award for 2002, Britain’s most prestigious annual prize for engineering innovation. A team from CDT has won the gold medal in recognition of the company’s...

New product development, particularly the search for real blockbusters, is of crucial importance for any organization. But when a product quickly becomes a smash hit, the next best‐seller must be found – and then the pressure really starts. Creating a totally new market can reap financial...

Four wheel‐drive trucks splash through swollen rivers, crunch through gravel and roll effortlessly across rutted terrain. Rugged men with designer stubble cut like butter through rock‐hard surfaces using the latest in power tools, while balancing nonchalantly on I‐beams 15 storeys up. We...

Brands have come a long way since cattle owners (and, shamefully, even slave owners) burned a mark on the skins of their stock to say “this is mine, keep off!”. These days the mark, logo, sign, or slogan – or any combination – which identifies a product is more likely designed to give...

Purpose – To provide a concise briefing on the most topical issues and relevant implications from the top 400 management publications in the world. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the argument...

Purpose – To summarize some of the recent literature which has focused on the Eastman Kodak Company. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings – Reports of Kodak's...

Purpose – Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – Scans the top 400 management publications in the world to identify the most topical issues and latest...