Drawing on the work of Niccolo Machiavelli and his appreciation of management and power, this paper explores the contemporary role of public affairs in UK organisations and the type of roles enacted by practitioners. The paper reviews how public affairs and, particularly, the corporate lobbying...

The research into SME”s is often presented as quite distinct from strategy or general management research. This paper examines the literature on Strategic Decision Making (SDM) process, drawing in some findings from the SME sector which show some key similarities. The paper makes proposals for...

Purpose – This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach – This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and...

Identifies and compares characteristics of firms in the telecommunications industry who have high new product performance. Performance comprises two dimensions: impact of new products on the company and goal performance. Explore profiles of high performance firms with regard to how they organize...

Outlines the methods and costs of converting existing robotic systems to new applications and gives research results of software and hardware conversion strategies which speed up re‐configuration. Discusses the trade‐offs between buying new solutions or upgrading old ones, describes the uses...

Within Western Europe West Germany is invariably cited as the technological, engineering‐led society that has become the pace‐setter of Europe. However the Germans themselves see themselves as “laggards” and have been concerned for some time over their approach to technological...

New technological ideas must be employed more efficiently to increase an EEC country's ability to compete. There are many barriers to exploitation of new ideas, but certain measures can help: academic researchers should be able to undertake consultancy work; increase R&D contracts to small...

Great effectiveness in support of technological product and market development of small firms may be produced by programmes which are local, easily accessed, time efficient, understandable, informal, personal, visible, credible, accepted, opportunity and problem oriented, trustworthy, cheap and...

The introduction of new technology into the small to medium‐size company presents many problems — the most severe being the lack of skilled personnel, technologists and management. Through the use of outside consultants and a six‐step process, innovation projects can be undertaken with the...