HI125 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Conspicuous Consumption, British Aircraft Corporation, Mckinsey & Company
Document Summary
Britain: responded to postwar challenges with rationalization, major merger movement in the 1950s, 60s. 1969 one of the largest 300 manufacturing firms in western europe . 1/3 were british: us still continues to have the most number of big business. British firms also diversified as a strategy for growth and competition. 1970 94 of britain"s largest 100 firms diversified. Few british firms were conglomerates: conglomerates was part of the us. Influenced by american management consultant firm, mckinsey & co: hired by a large number of big business on advice on growth, recommended diversify and decentralized management. Leads to greater adaptation of decentralized management in britain: less management layers than the us. Expansion and development of multinational firms in britain. Britain had been world leader in foreign direct investment pre-wwii. Us becomes leader post wwii but britain is still important. Questions, concerns about relationship between national government and multinationals arise by late 1960s: e. g.
