Relativism rules
Seemingly conflicting theories about economics and business may in fact just illustrate different aspects of an issue. It is often pointless to look for a single explanation of a successful business operation or economic behaviour in general. The post-modernist idea that scientific truths are not objective facts captures something very important about the nature of social science
Waldfogel’s unwanted gift
Can conventional economic theory be extended to understanding Christmas gifts? Maybe it can, but this would require a more subtle understanding of human behavour than the idea of rational economic man. This article shows that we do not simply value gifts in terms of the cost of the purchase.
Knowing versus guessing
As markets develop, gamblers seem to increase in numbers relative to insurers. We need to emphasise the distinction.
The social route to economic success
If man were not a social animal he would not be as economically successful as he has been. A biological perspective can prove highly illuminating.
Mastering Strategy: Resource Based Strategy
The resource based view of strategy has a coherence and integrative role that places it well ahead of other mechanisms of strategic decision making. After thirty years or so, the subject of strategy is genuinely acquiring what can be described as a paradigm - to use the most overworked and abused term in the study of management.
Manager from Mars
For all the analogies, war is not business. Sun Tzu will not tell you much about business strategy.
Evolution, executives and blurred vision
Incremental rather than radical change is usually the best business strategy. When radical change is needed it will usually be provided by new businesses altogether.
Playing chicken can clip one’s wings
In which Rebel Without A Cause illuminates the risks and the rewards of making credible commitments.
The car that lost its way
BMW has a chequered history, and if the current management had learned lessons from the past they would never have purchased Rover.