Management Horizons and the legacy of William R. Davidson

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to give tribute to William R. Davidson and his pioneering work with Management Horizons, the retail consultancy he cofounded along with numerous contributions he and the firm made to marketing thought and retail knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

The essay relies on the corporate history of Management Horizons as well as other publications.

Findings

A more complete picture emerges of Davidson's role in bridging the world of academia with the world of practitioners involved in retailing and wholesaling.

Research limitations/implications

The essay discusses Davidson's contributions to marketing as they relate to Management Horizons. But not all his contributions to marketing and retailing thought are presented.

Practical implications

Real life examples related to marketing thought and retail practices are discussed.

Originality/value

The essay offers a unique review of Davidson's role in the creation of one of the most important retail consultancies of the twentieth century.

Citation

D. Tamilia, R. (2013), "Management Horizons and the legacy of William R. Davidson", Journal of Historical Research in Marketing, Vol. 5 No. 4, pp. 559-567. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHRM-04-2013-0017