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A major challenge facing a business manager is to achieve a sustainable level of success, which in turn means being able to sustainably master the complexity with which s/he must deal. Information technology providers must understand the relationships between the levels of complexity with which managers deal, the importance of support for cooperation and coordination, and the resulting information system requirements. In this paper we describe a theoretical framework which sheds some light on these relationships, and describe a real‐life experiment in using prototype advanced information technology to support strategic business unit management within a large corporation.

Beginning in the late 1940s, classical Public Administration was challenged by the works of Herbert Simon and the movement he started, logical positivism. Although only writing in the field for a few years, Simon shifted the locus and focus of the field so dramatically, for a time it almost disappeared from view. This article examines Simonʼns legacy, first by exploring its philosophical antecedents and its later epistemological progeny. The article concludes with an assessment of how the field of Public Administration responded to Simonʼns challenge in the late twentieth century and now, early in the twenty first century.

Organizations, like people, can learn from their experience. The 1978 Camp David Conference learned from its experience. From difficulty, success and later problems we can take a lesson in how to do it. Physical isolation and a powerful mediator were the key. Repeated changes in the internal operation kept it moving.

This study attempts to segment the Swiss travel market based on holiday activities. It is based on data of the 2001 travel market in Switzerland. Cluster and discriminant analysis have been employed in order to segment the data and to explain the differences between the clusters. Hereby, five activity‐clusters could be defined, each representing a set of holiday activities most likely to be exercised. The analysis of the five clusters revealed that two demographic profile variables “occupation” and “size of household” did explain the affiliation to a certain cluster. The same could be found for the following travel profile variables: “destination and duration of the trip”, “total number of participants from a household and “type of trip”. Further research will be necessary to find out if the clusters identified really do fulfil the needed criteria for market segments in order to be used by companies in the travel industry.

For those fortunate enough to have the opportunity to indulge in a pre‐exhibition stroll in Munich or its environs during the days prior to and at the start of this year's Productronica, the English Gardens provided an ideal setting with varied autumn hues resplendent against a clear blue sky. Even those less fortunate can fail to have appreciated the golden tints of the trees in the exhibition grounds as they bustled briskly between halls.

Some of Lou Pondy′s closest colleagues were invited to submit letters and articles, as a starting point for this special issue. Many letters were received from leading scholars at some of the most respected institutions in the world, capturing Lou′s human qualities and his unique analytic style. A selection of these letters are included here.

Film provides an alternative medium for assessing our interpretations of cultural icons. This selective list looks at the film and video sources for information on and interpretations of the life of Woody Guthrie.

China is the one of the biggest producers and consumers of alcohol in the world. With as many secrets as there are languages, we take a unique look at the drinking habits of a country yet to come to terms with increasing alcohol problems. David Arthur presents for the first time findings from his pioneering research into Chinese drinking habits and their cautious moves in dealing with its consequences.

This paper describes the personal history and intellectual development of Morris B. Holbrook (MBH), a participant in the field of marketing academics in general and consumer research in particular.

The paper pursues an approach characterized by historical autoethnographic subjective personal introspection or HASPI.

The paper reports the personal history of MBH and – via HASPI – interprets various aspects of key participants and major themes that emerged over the course of his career.

The main implication is that every scholar in the field of marketing pursues a different light, follows a unique path, plays by idiosyncratic rules, and deserves individual attention, consideration, and respect … like a cat that carries its own leash.

In the case of MBH, like (say) a jazz musician, whatever value he might have depends on his originality.

The silhouette of the little fellow with baggy trousers, decrepit oversize shoes, undersize derby, frayed short cutaway, sporting a bamboo cane and jet black mustache is recognized worldwide. Charlie Chaplin's slight 5′ 4″ stature complemented that costume, his symbol for a lifetime. Hunched shoulders, sorrowful face, and frightened air made Charlie look all the more vulnerable. As early as 1916, the reputable English magazine Tatler commented, “The lineaments of Mr. Chaplin are known to the uttermost ends of the earth and his face may be described as one upon which the sun never sets.”