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Internet based information and communication technology provides the opportunity for small firms to improve their competitiveness. This paper presents a methodology that responds to the needs of small firms whilst overcoming the constraints to their use of these technologies. Key features of this methodology are: provision of a turnkey package of hardware, software, installation and training for Internet connection and operation; identification of opportunities for integrating Internet ICT into business processes that will deliver performance improvement; ongoing IT and business support for a year. The effectiveness of this methodology was examined during its application in 21 SME automotive component suppliers in the West Midlands region of England. This exercise found that 90 per cent of firms continued to use their Internet based ICT capability after a year.

The merger of two giant pharmaceutical businesses inevitably affects staff motivation and morale. Whether leaving or staying, staff need support in these circumstances to enable them to cope with the effects of major change. A model for addressing this problem is explored and the beneficial results — personal commitment, job satisfaction, enhanced performance — emphasised.

The Moore and Wright Multi‐Mike is an adjustable micrometer with a capacity of 0 to 0·5 in. equipped with a set of 13 anvils which allow measurements to be made in many types of slot and cavity normally inaccessible to the micrometer. It can also be used to measure the wall thickness of tubing, eccentricity of bushes and for the location of flats and radii when profiling. The price of the instrument, complete, as shown in FIG. 1, is £7 5s. from the marketers, E. H. Jones (Machine Tools) Ltd., The Hyde, London, N.W.9.

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and provide an insight into the benefits of outsourcing the procurement function for engineering commodity items.

Research into the literature presents the development of outsourcing procurement functions and this manuscript adds to the body of knowledge through introducing the outsourcing of engineering commodity procurement, illustrated with the case study example.

A US Aerospace Fortune 50 company has made savings by outsourcing the procurement of commodity engineering parts. This has occurred in two stages. Firstly the commodity procurement was locally outsourced and staff migrated to the service provider to whom commodity procurement was a core competence enabling them to offer cost savings. Secondly the back office and telephone service was moved to India, further reducing cost whilst enhancing the service through an increased headcount.

The paper provides the first example of the two stages of outsourcing engineering commodity procurement.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into the growth stage of facilities management (FM) in the South East Asia region. A questionnaire study of local and international firms operating in South East Asia was used. South East Asia needs to open up to change, particularly with respect to parity in issues of global competition in FM standards. This study is based on a limited sample size using a self‐reporting methodology. Further research is needed to further investigate the findings. This paper addresses a unique insight into the contrasting approach to FM in the South East Asia region.

Economic as well as ethical aspects of discrimination and other forms of injustice in the context of a nation’s economy have been discussed by scholars for many decades. However, until relatively recent times, much attention has not been given – especially by economists – to discrimination and injustice in the international context. At least since 1961, several works in Catholic social thought have addressed the issues of injustice as well as poverty and inequality among countries. Discusses the social economics of discrimination and other forms of injustice in the international context. After a brief introduction, presents some views on injustice in the international economy and some empirical evidence. Briefly discusses the way mainstream economics mostly avoids discussion about injustice. Follows by looking at social economists’ perspective on injustice, also giving remarks on how some documents comprising Catholic social thought discuss injustice in the context of international development. Concludes with observations on how distribution/justice issues could be incorporated in discussions dominated by growth/development objectives.

The emergence of non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), along with supranational organisations, is probably the most important political development of the post‐Second World War period. Yet it is not easy to explain why they are so numerous today but relatively rare just 50 years ago. By comparing the internal organisation, diversity, brand building and internationalism of NGOs and corporations, this paper shows that NGOs are far more similar to private corporations than to any existing political institution. Moreover, the corporate model has given NGOs important advantages with which they have “out‐competed” traditional political institutions to win greater public influence, awareness and trust. In the increasingly important arena of supranational politics and treaty organisations, NGOs have exploited the flexibility of their corporate structure to become the sole players apart from governments. Thus NGOs are, in effect, the political analogues of that other highly successful late 20th institution, corporations, sharing not only their strengths, but also their weaknesses.