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We compare the development over fifty years of two family chemical companies, leaders in their market niches: Zobele Chemical Industries (Italy) and Chemical Group of Sinon Corporation (Taiwan). We follow the evolution of the two companies from serving the domestic market through product and market expansion and finally to globalization. We conclude that their parallel but finally divergent evolutionary patterns are strongly influenced by the cultural dimensions of their countries and, to a lesser degree, by other environmental and structural factors. The insights provided by this dual case study may be of value to owners and managers of family companies, to outside investors, to global business scholars, and to national economic development officials.

The process of technological innovation must be planned and managed to improve the pay‐off for the firm, and to reduce the relatively high risk of failure—nine out often innovations fail their return on investment test. Technological innovation needs careful management through the four stages of the process, which also includes the successful completion of the three milestones (see Figure 1).

Technology planning presents a unique challenge to planners. First, because until technology achieves patents and proprietary know how, it offers high risk and low value. And second, because technology management is to business management what rodeos are to ranching. In fact, John Thackray's recent Planning Review article (July 1983) concluded that technology cannot be managed, and therefore, cannot be planned.

The economic development of Taiwan, from a poor island colony to a world leader in electronic hardware manufacturing, has been spectacular. This study shows that the success of Taiwan may be largely attributed to the synergistic combination of two separate factors: (1) the utilization of unique social capital inherent in the Chinese family entrepreneurs, and (2) the institutional support from the government and other entities, such as Technology Parks, for the creation of scientific and technical knowledge and, most important, for the diffusion and exploitation of technology-based opportunities by these family businesses.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

In this article we profile three leaders (one of them fictional) and explore how their differing styles produced a range of results.

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to‐digest format.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

In an age when the ways we have of communicating with each other are ever‐increasing, as is the speed of that interaction, how is it that many of the problems that face individuals and organizations stem from a lack of communication?

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.

Entrepreneurship is essential for the growth of both individual firms and overall economies. Through the creativity entrepreneurship fosters, new products, processes, and organizations emerge. Entrepreneurship provides the necessary flexibility and dynamism for responding to new market opportunities and challenges. Accordingly, it is important to understand entrepreneurship – how it takes place, the characteristics of entrepreneurs, the factors that encourage or discourage it, and how it differs across countries. Fortunately, research on entrepreneurship is active across the social sciences. This volume presents a collection of chapters that report on recent studies across a variety of areas, and the material reflects the vibrancy of both this emerging field of study and its subject area – entrepreneurship.

MISS ANNE SHAW's presence on the platform at the annual general meeting of the Management Consultants Association was a solid assurance that work study still lies within its scope. The initial impression was weakened, however, when the chairman, Mr. D. J. Nicolson, mentioned that the bulk of consultancy work was no longer concerned with work study. Instead, it gave more than half its attention to policymaking and the broad aspects of organising financial, manufacturing and marketing resources.