Family Firms in Postwar Britain and Germany

Competing Approaches to Business
Erscheinungsjahr 2023
ISBN: 978-1-78327-758-2
Verlag: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

Buch, Englisch, Band 20, 362 Seiten, Print PDF, Format (B × H): 159 mm x 231 mm, Gewicht: 567 g

Reihe: People, Markets, Goods: Economies and Societies in History

Examines the culture and conduct of six small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in England and West Germany from 1945 to the late-1970s, drawing on numerous archives in Germany and Britain.

This is the first book length study that examines the detailed histories of SMEs in a comparative, transnational manner. Emerging from this study is an evaluation of German and British varieties of capitalism in action, showing that they were not fixed or static, but rather have changed considerably as they evolved over time.

The German companies studied formed part of the Mittelstand, the family-owned sector which is unique to German-speaking countries. This book explores whether the principles of a close identification with the surrounding region and a patriarchal culture within a 'family' atmosphere were adopted in practice then, and whether they are still applicable today.

Paulson compares the Mittelstand to British SMEs in order to understand how their approach differed from that of their German counterparts. For both countries, the 'ecosystem' which surrounded businesses is examined, paying particular attention to funding and vocational education. The book concludes that the potential for a British Mittelstand existed, but that British companies were often less well managed and had to operate within a less supportive external environment than that which favoured the Mittelstand.

Historical lessons learned from the management of these companies still resonate today, and can help us to understand contemporary differences in business performance. This book will therefore be of interest to scholars and students of twentieth-century business and economic history, as well as management studies.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Paulson, David

Fachgebiete

• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Unternehmensfinanzen Betriebliches Rechnungswesen
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Europäische Geschichte
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Betriebswirtschaft Management
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Weltgeschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Geschichtswissenschaft Weltgeschichte & Geschichte einzelner Länder und Gebietsräume Deutsche Geschichte
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Volkswirtschaftslehre Internationale Wirtschaft Entwicklungsökonomie & Emerging Markets
• Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftswissenschaften Wirtschaftsgeschichte
• Geowissenschaften Umweltwissenschaften Nachhaltigkeit

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Chapter 1: Introduction

PART ONE: Operating Contexts
Prologue
Chapter 2: Culture, Community, and Continuity
Chapter 3: Banking
Chapter 4: Recruitment and Training

PART TWO: Company Case Studies
Prologue
Chapter 5: Chr. Wandel KG, Reutlingen
Chapter 6: Kenrick & Jefferson Ltd., West Bromwich
Chapter 7: Julius Schneider GmbH & Co. KG, Ludwigsburg
Chapter 8: Braithwaite & Co. (Engineers) Ltd., West Bromwich
Chapter 9: RECARO GmbH & Co., Stuttgart
Chapter 10: Jensen Motors Ltd., West Bromwich
Chapter 11: Conclusion - A Better Way of Doing Business?

Bibliography
Index

Über Autor(innen)

Paulson, David
DAVID PAULSON is Professor of Practice in Management and Leadership at Queen's University Belfast. Before joining academia, he completed a PhD at Cambridge University while leading British SMEs that sold to, bought from, and competed against German Mittelstand businesses.