2. 2
With you every step of the way
Your study at WBS will have been a major stepping stone in your career.
Whatever stage you’re at now, WBS has the expertise to help you go further.
Undergraduate Programme Doctoral Programmes & Research
As one of the best in the UK, our undergraduate programme Our doctoral programme is rated as one of the best in the
is academically challenging as well as vocationally relevant, world. Doctoral students receive supervision and mentoring
and has an excellent reputation with employers. from some of the best academics in their field. You will
join an exciting, vibrant, and truly international research
community.
Specialist Masters Programme
We run nine specialist masters courses, covering all areas
of business and management, allowing you to expand your Executive Education
knowledge in a specialist area, or preparing you for further We can help you and your organisation achieve real results,
research. by identifying learning opportunities and targeting specific
organisational needs. For individuals we offer short courses
and accredited diplomas. For organisations, we can tailor or
Post-experience Programmes create courses to meet your needs.
The Warwick MBA and its public sector equivalent,
The Warwick MPA, are both prestigious management
qualifications designed to help you broaden your business To find out more visit
knowledge, widen your skill base, and progress your career. www.wbs.ac.uk/go/nexus
3. 3
message from the dean 3
W arwick Business School’s
mission is to command
an international reputation
education portfolio. I encourage you to think of WBS
as your business school and to return at any time – I
know the alumni staff here are always delighted to show
for high quality education and visitors around the buildings and the campus.
research in management and
business both in the public 2006 also heralds a new Chair for the Alumni Board.
and private sectors. With Henri Winand (EXMBA 99–03) will be taking over the
this objective in mind WBS is helm from Clive South who has served in the role for
already, arguably, the leading the past two years. I know I echo the thoughts of many
full-line University-based as I thank Clive for his tireless support of WBS, which
business school in Europe. That we have achieved such I am sure will continue. Henri (who coincidentally for
a feat in less than forty years is thanks in no small part this European issue of nexus is from Belgium) and the
to my predecessors like Thom Watson who sadly passed Alumni Board aim to represent the views of the alumni
away (see obituary on P7) in 2005. With the loss of two community in dialogue with myself and other WBS
founding fathers of WBS within a year (Brian Houlden, staff, so do check out the web site if you want to find out
November 2004) it seems appropriate to reflect on our more.
development and consider our future.
I do hope you enjoy this issue of nexus, looking at only
The future for WBS is exciting. Building work is under way a handful of our many European links. In such a diverse
(and running to time) on the third phase of development community it is impossible to showcase everything that
at Scarman Road (see P22/3). Our vision is that there will is happening but I anticipate that this will serve to excite
be one further phase of building after this current one to your curiosity – far more information can be found
reunite all WBS faculty, staff and students on one site. This online at www.wbs.ac.uk
will enhance the sense of community amongst the WBS
family.
Once completed, this building will help to accommodate
students from our nine specialist masters programmes,
MBA and MPA courses, undergraduate programme
(three WBS courses and nine joint degrees with other
departments) and our continually expanding executive
contents
Designed by Morse-Brown Design Limited www.morsebrowndesign.co.uk
4–7 WBS news 10 12 8–9
8–9 the myth of standardised business education
Professor Howard Thomas
10 when global meets local
Professor Colin Crouch
11 European integration and industrial relations
16
Professor Paul Marginson
12–13 UK event reviews
14–15 2006 pull-out calendar
16 overseas event reviews
17 Greece lighting
Maria Frantzeskakis 18 22–23
18 the sound of engines
Otto C. Frommelt
19 from Munich to Milan
Christian von Strotha
20 keeping in touch 24–25 26
21 WBS in Europe
22–23 WBS building for the future
24–25 20 years of the DLMBA
26–27 alumni news
4. 4 nexus: spring 06 european research
The project leader This project aims to address the David Wilson is
for The European shortcomings of a fragmented and WBS Professor
Platform for diffuse European CSR research agenda. of Strategy and
Excellence in It will achieve this through a structured Chair of the
Corporate Social and dynamic programme of cooperation European Group
Responsibility where academic institutions, businesses for Organisation
(CSR) Research and stakeholders will have a real Studies (EGOS)
Alyson Warhurst CCU project is Brussels- opportunity to influence the setting of – a scholarly
based European research priorities as well as the use and association for
Academy of Business in Society (EABIS) exploitation of research findings. Such the study of
of which WBS is a founder member. coordination will allow European CSR- organisations,
David Wilson MSM
Partners in the project consortium related research to be aligned, integrated organising and
are: European Academy of Business and widely disseminated, creating new the organised.
in Society, European Foundation synergies among existing academic
for Management Development, centres of excellence. Started 34 years ago, EGOS is an
Ashridge (Bonar Law Memorial) Trust, international network, based in
Copenhagen Business School, Cranfield WBS Corporate Citizenship Unit is Continental Europe with a secretariat
University, INSEAD, Vlerick Leuven involved in two of the seven Work in Copenhagen (soon to be Berlin)
Gent Management School, WBS, The Packages with specific input to the areas and operates under Belgian statutes.
Copenhagen Centre, CSR Europe, Leon of: Research Coordination for Young It survives financially on the
Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship Research Professionals and Research subscriptions of around 1500 members,
and Management, Warsaw School of Coordination Network. The project having grown from 572 members in
Economics, Katholische Universität commenced in September 2004 and is 2000. Its current Chair – an elected
Eichstätt-Ingolstadt. funded for 3 years. position – is Professor David Wilson,
who has been a member of EGOS
since its inception. EGOS organises
According to the happy mean, which involves the
an annual conference (around 1000
Martin Cave, regulator projecting competitors up
people) which takes place in various
Director, Centre the so-called ladder of investment – i.e.
Universities across Europe (Warwick
for Management getting them to take their networks
played host in 1999) and the next
under Regulation closer and closer to the consumer. This
conference will be held in Bergen,
(CMuR), getting approach has been widely accepted
Norway in early July 2006. EGOS has
telecommunica- by European regulators, and we hope
had an associated journal ‘Organisation
tions regulation it will be part of the new regulatory
Studies’ for the last 24 years. David
right is one of strategy now emerging from Brussels,
Martin Cave CMuR Wilson was its Editor (99–03). The
the pillars of the in which we are also playing an
current editor is another WBS Professor,
revised Lisbon advisory role for the Commission.
Hari Tsoukas.
Agenda, aimed at making Europe the
most competitive place on the planet, Our second main telecoms research
The aim of EGOS is to sustain and
and the telecoms group at the CMuR area is spectrum management. This
develop an international network
has been researching and advising on involves devising practical methods to
of scholars (from PhD students to
this issue extensively. The key problem, allow innovators access to spectrum
Professors) who see the organised world
in markets often dominated by historic to provide new services such as Wi-
in unconventional and European ways.
monopolists such as BT or France Max. Creating a spectrum market from
Underpinned by the disciplines of the
Telecom, is how to provide incentives scratch is a tricky economic, legal and
Social Sciences, EGOSians recognise
for both incumbents and competitors technological problem, but it is now
that organisation is more than just
to invest and innovate. If regulation is scheduled to go ahead all over the EU
‘management’ and that its study
too lax, competitors go out of business. by 2010; our research is trying to iron
extends beyond the boundaries of
If too harsh, no-one invests. We have out some of the glitches.
conventional (often North American)
developed a framework for finding w users.wbs.ac.uk/group/cmur
business schools. w egosnet.org
As contributors to the International special anniversary edition, and
Journal of Operations and Production invited Bob and Nigel to submit an
Management, Bob Johnston and update to accompany their original
Nigel Slack from WBS Operations articles, which asks Where are we now?
Management group, have each had an
article selected for republication as one Bob’s article, Service operations
of the six most influential papers to be management: return to roots, first
published during the journal’s 25 year appeared in a 1999 edition of the
history. journal. Nigel’s article, The flexibility of
manufacturing systems, was republished
Emerald Group Publishing Limited together with Bob’s in Volume 25, issue
Bob Johnston OM Nigel Slack OM
have republished key articles in a 12 (2005).
5. european research nexus: spring 06 5
Exploring the The first is a joint collaboration with Environmental Management: Law, public
implications the Finnish National Research and participation and environmental decision-
of public Development Centre for Welfare making is a collaboration between the
involvement and Health (STAKES). Globalisation Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE),
internationally and citizens in health care: Exploring Abo Akademi University and Turku
is at the centre the role of users, choice and markets in University.
of two current European health systems looks at the way w www.ymparisto.fi/default.
European projects marketisation and citizen engagement asp?node=17300&lan=en
led by Jonathan have developed in transnational
Tritter, Research organisations (eg WTO, World Bank), For more information email
Director of the in EU legislation and have emerged in e j.tritter@wbs.ac.uk
Jonathan Tritter IGPM
University’s Finland, Sweden and England.
Health Service Partnership in the w www.gaspp.org/research/
Institute of Governance and Public globhealthcare/index.html
Management (IGPM). Both projects Members of the WBS Operational
are funded by the Academy of Finland The second explores how citizens are Research & Information Systems Group
(equivalent to the Economic and involved in environmental regulation, (ORIS) will be presenting their research
Social Research Council or the Medical focused on Finland but drawing on case and organising streams at the EURO
Research Council) and involve a range of studies in the UK and the USA. Effective conference in Iceland in July 2006.
different collaborators.
hot off the press
Nigel Piercy, WBS Professor Professor Colin Carnall, Paul Edwards, Professor of
of Marketing, with Mac Associate Dean, Executive Industrial Relations, and
Hulbert and Noel Capon of Programmes: Change Judy Wajcman: The Politics
Columbia Business School: Management, a Personnel of Working Life. Published
Total integrated marketing. Today Guide, published by by OUP. Explains the nature
Published by Kogan Page. Reed Business Information. of working life in modern
Provides a framework for designing and Includes practical advice organisations; offers a
managing total marketing strategy. on how to implement strategic change detailed and thorough analysis and
w www.kogan-page.co.uk/bookdetails. successfully and best practice case explains all its concepts.
aspx?ISBN=074944455X studies. w www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-927190-9
Alumnus Walter Baets Richard Elliott, Professor Alumna Dr Paula
(PhD 1989–94), Professor of Marketing & Consumer Jarzabkowski, Reader in
Complexity and Knowledge Research, co-authored Strategic Management,
Coordinator of EcKM at with Larry Percy: Strategic Aston Business School (PhD
the Euromed Centre for Advertising Management 97–00), has authored a
Knowledge Management, 2nd edition. Published by research monograph, the
Marseilles: Knowledge OUP. Includes expanded chapters on first in the field of strategy as
management and management learning : Communication Strategy and Processing practice: Strategy as Practice: An Activity-
extending the horizons of knowledge-based the Message and business-to-business Based Approach with Sage Publications.
management, published by Springer. examples. w www.sagepub.co.uk/book.
w www.springeronline.com w www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-927489-4 aspx?pid=106986
Colin Crouch, Chair of the Robert Johnston, Professor Alumnus Tas Gohir
Institute of Governance of Operations Management (EXMBA 97–02), Business
and Public Management: and Graham Clark: Service Development Manager,
Capitalist Diversity and Operations Management Evolution Life Science
Change: Recombinant – improving service delivery, Ltd: MBA student project
Governance and Institutional 2nd edition. Published by FT reviewing the barriers to
Entrepreneurs. Published by Prentice Hall. Provides tools, frameworks commercialisation from the Dept of
Oxford University Press (OUP). Assesses and techniques for operational analysis Biological Sciences at Warwick, in
the neo-institutionalist literature on and improvement. collaboration with Grier Palmer, pub-
comparative capitalism and proposes a w www.pearsoned.co.uk/Bookshop/ lished in Industry and Higher Education
major re-orientation of the field. detail.asp?item=100000000038098 journal as it has wider applicability to
w www.oup.co.uk/isbn/0-19-928665-5 other departments and institutions.
6. 6 nexus: spring 06 WBS news
external recognition
and honours at WBS
Members of WBS have recently
received external recognition and
honours:
Dame Yve Buckland, Programme
Director of the Health Service
Partnership at the WBS Institute of
Governance & Public Management,
has been appointed Chair of the
NHS Institute of Innovation and
Improvement.
Simon Collinson, Senior Lecturer
in International Business at WBS,
is one of nine new AIM (Advanced
Institute of Management) Research
Fellows under the prestigious
Ghoshal Fellowship Scheme.
George Cox, lately Director-
General of the Institute of Directors
and now Chairman of the Design
Council, received a knighthood
for services to business in the
Queen’s Birthday Honours. He is a
long-standing member of the WBS
Advisory Board, and a lay member
of the University of Warwick
Council.
Colin Crouch, Chair of the
influential Institute of Governance
& Public Management at WBS,
became a Fellow of the British
Academy, the national academy
rising in the rankings for the humanities and the social
sciences.
Yet again WBS performed excellently programme is rated second among
Bob Johnston, Professor of
in the Financial Times Executive MBA all UK universities, making WBS the
Operations Management, has
rankings. In the past three years; WBS best overall undergraduate business
been elected Vice-President of
has risen from 35th to 17th in the education provider in the UK – the
the Institute of Customer Service,
world, 6th in Europe – up one place this only institution in the top two for both
as a result of his long-standing
year, and 4th in the UK. Accountancy & Finance and Business
commitment to research in the
Studies.
service field and his desire to drive
The WhichMBA? Guide, published
improvements in business and
by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Finally, the German magazine Junge
customer service.
saw another good performance by Karriere, produced their second
The Warwick MBA. The results were European business school ranking,
Howard Thomas, Dean of WBS, was
published in September, and showed a where WBS was placed 7th in Europe
made an Inaugural Fellow of The
rise of two world places to 28th, while and 3rd in the UK.
Strategic Management Society at
holding our place as 10th in Europe,
their 25th anniversary meeting in
and 4th in the UK. The contribution by current students
Orlando, Florida, in October 2005.
and alumni to our ranking perform-
In the annual Times Good University ances through participation in media
Guide ranking of undergraduate surveys is hugely appreciated by staff at
business degrees, WBS Undergraduate WBS and the wider University.
7. WBS news nexus: spring 06 7
WBS in Singapore? WBS in the media
The University has been exploring In 2005 WBS appeared in the press, A pleasing trend is the increase, by 50
the possibility of setting up a campus broadcast or online media around ten percent, in international coverage, while
in Singapore but the proposition was times each week. These articles, reports, coverage in the Financial Times has
rejected by Senate at a recent meeting. expert comments, research findings, almost doubled.
The proposal was for a research and general news items covered an
intensive campus developing to 10,000 astonishing variety of 100 different Geographical spread of media coverage
students over time. WBS engaged in the topics. As well as the expected and International coverage
University-wide feasibility study and regular MBA features and rankings 2005 24%
some advantages were seen although they ranged across subjects as diverse 2004 12%
the prevailing view was not to accept the as the UK’s energy policy, finance National coverage
proposal. arrangements for small businesses, 2005 59%
hotels of the future, telecommunications 2004 63%
In addition to engaging in the University on remote islands, and issues in football Local/regional coverage
feasibility study the School carried out club management. 2005 17%
its own study of a WBS in Singapore 2004 25%
and separately a scoping exercise on the Coverage of or by our teaching and
WBS international strategy. The former research faculty accounted for 80 per Sectors of media coverage in 2005:
indicated that a WBS in Singapore cent of the total. Almost a quarter of this Press 48%
would be a viable proposition if the can be credited to the Centre for Small Magazines 36%
University proposal were financially & Medium Sized Enterprises and the Online 10%
robust. The scoping exercise involved Enterprise Teaching Group, who deserve Broadcast 6%
a series of workshops over the summer a special mention, particularly as they
which identified a rich array of possible are two of the smallest groups in terms of
international initiatives. These included numbers of faculty. The remaining fifth
developments of the MBA portfolio, of the School’s coverage came from our
deploying Executive Education alumni, students and other WBS staff.
internationally, a global undergraduate
degree, and stronger institutional We are particularly grateful to our
collaboration on research and teaching alumni and students who make
with overseas partners. themselves available for interviews
and case studies, whether in our own
The various proposals will be developed publications and web sites, or for
and evaluated during the coming year external media. Their contribution to
with initial discussions with partners at raising the profile of WBS is valuable and
the forthcoming PIM (Programme for much appreciated. For more information on the latest WBS
International Management) conference news stories visit:
in Prague. w www.wbs.ac.uk/newspress_releases
Thom Watson 1926–2005 WBS is sad to report the death of Thom
Watson, for many years Senior Lecturer
Many generations of undergraduate
and postgraduate students will
in Organisational Psychology, and remember Thom with great affection
Chairman of the School from 1981 to and gratitude. On hearing of his death
1983. He was also Chair of the Faculty alumna Karen Fill, one of his personal
of Social Studies for a number of years in tutees nearly 30 years ago, wrote to
the 1980s. the School recalling his great kindness
and generosity.
Thom joined the School in 1970 after 15
years’ industrial experience following After his retirement in 1993 he
his national service, and four years remained closely linked to WBS,
as a senior staff member at Ashorne attending alumni and other reunion
Hill College. He was able to bring to events regularly, sharing memories
his teaching a deep familiarity with with alumni and colleagues.
the practice of management, and his
teaching always sought to combine A full obituary appears on the WBS
the analytical with the practical and web site w www.wbs.ac.uk/news/
to prepare his students for the world of features/2005/10/07/Obituary/
work after their studies. Thom/Watson
8. 8 nexus: spring 06 focus on europe education
the myth of standardised business education
Professor Howard Thomas, Dean of Warwick Business School, discusses the changing nature of European higher
education and the quest to break down barriers and broaden horizons for students within Europe.
I t’s been six years since 29 European
Ministers of Education signed the 1999
Bologna Declaration, which aims to turn
To do so, we must recognise that our
differences are not as much ideological
as they are cultural. The evolution and
Furthermore, the European market is much
more fragmented, since it is characterised
by a wide diversity of languages, cultures,
the heterogeneous systems of higher development of business and and legal systems.
education in European countries into a educational institutions
‘European Higher Education Area,’ where in the United States and Business schools in Europe and the USA
higher education degrees are comparable, Europe have their origins often reflect their cultural contexts. In
mobile, and widely recognised. in the unique cultural, response to their market-driven culture, US
economic, and political business schools quickly started developing
The educational trends that the environment of these standardised educational products of mass
Declaration’s signatories hope to address diverse appeal, such as the MBA. Since their
in Europe are coming to bear on business regions. origins in the late nineteenth
century, US business schools
When we look have been less dependent on
Business schools worldwide at the USA, we public funding and have
often think of learned to rely upon
are beginning to realise capitalism. significant private
that educational models are In general support. Such
terms, the support, which
no longer static, isolated USA has usually takes
structures followed a the form of
market-oriented financial
approach,
schools worldwide. Students are no longer considering
staying in their home countries to live private enterprise
and work, but travelling the world. In past as the main driver
years, these students faced obstacles to their of positive
employment and education but in an era change. This
of increasing globalisation, such a narrow- market-
minded view of international credentials based
will need to change. perspective
has encouraged the
The effect of the Bologna Declaration has development of flexible
important implications for international administrative mechanisms that
business education. But while we search lead to a high degree of openness
for ways to make the world’s educational to, and acceptance of, continuous
systems compatible, we should not strive to change. At the macroeconomic
make them identical. Standardising such a level, the USA is a relatively
complex assembly of educational models homogeneous and large market.
would be impossible. More important, it
would be regrettable to lose the diversity In contrast, European countries
they offer. On the other hand, establishing have adopted a society-
a system of equivalencies among school oriented approach, in which
systems would benefit all institutions of governments and the public sector
higher education. have a more prominent role in shaping
social and economic development. As
Education in context a consequence, their administrative
Business schools worldwide are beginning mechanisms are more bureaucratic and
to realise that educational models are no tradition-based, marked by a certain degree
longer static, isolated structures. They are of conservatism and resistance to change.
interacting at an accelerated level, and it To protect the social dimension of the
will be important, if not crucial, that we markets, European societies have adopted
be able to reconcile those models so that processes of change that tend to be
students can more easily cross borders to more driven by consensus and take a
study and work. longer time to build momentum.
9. education nexus: spring 06 focus on europe 9
donations by individuals and corporations time to pursuing that degree over the time Consideration, not standardisation
has allowed many schools to build large it takes to earn. A two-year degree, however, When we look at issues of accreditation
endowments to fund their enterprises. would be unacceptable to most Europeans and quality assurance, the term
and the companies they work for – they are ‘standardisation’ really may simply mean
European business schools have become not willing to take two full years from their ‘understanding.’ To accredit business
more diverse, less standardised, and less lives or fund their education and lifestyles education in an environment such as
institutionalised. However, they are also while they earn the degree. The two degrees Europe, where models differ so widely, we
more dependent on state policies and are products of different cultures. must implement more flexible guidelines
funding. Thus, it has taken them a much and standards and take into consideration
longer period of time to become legitimate The flexible MBA programme has remained what is valuable within each model.
entities in the educational landscapes of mostly a product of countries outside the Even more important, we must have the
their countries. USA. At Warwick Business School, we sensitivity to understand the different
business cultures these countries represent.
Often, educators worldwide have tried to
reinvent international education as if it
Students are no longer staying in their home countries to should follow a US model. Globalisation
live and work, but travelling the world. In past years, these is not Americanisation. It has become a
students faced obstacles to their employment and education necessity for management education to
hold more international conferences and
but in an era of increasing globalisation, such a narrow- provide avenues for people to exchange
minded view of international credentials will need to change ideas. That is the short to medium-term
way of solving the problem.
As we look to long-term goals and
solutions, it is essential for business school
Education as a function of society have three different MBA schedules based
deans and faculty to recognise and become
In encouraging and communicating a around a common curriculum: full-time
sensitive to the variety of cultural and
sensitive recognition of different models of for 12 months; a three-year programme,
educational models that exist beyond
education we also can see how education delivered as a series of modules that are
their home countries. In their search for
should differ from country to country. one week in duration; or via distance
partnerships and alliances, they will need
Educational systems often represent very learning. We have over 2,000 MBA
to balance complementary points their
high quality and a tremendous value within students but only around 75 full-time MBA
institutions share with potential allies,
their regional contexts, even if they don’t students annually.
while taking into consideration the value
look like our own.
of those areas in which they differ. Through
Increasing understanding
a clear understanding of such educational
In the USA, for example, the term ‘general To develop a ‘European Higher
diversity, all models of business education
education’ for a business undergraduate Education area’, the Bologna Declaration
should become both more internationally
degree typically means that up to 50 recommends a degree system that
and culturally sensitive and much more
percent of the degree is in non-business, ironically follows a US model, with an
enriched overall.
liberal arts subjects. In many European undergraduate cycle lasting a minimum of
countries general business education at the three years and a graduate cycle of study
undergraduate level involves virtually no leading to a masters or doctoral degree.
general education – the assumption is that There are also very specific statements, for the author in minute
students have had those courses in their example, about a requirement of four years
high school careers. experience before an MBA degree, as well Howard Thomas is Professor of Strategic
as very clear statements about the nature Management and Dean of WBS. His present
In Great Britain, a one-year, full-time MBA and form of specialist masters degrees. appointments include: Inaugural Fellow of the
degree is common, while in the USA, the US Strategic Management Society, past Chair
of the Board of the Graduate Management
two-year MBA degree is the norm. When The Bologna Declaration’s agenda for Admissions Council, member of Beta Gamma
looked at simplistically the degrees may the future harmonisation of learning Sigma, and Fellow of both the Academy of
seem as if they are not equivalent. However, structures in higher education across Management in the USA and the UK and of
in the USA, each year in a typical MBA Europe strives to take the differences the Sunningdale Institute. He is currently Vice-
follows a semester system – students study among schools into consideration, while President of the efmd (European Foundation
for Management Development) and a board
for two four-month semesters, break for the still maintaining a set of standards that all member of GFME, ABS, BAM and State Farm
summer, and return for two more semesters can follow within their different cultural Bank.
of study. In Britain, students study in an circumstances and frameworks. Resolving
intensive, 12-month programme. Yes, such a paradox has been the daunting Full details of Howard’s career, research
these two models are different but is one task for the European Union and the interests and a comprehensive list of the
journal articles and books which he has
necessarily better than the other? European Foundation for Management authored and co-authored can be found on
Development. the WBS web site w www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/
In America, students are often willing members/howard/thomas
to save their money to fund the MBA
education and then dedicate their
10. 10 nexus: spring 06 focus on europe
when global meets local
Colin Crouch, Professor – Governance & Public Management, joins with colleagues across Europe to explore ways in
which particular localities acquire potentially global strength.
I t has become a cliché among students
of economic development that
globalisation often means localisation. The
the connections from local to global, the
small firms becoming their suppliers. This
emerges most strikingly in a further study,
argument runs like this: firms in the world’s still on-going and funded by the European
rich countries will not compete on price Commission’s Framework Six research
with producers in China and other newly programme. This looked at some districts
industrialising countries, but on the basis of successful small garment-making firms
of the quality and distinctiveness of their in otherwise economically depressed
products. A major source of these attributes areas of southern Italy and central Poland.
lies in the advantages that accrue when Superficially similar, the cases were
many firms specialising in the various really very different. The Italian firms
levels of a production chain are clustered had become suppliers to leading Italian
together in certain geographical locations. clothing brands, who provided designs,
Particular localities therefore acquire quality control, world markets, and
potentially global strength. established brand names. The little Polish
firms had no access to anything outside
In a number of recent projects with themselves. They are surviving, partly in
colleagues across Europe I have been the shadow economy, through very cheap
exploring the ways in which this paradox sales to Russian and Ukrainian buyers, in
works – and the limits that might exist to parts of the world that have not yet been
it. Firstly, we developed the idea of Local touched by low-cost Asian production.
Collective Competition Goods (LCCGs).
These are the things that impart strength Life is tough for small firms. There is no
to specialised clusters, principally of where old large-scale industries, like steel, romantic golden path to success through
small and medium-sized enterprises. were closing down? Were clusters a feature local clusters and networks. Usually where
They include the specialised facilities for of activities in the new economy? these exist, they result from the initiative
a particular industry that often develops and ingenuity of a few people, in the firms
around clusters, whether through supplier We tackled these questions in a second themselves, in local government, in the
firms seeing the market niche, or through study (Changing Governance of Local business associations, on the right links
local government or local business Economies, OUP 2004). SMEs in the outside the local community, and on a big
associations seeing how they can make a machinery industry (in and around helping of good fortune.
useful contribution. But perhaps the most Bologna, Coventry, Saint-Etienne and
important LCCG of all is the knowledge Stuttgart) had certainly taken a beating, but
that spreads quickly, sometimes quite they were surviving better where clusters
unnoticed, among firms whose managers were rich in LCCGs. And we found vibrant the author in minute
and experts frequently meet each other, local economies based on small, sometimes
casually and socially as well as purposefully. very small firms in biopharmaceuticals Professor Colin Crouch,
Knowledge circulates about anything around Cambridge, television film-making Chair, Institute of
Governance and
from new design ideas to good employees in Cologne, information technology in Public Management.
looking for a change of job. Pisa, and high-tech industries around Colin was previously
Grenoble. There were however only a few Professor of
We developed the idea of LCCGs in a signs of successful SME-based specialisms Comparative Social
comparative study of local economies in the former steel cities of Saint-Etienne, Institutions & Political
Sciences at the
in France, Germany, Italy and the UK Sheffield or Piombino. There was growth of European Institute,
(Local Production Systems in Europe – Colin a logistics-based economy replacing steel Florence. He also held positions at LSE and
Crouch, Patrick Le Galès, Carlo Trigilia around Duisburg, but based on large firms. Oxford. He is Chairman of The Political
and Helmut Voelzkow, Oxford University Quarterly, past President of the Society for the
Advancement of Socio-Economics (SASE) and
Press 2001). These national surveys raised A further finding of much of this work
External Scientific member of the Max Planck
some questions. How were industries – like was that SMEs have difficulty marketing Institute for Social Research at Cologne.
machinery production – that had been in the global economy, even when local
seen as classic cases for clusters of European associations and other resources try to Research Interests: structure of European
SMEs bearing up to the globalisation develop their competence. The main societies, with special reference to labour
market, gender and family issues; economic
challenge? Was it possible for new local exceptions seemed to be when one or more sociology; neo-institutional analysis.
economies based on small firms to flourish large firms moved into an area and made
11. nexus: spring 06 focus on europe 11
european integration and industrial relations
Research on developments in employment practice and employment relations at European level, and across countries
within Europe, is a major theme of the Industrial Relations Research Unit (IRRU) research programme. This is
demonstrated in the following précis of a recent book by Paul Marginson, IRRU’s Director, and Keith Sisson, Emeritus
Professor of Industrial Relations.
A lthough there has been much debate
about the impact of European
integration on industrial relations, there
multi-level character of industrial relations
governance. Moreover, the economic and
market forces unleashed by European
The drivers of these developments are not
only the so-called traditional methods of
legal enactment and collective bargaining,
has been a less than objective appreciation integration are also impinging on but increasingly also newer regulatory
of the governance arrangements actually industrial relations within member states processes. The result is a shift in regulatory
emerging. As the then Social Affairs more directly. At national level, meeting output from ‘hard’ to ‘soft’ forms. There is
Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou and continuing to comply with the also a great deal of informal networking,
contended, it is something of a ‘caricature’ requirements of Euro-zone membership learning and cross-fertilisation across
to see things in terms of the ‘two extremes has prompted the conclusion of so-called borders.
of social union versus a completely national level social pacts amongst the
deregulated free-for-all’ (Financial Times, 18 majority of the ‘old’ member states Like the EU polity’s multi-level governance
February 2000). Contrary to the aspirations concerned. Intensification of international system, the trajectory of this multi-
of some, a vertically integrated European competitive pressures within Europe’s level industrial relations framework is
uncertain. Political science argues that
the EU cannot be placed on a continuum
The EU’s multi-level industrial relations framework reflects a between ‘loose inter-governmentalism’
history of informal and gradual development as well as and the ‘superstate’. Similarly it would be
wrong to situate the industrial relations
deliberate institution building framework between ‘Europeanisation’
and ‘Americanisation’. Indeed there
system of industrial relations has not single market, together with the need are competing tendencies towards
emerged. Nor does it appear likely. Yet, to handle widespread restructuring and ‘Europeanisation’, ‘Americanisation’ and
although Economic and Monetary Union rationalisation, has elevated questions of ‘Re-nationalisation’ of industrial relations.
(EMU) has increasingly set industrial cost reduction, adaptability, flexibility and Complexity, uncertainty and instability
relations systems in competition with each employment security up the bargaining look set to be the defining characteristics
other – at national, sector and company agenda. Long-running pressures for for the foreseeable future. Amongst the
levels, the dominant pattern of multi- decentralisation of bargaining towards more imponderable ingredients is the
employer bargaining amongst the EU-15 the company level have thereby been impact of the EU’s 2004 enlargement;
remains largely intact. Indeed there has reinforced. whether it will extend or unravel the multi-
been little apparent change in the formal level industrial relations framework that
institutions of industrial relations within The EU’s multi-level industrial relations has emerged.
these 15 ‘old’ member states. framework reflects a history of informal
and gradual development as well as European Integration and Industrial Relations: multi-
level governance in the making is published by
Even so, there have been significant deliberate institution building. It has
Palgrave Macmillan, ISBN 0-333-96866-2.
‘Europeanising’ developments. At the developed, and continues to develop, Paperback due 2006. e www.palgrave.com
cross-sector level, a series of directives relatively autonomously. It cannot simply
together with framework agreements be defined in hierarchical terms, with a
between the EU-level social partners have supranational level or levels added on the author in minute
given regulatory effect to much of the top of national systems and decisions
EU’s 1989 Social Charter. More recently cascading down. The supranational nature Paul Marginson,
two autonomous framework agreements of the EU is encouraging the development Professor in Industrial
have emerged from the cross-sector of a cross-border dimension at the cross- Relations and Director
social dialogue. Autonomous framework sector, sector and above all company levels. of the Industrial
Relations Research
agreements are starting to be concluded Hence developments have been ‘bottom- Unit. Senior Lecturer
under the EU sector-level social dialogue up’ as well as ‘top-down’; and cross- in Industrial Relations
too. And in several sectors both European- national (horizontal) influences mix with at WBS from 1990–95;
level and national trade unions have national (vertical) ones. In bringing about a then Professor of HRM
and Employment
launched cross-border bargaining co- measure of convergence within companies
Relations at University of Leeds, 1996–98.
ordination initiatives. and sectors between national systems, the Current links with European Commission,
multi-level framework is simultaneously European Foundation for Improvement of
This emerging EU-level dimension to promoting greater diversity between Living and Working Conditions, DTI, CBI,
industrial relations provides an increas- companies and sectors within national Engineering Employer Federation and TUC.
E paul.marginson@wbs.ac.uk
ingly important frame for developments systems. W www.wbs.ac.uk/faculty/research/irru.cfm
in national systems, thereby adding to the
12. 12
12
UK event reviews
2005 was an
getting together
exceptionally busy
year. In addition to Gill Thewlis (MBA 89–90) reports:
a growing calendar On 12 November, 20 members of the
of events, the Special 1989–90 FMBA class met for the first
Interest Groups (SIGs) time in several years, when a total
came on board and of 30 people gathered for dinner
new regional groups at the Saxon Mill near Warwick.
have been set up. To A great night seemed to be had by
enable you to diary all – judging by the photographs
dates well in advance, (courtesy of Mat Mycock)!
we have put together
a calendar for 2006 Huge thanks to Peter and Camilla
(P14/15). Leith who did all the leg work in
organising things with the Saxon
Mill. The event was also supported by
the WBS Alumni Association. Thanks
went with a swing! disco, cocktails, saxophone shaped vodka to everyone who attended and made
luge and chocolate fountain, everyone it such a good night. We hope that
The MBA Summer Ball at the Forest of had an evening to remember! According this is the first of many get-togethers,
Arden Hotel and Country Club in July to graduate Willie Heung, ‘The Ball was so feedback has been encouraged, as
was a resounding success and around 150 indeed memorable and surely the best have suggestions for future events.
graduates, guests and WBS staff jazzed it up party ever.’
until the early hours.
Thank you to the members of the
A great performance by The Dr Teeth Big Committee and everyone else who helped
Band had everyone dancing from the start, with the success of this special celebration.
and with the additional attractions of a
SIGs
The Public & Voluntary Sector network
has very strong alumni champions and
following several events in conjunction
with IGPM, the steering committee of
alumni and current students now plan a
series of events for the forthcoming year.
The group held its first networking meeting for future teleconferences please contact
in London in November. The subject Caroline Hughes.
was Choice and Voice in Public Services
and Ann Abraham, Parliamentary and The Brand Management Group is piloting
Health Service Ombudsman, launched the use of a community web log, a ‘blog’
the discussion. Thank you to current MPA which because of its electronic platform
student Chris Halek for organising this has an international membership. The aim
event. the Consultancy Group meeting of the pilot is to see if we can establish the
blog as a place for sharing ideas on issues
The Consultancy Group: following a and trends affecting the industry. The blog
successful launch event involving ‘speed Special thanks go to Olga and John, and will become a place where participants can
networking’ and ‘thought leadership’ to alumnus Samin Sarkar (MBA 98–9) for discover what their WBS peers are thinking
sessions, we are seeking alumni champions coordinating the event. and doing about BM.
for this group, and are planning to replicate
the Birmingham event in London in the The Telecoms Group is co-ordinated by
New Year. As part of their Business Liaison Charles Stubbs (MBA 91–2) and Phil White
Programme, IBM hosted a Consultancy (MBA 01–2), with academic input from For further information on SIG
event in October when alumni and Professor John McGee. This group has activities, please check the web site
students took the opportunity to learn international membership and meets via w www.wbs.ac.uk/alumni
about The Other IBM: A different kind of teleconferences. Thank you to Phil for or contact Caroline Hughes:
business innovation, presented by Olga providing bridge facilities to date. If you e caroline.hughes@wbs.ac.uk
Bassoli and John Message from IBM. would be able to offer bridge facilities
13. 13
13
UK event reviews
London Oxford
The First Friday October event at Mezzo The Oxford group has grown in popularity,
in Soho, London, went really well with drawing 20–25 alumni to each event.
about 50 alumni enjoying the excellent September’s event started with drinks
atmosphere. Year group co-ordinators have as usual in the cosy Lamb and Flag on
proved effective in increasing attendance at St. Giles, followed by dinner at a local
First Friday events held every two months. restaurant. The event on 25 November also
generated good attendance and feedback.
The December pre-Christmas drinks Our thanks to group coordinator, Alex
event at Mash Bar was also well attended Clark (MBA 00–1), who is the perfect host
and started the festivities off in the right on these occasions. If you fancy coming
spirit! Our thanks go to organiser Kevin along to the next event, you will be sure of
Engelbretson for another busy year. a warm welcome.
e kevin.engelbretson@thecloud.net e alexanderdnclark@hotmail.com
WBS forums Midlands North West
Around 40 people attended the A good time was had by all at an informal
In October and November four motivational talk, Thank God it’s Monday! meeting at the Pitcher & Piano in
alumni returned to campus to take given by Robert Cuesta-Sevillano (MBA Manchester in September. Some new
part in a series of MBA forums held at 02–3), Principal, Turning Point Associates, faces joined the regulars and the relaxed
the MBA Teaching Centre, Radcliffe. at WBS Scarman Road on 22 November. atmosphere made for easy conversation
This Midlands group event proved very and networking. The same venue played
Kevin Desmond (BSc Mathematics popular and provoked much discussion host to a successful drinks and dinner
78–81) Markets Group Director, PwC with a lengthy and lively question and evening in December. Organiser Rob
London Capital. Topic Building the answer session. McCulloch extends an invitation to alumni
European Market in the North West to join them at their
One alumna attending for the first time next meeting on 8 March.
Neil Wood, confirmed she enjoyed the talk so much
currently she will always try to attend future events. e rmcculloch@terasys.co.uk
completing
an MBA by Many thanks to Robert for negotiating the
executive M6 traffic to share his motivational secrets
study, Finance with us.
Director London
2012. Topic:
Winning the
London Olympic
South West
and Paralympic
Thanks to Richard Hill, (MSc Marketing
Games Bid
Management 77–8) for organising the
social event on 6 September, when ten or
Mark Pullen (BSc Maths &
so alumni ventured out to one of Bath’s
Operational Research, Stats,
Economics 92–5) Former Group
best kept secrets – the Moon and Sixpence Scotland
for drinks and dinner. Conversation flowed
Finance Director, Geest. Topic: Retail
and the food was excellent. Angus Turner (MBA 99–00) is working
power: the real big brands
hard to bring together graduates from
Drinks and dinner at Zerodegrees in Bristol the University of Warwick, now based in
Alison Woodhams (MSc Business
on 6 December proved another winning Scotland. After a very successful event at
Management Systems 87–91), Chief
formula – thanks to John English (MBA Est Est Est in Edinburgh in early September,
Operating Officer, BBC World Service.
02–3). the next social gathering was held at All
Topic: BBC World Service - Public
Bar One, George Street in December. This
Service in a Commercial World.
This group meets socially four times a year was a very informal event and gave those
in either Bath or Bristol. If good food and attending the opportunity to catch up with
The forums recommence in
good company is your scene then contact old friends and make new contacts. Our
January 2006, and full details can be
Caroline Hughes if you would like to come thanks to Angus.
found online at w www.wbs.ac.uk/
to a future event.
alumni/forthcoming.cfm
e angusturner99@hotmail.com
e caroline.hughes@wbs.ac.uk
14. 14 nexus: spring 06 WBS events calendar 2006
academic update
january Showcasing four leading WBS academics,
Winter Congregation 25 this event is an ideal opportunity to hear
Winter congregation dinner 25 some of the latest research emanating
MSOR projects evening 26 from WBS. This year we will be featuring
WBS forums Mondays Professor Bob Johnston, speaking on Service
Midlands regional gathering tbc excellence & designing the customer experience;
Stuart Chambers, speaking on Continuous
improvement in the service sector; Zoe Radnor
february speaking on Learning to Lean and Lyndon
Simkin speaking on Great companies innovate.
In building client relationships, too!. Full
Public and Voluntary Sector Network, details of this £49 event and how to book are
Birmingham 02 available online.
First Friday – London 03
WBSS Forum 04
Alumni Board 07
MBA projects evening 15
Oxford regional gathering 17
Academic Update 25
WBS forums Mondays
march
South West regional gathering 07
North West regional gathering 08 annual dinner
Stockholm – Professor John McGee 15
WBS Forums Mondays SAVE THE DATE and join with faculty and
Brussels – Alumni dinner with current students to celebrate the successes
Stuart Chambers 13/31 tbc of WBS over the past year and share in our
Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia vision for the future. The Inner Temple will
– alumni dinners tbc play host to WBS this year for an evening of
Telecoms SIG event at WBS tbc sparkling conversation and fine dining. Each
Women’s Dinner tbc year around 150 alumni and their guests
IBM lecture at WBS 23 enjoy this unique opportunity to network
with other WBS alumni in a prestigious and
april beautiful environment. Booking details will be
circulated in February via email and online.
First Friday – London 07
Midlands group seminar event tbc
City Lecture tbc
may
Annual Dinner 04
Oxford regional gathering 19
Telecoms teleconference tbc
15. nexus: spring 06 WBS events calendar 2006 15
summer ball
Hailed as the perfect end to a proud day the
june
MBA summer ball is open not only to those Alumni Board 01
graduating this year but to all alumni and First Friday – London 02
their guests. If you feel the need to dig out South West regional gathering 06
your DJ or put on a party frock and dance the North West regional gathering 07
night away, then this is the evening for you. Public Sector Academic Update 17
Details will be announced later in the year in MPA Ball 17
the email newsletter, so make sure you update WBS at the races tbc
your details online if you would like to be
notified. If you would like help in contacting
your classmates so that you can arrange a
table at the event, please do contact Sue july
Cresswell. e sue.cresswell@wbs.ac.uk
Undergraduate graduation 11
Post-Graduate Graduation 14
Graduation Ball 14
august
september
South West regional gathering 05
North West regional gathering 06
DLMBA reunion 30
Oxford regional gathering tbc
Recent graduates event – Midlands tbc
october
First Friday – London 06
Alumni Board tbc
november
Oxford regional gathering 24
december
First Friday – London 01
W www.wbs.ac.uk/ South-West regional gathering 05
North-West regional gathering 06
alumni/forthcoming.cfm Midlands regional gathering tbc
16. 16
16
overseas event reviews
An enthusiastic group of alumni turned
T hank you to all of our alumni who
organise and host events, and also
assist with MBA recruitment fairs in
out for the Greek alumni social event in
Athens on 18 November. Braving the chilly
Greece
temperatures about 30 alumni met at the
countries visited by WBS. We really do Hard Rock Cafe, Fillelinon Street, for a fun
appreciate your support. We are also evening of drinks and networking.
indebted to Warwick and WBS faculty
and staff who host alumni events when Caroline Hughes, WBS Alumni Relations
visiting overseas. Executive, was on hand to update alumni
about developments at WBS.
Brazil A big thank you to Nikos Zagorissios (MBA
93–4) and the rest of the Greek alumni
committee for organising the evening.
On 3 November WBS alumnus Bernardo
Hees (MBA 97–8), President of América
Latina Logística (ALL), the largest railway Consultant, the Warwick MBA, and
based logistic operator in Latin America, Switzerland Nathalie Walker, Head of Alumni Relations,
spoke on Challenges and Opportunities who were visiting the city for an MBA
in the Brazilian Logistics market at the recruitment event, were joined by current
Auditório do Centro Brasileiro Britânico DLMBA students and a cross-section of the
in São Paulo. Members of the Association alumni community. Business cards were
of British Alumni, the British Council, LBS exchanged and plans are afoot for an event
and WBS alumni attended and adjourned in Geneva in the spring.
to Drake’s Pub for drinks and networking
afterwards. Thank you to Ody Ferreira Ben MacDermott (BSc Computer &
(MBA 97–8) for organising this event. Business Studies 98–01) reported: ‘It was
great to meet fellow WBS graduates in
Zurich. As an undergraduate alumnus
Fifteen members of the WBS community talking to people who had done the
France met for a sumptuous dining experience Warwick MBA provided amazing input to
on 17 October at Cantinetta Antinori help me decide what it is I want to do as far
in Zurich. Stuart Sutherland, e-learning as further education is concerned.’
WBS alumni gathered in Stockholm in
November prior to the graduation ball held Sweden
annually by WBS’ partner institution in
Sweden, FEI. This is the second Stockholm
event of recent months and is a precursor
to an event planned for March 2006
when John McGee, Professor of Strategic
Management, and Associate Dean, The
Warwick MBA, will represent WBS at
the Swedish Business Schools Alumni
Association, talking about his research
relating to telecoms. Learn more about the
Stockholm group and organiser Mischa Du
Pont on P20.
Libresens Bar in Paris has now played host and members of the graduates’ extended
to two gatherings of WBS alumni. The most Hong Kong families joined the party after lunch for
recent event on 1 December was attended photographs.
by an enthusiastic group of alumni, who Achieving the Warwick MBA by distance
were joined by Nathalie Walker, Head of learning is a great event – but unfortunately
Alumni Relations. WBS was joined on this it is not always possible for students
occasion by alumni from the Australian who live far from Warwick to attend Belgium (advance notice)
Graduate School of Management, one Graduation at the University. So when
of our PIM partner schools, and McGill Sue Beech, DLMBA Programme Director, Stuart Chambers (MBA 84–6) Principal
University. WBS is delighted to expand was in Hong Kong recently a celebration Teaching Fellow, Operations Management
the network of its alumni by working event was arranged for recent graduates group at WBS, will host a dinner in Brussels
with other prestigious schools in this way. and their families. The celebration lunch on either 13 March or 31 March. Please
Thank you to Dimos Silvestriadis was held at the New World Renaissance update your email address online to ensure
(MBA 98–9) for organising these events. Hotel, Kowloon, on Sunday 13 November you receive an invitation.