Originally published in 1992, this book examines the development of employers' human resource management and industrial relations policies in Britain. It adopts a broad historical perspective, beginning with the inheritance from the nineteenth century and ending with an analysis of human resource management policies. It focuses on how managers organise the employment relationship, how they control work relations, and how they deal with trade unions and industrial relations. The author examines these in the context of the market within which the firm operates, and the strategy, structure and hierarchy of industrial enterprise. The book shows that historically British employers tended to adopt market-based strategies rather than internal ones.

This 1992 book examines the development of industrial relations policies in Britain in the twentieth century.
Reviews
Review of the hardback: '... will surely find a secure place in the industrial relations literature. The contribution which it makes to industrial relations theory and the link it forges with the theory of 'strategic choice' is significant.' Industrial Relations Journal
Review of the hardback: 'Gospel has marshalled together a wealth of business history material, much of it from primary sources, in a coherent history which will be of use to anyone interested in British labour management. He also demonstrates the usefulness of institutionalist concepts and the potential for dialogue between institutionalism and other industrial relations, labour process and management perspectives.' Work, Employment & Society
Review of the hardback: '... a wide ranging and detailed analysis of the forces which have shaped the conduct of UK employers with regard to the management of labour ... The book would be of interest to a variety of readers. It touches on issues of major concern for policy makers, and should constitute an important reference for students and researchers in the fields of industrial relations, labour economics and business history.' International Review of Applied Economics
Review of the hardback: 'This is a compelling account. The breadth of research in primary and secondary sources is impressive. The analysis is intelligent and sound.' Business History



Book Information
ISBN 9780521415279
Author Howard Gospel
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Cambridge University Press
Publisher Cambridge University Press
Weight(grams) 515g
Dimensions(mm) 235mm * 158mm * 21mm