Prevention is better than cure

Abstract

Purpose Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings When looking at human history, it is interesting to note that companies are a relatively recent phenomenon. They started appearing mostly in Japan in Medieval times, before growing more widely in the Middle Ages before becoming international with the likes of the East India Company and others that were set up with the agreement of the British Crown. Since their beginning, there has always been a strong theme attached to firms which has likened then to human bodies. People refer to the ‘heart’ of a company or its ‘soul’; firms are described as ‘ailing’ or ‘thriving’; even the word ‘corporation’ comes from the Latin word for body. It seems that in seeking to understand how firms work, we use anthropomorphic language to describe them. Practical implications Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/Value 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.