Economic Development Officials Research Articles

Which procurement system? Towards a universal procurement selection technique

Two approaches are described which aid the selection of the most appropriate procurement arrangements for a building project. The first is a multi-attribute technique based on the National Economic Development Office procurement path decision chart. A small study is described in which the utility factors involved were weighted by averaging the scores of five ‘experts’ for three hypothetical building projects. A concordance analysis is used to provide some evidence of any abnormal data sources. When applied to the study data, one of the experts was seen to be atypical. The second approach is by means of discriminant analysis. This was found to provide reasonably consistent predictions through three discriminant functions. The analysis also showed the quality criteria to have no significant impact on the decision process. Both approaches provided identical and intuitively correct answers in the study described. Some concluding remarks are made on the potential of discriminant analysis for future research and development in procurement selection techniques.

The Decline of the British Economy.

Journal Article The Decline of the British Economy Get access The Decline of the British Economy. By Bernard Elbaum and William Lazonick. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1986. Pp. vii + 310. £25.00 hardback.) Walter Eltis Walter Eltis National Economic Development Office Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Economic Journal, Volume 97, Issue 388, 1 December 1987, Pages 993–995, https://doi.org/10.2307/2233087 Published: 01 December 1987

Book Reviews

Urban Social Movements. The City After Castells, Stuart Lowe, Macmillan, 1986, pp.211, £20 hardcover, £6.95 paperback. Race, Class and State Housing: Inequality and the Allocation of Public Housing in Britain, J. Henderson and V. Karn, Gower, 1987, pp.356, £19.50. Local Government and Urban Politics, William Hampton, Longman, 1987, pp.271, £7.95 paperback. Urban Political Theory and the Management of Fiscal Stress, Michael Goldsmith and Soren Villadsen (eds), Gower, 1986, pp.269, £17.50. Local Planning in Practice, M. Bruton and D. Nicholson, Hutchinson Education, 1987, pp.452, £12.95 paperback. The Industrialization of the Countryside, Michael J. Healey and Brian W. Ilbery (eds), Geo Books, Norwich, pp.315, 1985, £32.50. The Emergence of the Welfare States, Douglas E. Ashford, Blackwell, 1986, pp. x + 352, £25.00. Training Resource Package for Economic Development Officers, J.R. Johnson, C. Baine, M.S. Lousvet, J.D. Stewart, Local Government Training Board, 1986, pp. 318, £50.00 (local authorities), £62.50 (voluntary organizations), £100.00 (others). Appellants’ Perceptions of the Planning Appeal System, Working Paper No. 93, Oxford Polytechnic, Department of Town Planning, August 1986, pp.180, £7.00 plus 85p p & p. A Bibiography of the Writings of W.A. Robson, Compiled by O. Hill, London School of Economics and Political Science, £4.00. Food is Work: A Strategy for Food Industry Employment and Consumption, P. Wiggins and P. Snell, CLES Report No. 1, 1986, pp. 50, £2.00. Councils Support Co‐ops, R. Macfarlane, CLES Report No. 2, 1986, pp. 64, £2.50. Public Domain 1986: A Yearbook for the Public Sector, D. Mayston and F. Terry (eds), Public Finance Foundation, 1986, pp. 212, £9.50 (available from 3 Robert Street, London, WC2N 6BH).

The Internal Transformation of Community-Controlled Implementation Organizations

Community-controlled implementation organizations are necessary to initiate redevelopment in many urban areas, but because of their dependency on external sources of capital they may be transformed into organizations that enhance the extraction of private profit rather than community reinvestment. Internal social and political processes may generate another transformation process with similar results. A contradiction may develop because the social power relations within the organization-defined by its morphological structure—are a mirror image (reversed) of those in society. This incongruence in social relations disrupts the legitimation and reproduction of the organization's morphological structure. If these internal problems are not understood and ameliorated, either the organization will be transformed into a bureaucratic, professionalized organization, or it will dissolve during the transformation process. A case study is presented to demonstrate the intricacies of this process. In this case, the professional bureaucratic transformation process was interrupted by the Office of Economic Development's termination of their funding. Suggestions are made to assist urban planners in minimizing their interactive effect on community-controlled implementation organizations, while facilitating the organization's effort to minimize the internal transformation process.

Careers:

A challenge to complacency … A major study A Challenge to Complacency has revealed that whilst employers collectively agree that Britain under‐trains its workforce, top managers individually do not consider they need to do more training in their own firms. This is an attitude which some might regard as reflecting confidence, but which the research team describes as reflecting complacency. Commissioned by the Manpower Services Commission and National Economic Development Office the study, which was carried out by Coopers & Lybrand Associates, examined the scope for encouraging companies to invest more in vocational education and training. It revealed that:

Culture, Education and Britain's Industrial Crisis

The paper printed below is based upon a lecture given by Sir Geoffrey Chandler, former Director General of the National Economic Development Office. The lecture was delivered at a school based in‐service conference of the staff of Northgate High School, Ipswich on 23rd September, 1983. The conference venue was the Research Headquarters of British Telecom, Martdlesham, Suffolk and the conference organiser was Ray Dalton of Homerton College, Cambridge. The editors wish to record their thanks to Sir Geoffrey for his permission to publish the lecture in the Cambridge Journal of Education.

Study paints grim picture for U.K. chemicals

A sober, if gloomy, prospect faces the chemical industry in the U.K. 'There is strong evidence that the industry will decline significantly by 1990, maintains Gareth H. Thomas of the London-based National Economic Development Office. I hope very much that somebody can convince me that this analysis is wrong because the implications are serious. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Society of Chemical Industry in London, Thomas presented the salient points of a major study on the near-term prospects for the industry. The study, to be published soon, is a followup on one made two years ago by the chemicals committee of the National Economic Development Council (NEDC). This latest NEDC study centers on nine main branches of the industry—agrochemicals, dyes and pigments, fertilizers, inorganics, paints, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, soaps and detergents, and specialty organic chemicals. Those facing the prospect of serious decline are fertilizers, inorganics, and petrochemicals. Four—agrochemicals, dyes ...

Comment on the Paper by Professor Lindbeck

Journal Article Comment on the Paper by Professor Lindbeck Get access Derek J. Morris Derek J. Morris National Economic Development Office, London Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar The Economic Journal, Volume 93, Issue 369, 1 March 1983, Pages 78–83, https://doi.org/10.2307/2232165 Published: 01 March 1983

Financing nationalised industries: A third way

Efforts to find a way of allowing nationalised industries to raise money while remaining subject to financial controls have regularly come up against ideology on the one hand and self‐interest on the other. However, it is possible to devise a method short of full‐scale privatisation that still preserves the present structure of the public enterprise sector. Though the authors were both involved in background work on the nationalised industries for the National Economic Development Officer (NEDO), the views expressed are their own and should not be attributed to the Corporation.

Tourism Marketing Study, Jonesboro, Tennessee. John M. Cartwright and Gale Trusell. Office of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. November 1981. 59p

Tourism Marketing Study, Jonesboro, Tennessee. John M. Cartwright and Gale Trusell. Office of Economic and Community Development, Tennessee Valley Authority, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902. November 1981. 59p

GOING FOR A FEE — YOUR OWN BUILDERS

In 1978 the National Economic Development Office published a major survey on “Construction for industrial recovery”. The summary said: “Much of British industry is hampered by poor buildings which are unsuitable for modern production methods. Many factories are old. Yet others are built to low quality standards. Such unsuitable buildings hold down productivity and increase operating costs”.

Careers:

The National Economic Development Office has sponsored the publication of a Project Pack of Learning Materials for schools — How Britain Earns Its Living — about the vital role of industry in creating national wealth, Published by Hodder & Stoughton, it is designed for 11 to 14 year olds in secondary schools. Up to now very little relevant material has been published for this group, although it is at this age that a choice of career — including one in industry — is often first considered. Throughout the intention has been to present essential ideas — such as what the customer wants, competition, added value — so that pupils can identify with them; these ideas reflect real‐life business decision‐making. The structure of the Project Pack permits a flexible approach; it may be utilised as a course in its own right, for ‘topic’ or integrated studies work, or as a component of social studies, geography and history. It also provides a sound foundation for more specialised study in economics and other commercially‐orientated subjects.

The impact of natural product research on drug discovery.

Let me begin by simply telling you how honored I feel to be invited do address this illustrious audience. It has now been 5 years since the National Economic Development Office (NEDO) report first appeared. The latter, as you know, was bold enough to suggest that, pound for pound, investment in pharmaceutical innovation was twice as efficient in the U.K. as it was in the US. At the time of reading that report, my feelings — perhaps rooted in bicentennial patriotism — were those of doubt and incredulity. Since then, I — and many others I’m sure — have become mightily impressed with the brilliant contributions of the pharmaceutical sciences which continue to emanate from this country.

The materials question

A report on the seminar held on Wednesday and Thursday 15 and 16 March 1978 at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Sponsors: National Economic Development Office, British National Committee on Materials, The Metals Society, Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The materials question

A report on the seminar held on Wednesday and Thursday 15 and 16 March 1978 at the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, 1 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Sponsors: National Economic Development Office, British National Committee on Materials, The Metals Society, Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

The aims, methods and uses of energy accounting

The paper begins by stating the value of energy accounting and defining the subject. The aims of energy accounting are then listed and discussed. The three basic methods of energy accounting are currently input/output table analysis, statistical analysis and process analysis. In turn, these are briefly described and then illustrated by some recent examples of their application. The use of input/output table analysis to explore the effect of rising energy costs on industrial prices is described; this was an important input to the 1974 National Economic Development Office report on energy. This is followed by a discussion of how and when a knowledge of the energy intensity of capital goods can be used to assess energy pay-back times and energy gain ratios in considering possible new sources of energy. The statistical method is illustrated first by referring to the estimation of energy overheads for the various fuel industries and, secondly, by showing the very detailed energy inputs which have to be accounted in determining the average energy requirement of a typical industrial commodity, viz. iron castings. Finally, the method of process energy analysis, as advocated by the International Federation of Institutes of Advanced Study (IFIAS), is briefly described and its application to a study of the iron casting industry by ETSU referred to.

DISAGGREGATED IMPORT FUNCTIONS FOR THE UK, WEST GERMANY AND FRANCE*

Oxford Bulletin of Economics and StatisticsVolume 38, Issue 4 p. 281-298 DISAGGREGATED IMPORT FUNCTIONS FOR THE UK, WEST GERMANY AND FRANCE† D. H. HUMPHREY, D. H. HUMPHREY National Economic Development Office, Millbank, London.Search for more papers by this author D. H. HUMPHREY, D. H. HUMPHREY National Economic Development Office, Millbank, London.Search for more papers by this author First published: November 1976 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.1976.mp38004005.xCitations: 4 † 1The author is grateful to the Balance of Payments Division of the OECD who supplied the basic import data on which this work is based, and to Mica Panic, Keith Vernon, Peter Fallon, Amin Rajan and an anonymous referee for helpful comments and suggestions. They are in no way responsible for the views expressed in this paper nor for any remaining deficiencies. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume38, Issue4November 1976Pages 281-298 RelatedInformation

The Industrial relations training resource centre

The concept of an Industrial Relations Centre is relevant in the UK today, in the light of the report ‘Management Training in Industrial Relations’, published by the National Economic Development Office, in June 1975. That report is the product of a Working Group on Industrial Relations Training for Managers, set up by the Management Education Training and Develop‐ment Committee of NEDO. It includes the recommendation: ‘…that an Industrial Relations Training Resource Centre should be established. The central aim of such a centre would be to assist companies and other institutions who wished to provide improved industrial relations training for managers…’ (‘Management Training in Industrial Relations’ 1.24)

Organizational Strategies and Interorganizational Networks

The organization set is a basic concept for analyzing the relations between an organization and its environment. This article pro vides a theoretical basis for using it to study the way that organizations adapt their environments to their own needs, rather than responding to situational demands. First, the network of interorganizational relations is conceptualized in terms of dimensions of social integration. Subsequently, organizational strategies appropriate for dealing with problematical aspects of organization set integration are identified. The character-defining consequences of the combination of strategies an organization uses are illustrated from an empirical study of the National Economic Development Office.

MAJOR FACTORS BEHIND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN BRITISH MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY*

Oxford Bulletin of Economics and StatisticsVolume 37, Issue 3 p. 191-209 MAJOR FACTORS BEHIND INVESTMENT DECISIONS IN BRITISH MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY† M. PANIĆ, M. PANIĆ National Economic Development Office, LondonSearch for more papers by this authorK. VERNON, K. VERNON National Economic Development Office, LondonSearch for more papers by this author M. PANIĆ, M. PANIĆ National Economic Development Office, LondonSearch for more papers by this authorK. VERNON, K. VERNON National Economic Development Office, LondonSearch for more papers by this author First published: August 1975 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0084.1975.mp37003002.xCitations: 5 † * We are grateful for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper to our colleagues at NEDO as well as to P. N. Junankar, E. Kiernan, P. J. Lund, Caroline Miles, G. F. Ray and D. K. Stout. They are, of course, in no way responsible for any remaining errors and omissions, nor for the views expressed. AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume37, Issue3August 1975Pages 191-209 RelatedInformation