Business, training and education : Sheffield circa 1880-1940
This thesis contributes to two important debates: the historical debate on the role of education and training in Britain's relative economic decline; and the debate on the relationship between education, training and business performance. Much of the research on education, training and economic growth has focused at the macro-level and been heavily informed by neo-classical assumptions which fail to take account of the dynamism and uncertainty inherent in the business environment. The relationship between education, training and business performance is therefore explored by developing a historical case-study approach based upon the Sheffield metal and engineering trades, c1880-1940. These were industries that were of strategic importance to the British economy and such a study allows for an exploration at the micro-level of the firm. The historical analysis is informed by the theory of business strategy. Unlike the neo-classical synthesis, this theory locates the firm in a specific historical context, defining it as a collection of related productive resources: physical and human. Thus the theory may be used as an analytical tool to examine the impact of product, process and organisational innovations upon
Eason, Mark
History
Business, training and education : Sheffield circa 1880-1940. This thesis contributes to two important debates: the historical debate on the role of education and training in Britain's relative economic decline; and the debate on the relationship between education, training and business performance. Much of the research on education, training and economic growth has focused at the macro-level and been heavily informed by neo-classical assumptions which fail to take account of the dynamism and uncertainty inherent in the business environment. The relationship between education, training and business performance is therefore explored by developing a historical case-study approach based upon the Sheffield metal and engineering trades, c1880-1940. These were industries that were of strategic importance to the British economy and such a study allows for an exploration at the micro-level of the firm. The historical analysis is informed by the theory of business strategy. Unlike the neo-classical synthesis, this theory locates the firm in a specific historical context, defining it as a collection of related productive resources: physical and human. Thus the theory may be used as an analytical tool to examine the impact of product, process and organisational innovations upon
business train education sheffield circa contributes two_important debate historical_debate role education train britain relative economic_decline debate relationship education train business performance much education train economic_growth focus macro_level heavily inform neo classical assumption fail_take account dynamism uncertainty inherent business environment relationship education train business performance therefore explore develop historical case_study base_upon sheffield metal engineering trade industry strategic_importance british economy study allow exploration micro_level firm historical_analysis inform theory business strategy unlike neo classical synthesis theory locates firm specific historical_context define collection relate productive resource physical human thus theory may_use analytical_tool examine_impact product process organisational innovation upon