This is a description and analysis of the behaviour of large UK construction firms in the determination and implementation of their strategy. The book covers, in addition to the selection of objectives and the methods for their achievement, policies on growth and diversification, finance, marketing and bidding, international operations, management, labour and subcontracting. Throughout the book the relationship between the theory and the actual behaviour of firms is examined. The final chapter concludes with a discussion of the means to bridge the gaps which are found to exist between theory and practice. A companion volume by the same authors is also available - "The Management of Construction Firms: Aspects of Theory"
List of Figures - List of Tables - Preface to the 1994 Reprint - Foreword by W.D.Biggs - Acknowledgements - Abbreviations and Acronyms - Introduction - PART 1 BACKGROUND - The Industry Yesterday and Today - PART 2 OVERALL STRATEGY OF LARGE FIRMS - Objectives and Strategy of Firms - Growth and Diversification - Financial Policy - PART 3 IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGY - Marketing and Bidding Policy - International Policy - Structure and Organisation - PART 4 HUMAN RESOURCES - The Management Resource - Manpower Management and Subcontracting - PART 5 CONCLUSIONS - Conclusions - Glossary - Appendix: Principal Contents of the Companion Volume, The Management of Construction Firms: Aspects of Theory' - Index