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This study in the history and political philosophy of science a t tempts a novel analysis of a practice in management science , operational research ( OR), based on a marxis t theory of practice. This analysis draws on a survey of methodological writing , interviews with OR practitioners and leading professional figures (mostly British), a survey of debates on professional ma t t ers , and the aut hor's own experience as an OR worker. It is an att empt to contribute to the theory (and thence , prac t i ce) of class struggl e in monopoly capi talism, especially in the SI1ctors of work carried out by the "New Middle Class", and covers not only OR (directly) but also (indirectly) the policy sciences, scientifi c work in general, and workers' counter-science. Directed in part to marxists with a morethan- theoretical interest, this study is also intended for methodologically inclined OR workers who care about the results of their work. The thesis embodies a materialist analysis of the politics of knowledge production, and shows how the historical sp ecificity of OR (especially in relation to Tayl orism) can be defined. Problems of "praxis", "technical rationality", and the class content of science are dealt with through a theoretical structure which incorporates a non-reductionist concept of the contradictory material articulation of the forces and relations of production. As a whole, the argwnent tries to approach the problem of constituting a revolutionary practice of subjective socialisation of labour, in opposi tion to capital's revolutionisation of the objective socialisation of labour. The study shows the contradictory nature of "the systems approach", how the insights of this approach (concerning the r elations of theory and pra ctice, "neutrality", and dialogue in the production of knowledge) are subordinated within an approach based on measurement, and how OR takes the form of a scientistic politics. The r elative strengths of this analysis are summ ~: ised with respect to Habermas' theory 0f cognitive interests, Althusser's concepts of theoretical, political and ideological practices, Sohn-Rethel's theory of the division of mental and manual labour in Taylorism, and recent work on the capitalist labour-process. One of the main conclusio ~~ '1 is that, to the extent that a concept of the unity of the forceb and relations of production is worked out at the level of specific scientific practices (as in this study) the content and mutual relations of the r elations of produ ction themselves become problematic; and thus, that theories of class struggle at the level of t he labourprocess must move ahead carefully. The study ends with an opt :Lrnistic speculation on the future of operational research as a possi.le mode of revolutionary practice.

The impetus for this work has evolved from the development of Intellectual Capital (IC) within the Defence Fixed Network (DFN) Integrated Project Team (IPT). Using case study methodology it focuses on an examination of a sample group of DFN desk officers who perform the Customer Relationship Management (CRM) function. The metrics contributing to the DFN IC Model are then contrasted with the results of a benchmark IC study conducted on BT Global services. The purpose of the benchmarking exercise is to determine areas for improvement within the DFN IC Model. The study moves on to describe the commercial and operational context of the DFN IPT and its contracted delivery partner, British Telecom. The relationship between BT and the Ministry of Defence (MOD) is explained and the government's current Public Private Partnerships (PPP) and Private Finance Initiatives (PFI) are discussed. A top level strategic analysis of the DFT IPT, including its immediate operating environment is provided using PEST and SWOT analysis techniques. The study considers the theoretical basis of the literature review and seeks to develop an appropriate IC Model, whilst reviewing its main components. The application of the IC Model to the DFN IPT and BT Global services contexts is also examined. The case study was conducted in two phases. The first phase consisted of the application of the DFN IC Model across a sample of twenty members of the DFN IPT, in order to establish the IC index rating of the organisation. The indices are further developed by the introduction of qualitative data from the subsequent discourse with each of the respondents in support of each of the formal questions. The second phase of the research Model comprised the application of the DFN IC Model to a similar cross section of twenty members of BT Global services, in order to provide a benchmark against which the DFN profile can be further assessed.

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Numerous approaches on manufacturing strategies have been formulated to address new challenges and to remain competitive in globalization. Within such a Performance measurement frameworks have been important in manufacturing has offered an effective approach for the analysis and quantification of continuous improvement of their operational performance of production production systems. Moreover, they are necessary to understand and monitor the manufacturing strategies and to compete in the market place. associated with the adoption of performance measures aligned with strategies is a key requirement for gaining competitive advantages. This research comprises the study of theoretical and empirical modelling of performance measures and the development of a new performance measurement framework applicable to manufacturing industry. The purpose of this research is to create a new performance measurement framework for the complete evaluation of manufacturing systems. The framework comprises a complete methodology to facilitate the definition of manufacturing strategy and manufacturing system behaviours. management systems. The creation of performance measurement frameworks Nowadays, manufacturing organizations have focused their attention on the , I variability of the production activities in order to increase the effectiveness of their performance measurement system. The performance measurement system includes the development of a performance measure allocation system to enable the correct allocation of performance measures to the problems encountered in manufacturing processes. The analysis of manufacturing process is an essential activity to identify main contributory causes which affect the overall performance of manufacturing systems. For that reason, the research provides a systematic review of the characteristics of performance measures to make inferences about manufacturing process behaviour and to establish most appropriate corrective actions and practice that lead companies to sustainable competitive advantage. Supplied by The British Library - 'The world's knowledge'

The first part of this thesis is concerned with the development and implementation of a computerized scheduling system for a job shop. Simulation of clerical scheduling experience forms the basis of a tool for completely rescheduling all work-in-progress with respect to due dates and capacity constraints. Ways to tune the system to ,any objective are developed. A large simulation model of the machine shop is built to test the scheduling system. implementation are reported. The results of The second part of this thesis is aimed at making LP techniques in solving job shop scheduling problems more powerful. A relaxation LP approach is taken and the 0 - I variables normally in the formulation are avoided. Study of the problems' structure shows that all non-zero elements in the LP tableau are =1 and .only a small part of the complete tableau needs to be displayed. Scheduling problems are solved by this technique which are about 20 times larger than those previously solved by LP.

This dissertation examines the structural patterns of interfirm competitive relationships using network analysis - a set of methods originally developed for analyzing the structure of social ties. The author views each firm in a multimarket space as facing a 'competitive network,' which consists of all market competitors of the ego firm and all competitive relationships associated with these competitors. Each competitive network has a structure, delineating how a firm's competitors interact with the ego firm, with one another, and with other market actors whom the ego firm does not directly encounter. The author develops and tests a new theory on competitive network structures, showing that a firm's conducts and performance are dependent upon the structure of its competitive network.

This thesis examines one particular model oforganisational consultancy. The model is that based on theories developed over the last fifty years and 'known as Tavistock consultancy. Whilst there are many case studies available on the Tavistock model there are no know evaluations using an outcome model of evaluation. The Tavistock model has exercised considerable influence both on organisational consultants and management theorists. This thesis demonstrates the findings of an evaluation model that attempts to show the conditions of the organisation before the consultancy and post the intervention. The thesis seeks to explore and understand the application of the Tavistock model of consultancy in a social services department using qualitative methods and quantitative. It investigates a long-term project with a social services department carried out by the Tavistock Clinic. The study explored the following: 1. The impact ofthe intervention in the organisation: 2. The nature of 'process' in Psychoanalytic - Social Systems Organisational Consultancy. 3. The crucial process issues to evaluate In the consultant _ consultee relationship. 4. The consultant - consultee relationship and how this can lead to an outcome that enhances the capacity of the organisation to recognise a dysfunctional state and attempt to instigate changes. The research reveals both quantitative changes in the teams receiving consultancy and at the same time demonstrates the importance of introjective identification as an under theorised concept within the Tavistock model and its importance in understanding client/consultant dynamics. The research highlights the importance for consultants to both understand the dynamics of boundary crossing, and entry into the organisational system. The research confirms the need to actively work with these dynamics.

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