Global Companies in the Twentieth Century Selected Archival Histories

Today the world is dominated by global brands. In tracking their development, this set offers a fascinating slant on the history of the world. Most of the companies included started as small, local businesses developing their domestic markets first before launching into new territories, while a few began life thinking about the links between nations. These company histories, compiled exclusively from selections of key documents in their archives, are unique in charting the history of the twentieth century from the perspective of business, retail, mining, fuel, banking, the media and communications. Profiles include the BBC, Levi Strauss & Co., Broken Hill Proprietary Company (mining), Barclays, BP Amoco, Rio Tinto, Cable and Wireless, Marks and Spencer and Royal Dutch Shell. Using established sources, including company accounts, each set will have an introduction which places the company in the context of the late twentieth century, and examines key themes of contemporary management theory. The case-studies emphasise: * how/why the company has survived * how the company has adapted to changing external circumstances * how the company has changed its organisational structure, global positioning and management