Book Selection review. For example, in talking about causal maps I felt that I had to include at least a sentence to say what a causal map is. If you were grateful for that sentence then this book is not for you, but if my sentence succeeded in annoying you then this book is a must. TIM SMITHIN The Strategic Management of Technological Innovation RAY LOVERIDGE and MARTYN PITT (Editors) John Wiley & Sons, Chichester, 1990. 404 +xi pp. £39.95 ISBN 0471924997

The bo.ok originates from a three day workshop of European and American academics in June 1987, followed by a number of interdisciplinary research projects. The book comprises a collection of papers resulting from the research by a variety of authors and an introduction by Loveridge and Pitt. It is structured in three parts: • Strategies in Context; five papers covering emerging industries, turnaround strategies in aging technology, examples from automotive and food retailing industries and a discussion on the emergence of an analytical structure; • Structures, Boundaries and Alliances; a further five papers considering interorganizational relationships and cooperation, the changing structures of R&D and technological innovation, innovation design/poles using the UK Rover group as an example; • Crisis, Learning and Adaption; six papers discussing the management of, and strategies for, technological change, new work roles and organizational transformation, incremental innovation and managing the future. Overall, the book is a useful collection of papers for researchers in the field and it is underpinned by substantial reference to, and discussion of, case material from Western Europe and the USA. In addition, there is a very comprehensive list of references. As such, it represents a good starting point for anyone interested in the field of technological innovation. It is less clear that the book will be of interest to industrialists. It is written from an academic viewpoint and issues such as project leadership by individuals (except in Chapter 7 to a limited extent) and its impact on technological success, as well as the impact of the market-place on innovation are under-played. Further, there is limited linking between papers, although it is reasonable to assume that there was some overall plan behind the interdisciplinary research which is the basis for the book. Overall, a useful reference volume. C. M. SORRILL

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