Book Selection typically using LEGO. The idea can be easily extended to other manufacturing systems, such as OPT; which I had done, prior to reading this book, with MBA students in Lancaster. In Part II, Schniederjans presents what he calls 'a series of advanced topics'. Here, his purpose is 'to explain how JIT can be integrated with more modern systems and technology of the 1990s.' The chapters concern integrating JIT with Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRPII) and Service and Administrative Systems, respectively. These are subjects that are only briefly covered in Alan Harrison's book. In summary, I believe both these books to be useful contributions to the education of Western industry and students in aspects of Japanese manufacturing. If I was asked to recommend one book as a basic introduction to JIT, then it would be Alan Harrison's. It is clearly set out, easy to read and provides a wealth of illustrative material. GRAHAM K. RAND Production and Operations Management (6th Edition) ALAN MUHLEMANN, JOHN OAKLAND and KEITH LOCKYER Pitman Publishing, London, 1992. x + 566 pp. £18.99 ISBN 0 273 03235 6 This text is now in its sixth edition, having expanded its scope and title, in degrees, from the first edition of 1962 when it was published under the title Factory Management. It now has 32 chapters covering topics from Method study and Work Measurement through Plant Layout to Personnel Management and the now mandatory topic of Quality. This width of coverage precludes it from attempting any in-depth treatment of its subjects. Indeed, at the conclusion of the chapter on forecasting it is accurately stated that the surface of forecasting techniques has only been scratched; this statement could well be applied to other chapters. To compensate for this, one presumes, each chapter is concluded with an up-to-date reading list complete with useful comments. The book is lucidly written with clear diagrams and is intended to be non-mathematical. The intention is largely realized. The explanation of the technique of linear programming (something I am familiar with) is probably the best introduction I have come across to the subject. This clarity is the book's main strength and makes it a good intoductory teaching text. It is aimed, in the main, at MBA and management studies undergraduates, executive development programmers and their lecturers and teachers. To this end some 28 pages of examination questions are included in the appendices together with 40 pages of case studies. The book should find a place on the bookshelves of those who feel the need for a broadbrush text on Production and Operations Management at a reasonable price, being of most use to those involved in teaching the subject. IAN HORNBY Qualitative Methods in Management Research EVERT GUMMESSON Sage Publications, California, 1991. x + 212 pp. $18 ISBN 0 8039 4203 6 This is an interesting and unusual book. The author is a Swedish academic and management consultant with considerable experience in marketing and management who argues that higher educational establishments give insufficient importance to qualitative methods. He tries to correct this with a detailed contribution to the role of case study research, the use of qualitative methods in data collection and analysis, and the problems of access to data, information and knowledge. Dr Gummesson's book is not a heavyweight tome, despite the considerable use of end-of-chapter references- an unintentional illustration of the academic research paradigm, perhaps! Indeed, many of the short anecdotes provide flashes of insight into corporate culture, while, at regular intervals, sound advice is aimed at the stated targets- university students, academic researchers and management consultants. 735

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