The reality of a business operation, the National Freight Corporation 1947-1982: a prosopographical view

Carroll, Alan (2005) The reality of a business operation, the National Freight Corporation 1947-1982: a prosopographical view. UNSPECIFIED. Manchester Metropolitan University. ISSN 1478-8209

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Abstract

Little work has been done within the subgenus (or subfusc) levels of nationalised industries, including at the micro-levels of subsidiary operational nationalised businesses in the nationalised road haulage sector. Additional research is required that would contribute to the re-siting of business history firmly within "current business issues and theoretical concerns" (Harvey 2004), and using a case by case analysis (Jenkins 2004), conceptualising and evaluating operational performance. Pendleton (1997a; 1997b; 1997c) and Peat (2004) have initiated post-privatisation studies from an industrial relations viewpoint, and Jeremy (1998) situated an earlier examination of business and the state within a broader business history of Britain. Armstrong (2003) identified a range of companies involved in nationalised road transport operations, whilst Barker's (1974a) transport histories of London Transport and economic history of UK transport (1974b), with a further history of road transport (1995) have established indirect connections within the genre. I indicate where further new data is being collated, with a report of the detailed prosopographical analysis that involved the pensioner cohort of the National Freight Corporation's Foundation. The methodologies used are described, and interconnections are made to the logistics operations of the operational companies involved. Major gaps in the literature and preceding empirical work are highlighted, and an innovative contribution to the minimal business history historiography of public sector business and organisational management processes in the UK is made. Conclusions are drawn from testing of this part of the case study against the initial hypothesis and further research requirements are highlighted.