The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management and Encyclopedic Dictionaries, The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Operations Management [Hardcover]

Nigel Slack (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1557869057 | ISBN-13: 978-1557869050 | Publication Date: April 15, 1997 | Edition: 1

The development of new areas such as total quality management (TQM), just in time (JIT), benchmarking and manufacturing strategy has created a new approach and definition of the subject.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

The evolution of Operations Management - including the development of new areas such as TQM, JIT, benchmarking, & manufacturing strategy ~ has led to a new approach & definition of the field. This exceptional reference takes into account these changes, & provides clear, accessible entries of the terms, topics & techniques now part of Operations Management. Entries in The Dictionary range from relatively short, extended definitions to some that are several thousand words long. Incorporating the latest research, they cover both service- & manufacturing-based businesses. The entries represent the best in applied explanations of the ways in which the field contributes to the competitiveness of business. They also take a conceptual approach to draw out the fundamental ideas that support the subject, making this an exceptional resource for business students, practitioners, & professors.

From the Back Cover

Operations management is a subject whose content, boundaries and importance have changed considerably over the last few years. The development of new areas such as total quality management (TQM), just in time (JIT), benchmarking and manufacturing strategy has created a new approach and definition of the subject. Scholars, practitioners and those new to the field need to have a clear definition and understanding of the terms, topics and techniques it now embodies.

The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Operations Management provides clear, concise and informative definitions and explanations of the key concepts and issues. The dictionary includes entries which are carefully selected to:

• Treat all types of business whether they are service or manufacturing based.


• Represent the best in applied yet academically rigorous explanations of the ways in which the field contributes to the competitiveness of businesses.


• Include the latest research to represent current thought in the field.


• Take a conceptual approach to draw out the fundamental ideas that support the subject.

The contributions have been commissioned from an international team of authors, all of whom are authorities in their field.

Every entry in the dictionary is accessible without compromising scholarly accuracy. The Blackwell Encyclopedia Dictionary of Operations Management is destined to become the standard comprehensive reference work for teachers, practitioners, researchers and students in this field.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 1 edition (April 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557869057
• ISBN-13: 978-1557869050
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,636,375 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Concise and useful, September 15, 2000

By 

Tom D (Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Management and Encyclopedic Dictionaries, The Blackwell Encyclopedic Dictionary of Operations Management (Paperback)

This book was written in the UK but it stands the test of universal applicability. I'm impressed with the remarkable thoroughness for what is otherwise a modest sized book. The multiple authors know their stuff and have done a good job of distilling the key points. Also, I'm impressed with thier presentation of multiple viewpoints on term meanings, and every topic has a brief bibliography for more info.

Some readers may be disappointed that "hot" topics are missing, such as ERP and "Lean" but the underlying concepts, as they apply to operations, are covered nicely.

And, I'm a bit bemused by their windy and vague definition of "operations management" but on the other hand, I haven't seen or heard anything better anywhere else. Example: "operations management....is concerned with the task of managing the arrangement of resources in an organization which are devoted to the production of goods and services." OK, accurate but not very useful. But there's more, and this little excerpt is just an odd exception. Good reference. I'm happy with the purchase.