Scale in Production Systems; Based on an IIASA Workshop, June 26-29, 1979

Buzacott, J.A., Cantley, M.F., Glagolev, V.N., & Tomlinson, R. (1982). Scale in Production Systems; Based on an IIASA Workshop, June 26-29, 1979. Oxford: Pergamon Press. ISBN 9780080287256

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Abstract

When a new enterprise is planned or the scope of an organization is changed, a decision on scale has to be made. At a certain stage in the development of a technology, the economies of scale that have been established are overtaken by factors that had hitherto been considered secondary. Mistakes of scale have been made, from hospitals to electricity-generating boards. The mistakes of being too large are the most eye-catching, but the mistakes of being too small are probably just as frequent, and just as important.

Twelve chapters of this book are based on reports of a workshop on scale and productive efficiency held at IIASA. The other eight chapters describe work done at the Institute; they also include discussion of the key issues relevant to scale that arose at the workshop, thus broadening the survey of this topic.

This book treats problems of scale at various levels: at the unit (the equipment) and plant levels; and at industrial and national levels, and includes practical case descriptions that will be of value to managers and decision makers, as well as material of value to research workers.

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