'...the work is really a stellar example of the extended ethnographic method ....the case studies do a very good job of giving greater nuance and complexity to the notion of "hybridity".'
American Journal of Sociology
'...the book is successful in illustrating the contested nature of policy implementation and the challenges that this poses for management.'
Historical Studies in Industrial Relations
'The sharp synthesis of the framework, and the ways in which Elger and Smith put it to use in interpreting and evaluating their data, will be of considerable value to researchers.'
Organization Studies
'Theoretically, it provides critical engagement with perspectives on the Japanese model and in particular, problems arising from the reification of this model in academic analysis...Empirically, the book provides a wealth of rich case study data governing the nature of the labour process and employment relations in each factory, the different experiences of Japanese managers, British managers, manual workers and non-manual workers, and the patterns of consent and conflict on the shop-floor...highly recommended.'
British Journal on Industrial Relations
Elger and Smith contribute to deepening our understanding of this issue through a close investigation of the ways and the dynamics in which Japanese companies construct their work organisation.
Business History
'Elgar and Smith contribute to deepening our understanding of this issue through a close investigation of the ways and the dynamics in which Japanese companies construct the work organization and employee relations on foreign soil'
Business History, Vol 48