Industrial organisation, location and planning

Wood P. A. (1978) Industrial organisation, location and planning, Reg. Studies 12, 143–152. Discusses some of the issues that preoccupy industrial geographers at present, concentrating especially upon the spatial significance of modern industrial organisation. Progress in the subject is summarised into three principles, relating to the study of location change, industrial linkage patterns and the regional impact of manufacturing activity. In exploring some of the basic tenets of organisation theory, the main factors that influence the corporate role of individual industrial plants are examined. These are derived partly from their regional environment and partly from the type of firm to which they belong and the national and international environment within which it operates. Furture directions are suggested for planning orientated studies to provide more information about regional and corporate environmental influences on manufacturing at particular locations.