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Neural Networks (NN's), one of the latest developments in computer software artificial intelligence, are an innovative method of simulating and analysing complex and changing systems of relationships. Originally developed to mimic the neural architecture and functioning of the human brain, NN techniques have recently been applied successfully in a wide variety of complex business and financial applications (Trippi and Turban, 1994).

Reviews previous research on the links between business failures, macroeconomic conditions and insolvency law; and develops a mathematical, econometric model to investigate them further, using 1996‐1998 UK data. Presents and discusses the results, which suggest that the 1986 Insolvency Act did help to reduce the overall level of business failures and estimates that it saved 1100 companies from bankruptcy in the first three years after implementation. Finds that interest rates, price levels, levels of business formation, credit conditions and profit levels also affect business failure rates.

Using a random sample of 49 UK engineering companies, the influence of profit sharing, share‐option schemes and the perceived degree of employee participation in decision making on inter‐firm labour absenteeism rates are investigated. After controlling for a number of firm‐specific factors, suggested as theoretically appropriate in the extant literature, the key empirical results indicated that firms which had adopted sharing schemes appeared to experience significantly lower absenteeism rates than their non‐sharing counterparts.

Our future economic success will depend on developing and drawing effectively on the talents, experience and skills of older workers. The South East's groundbreaking 40‐70 Tomorrow's Workforce Programme has assisted 3,500 older workers and over 500 employers in the region and has influenced a Department for Work and Pensions decision to commission national good practice guidance for their service providers, including a section on ‘employer engagement’ based on the South East ‘business first’ model.

This paper reports on research into the employment of older workers, paid and unpaid, in the voluntary sector. It draws on six case studies which were the research focus. The research was designed to test the hypothesis that the voluntary sector has been in the forefront of utilising the knowledge, skills and talents of older workers and to draw out practical guidance for other organisations in this and other sectors.

The author consulted over 30 people with a known interest in older workforce issues and/or employment in the voluntary sector and, from these discussions, identified six organisations to be the subject of structured telephone interviews. The interviewees were all at chief executive or senior management level.

The research confirmed that older workers, whether they are paid employees or volunteers, are of great value to the voluntary sector. This is because of their life experience and skills and, particularly in the case of volunteers, their availability and flexibility. The six organisations on which the research focused provided excellent examples of good practice. However, this does not generally involve employment policies and practices with a specific focus on older workers but, rather, policies and practices which embrace older workers.

Earlier research has usually focused on the private and public sectors. South East England Forum on Ageing wanted this project to focus specifically on the voluntary sector and this decision was vindicated by the fact that, in searching the literature and discussions with authorities, the author did not identify previous research on older workers specifically focused on this sector.

The issue of the late payment of commercial debt has been cited as a major problem facing small business and has precipitated much political debate. In the UK this has led to establishing the Better Payment Practice Group, and legislation to enforce a statutory right to interest on late payments. A number of surveys have highlighted the extent of the late payment problem and suggested possible causes for it but there has been relatively little work, theoretical and/or empirical on understanding the payment behaviours of firms. This paper builds on previously reported survey results and econometric analysis, to develop 13 small firm case studies where the management and financing of trade credit is analysed in detail. The case studies draw on a combination of qualitative and quantitative data from interview transcripts, questionnaire responses and secondary data. Credit management is examined from the firm’s perspective as both a supplier and a customer. Valuable information is provided on the extent of late payment and small firms’ perception and management of the problem. The analysis revealed that while late payment concerned all the firms interviewed some of them managed it better than others. At the extremes there were two distinct types of firms. Those who found late payment to be the greatest problem were “juggling” various forms of short‐term finance to fund their working capital. Their credit management procedures were ad hoc and unsystematic but there was no evidence that they were at the mercy of dominant customers. Firms who managed late payment had systematic credit management procedures in place, a good knowledge of when to expect payment from each of their customers and appeared to be more in control of the process. Longer‐term sources of finance provided them with the stability to plan ahead and there was sufficient flexibility in their financial structure to cope with minor hiccups.

The purpose of this research paper is to consider the aesthetic and commercial success of the “early music” or “historically informed performance” (HIP) movement during the 1970s and 1980s in the UK. Particular attention is given to the relationship between HIP performers and “the authenticity business” (i.e. the market‐driven commercial exploitation of this form of musical performance).

Through applying the metaphor of the “false relation” (a musical compositional device characteristic of the renaissance period), the paper explores the contradictory relationship between HIP and the market. The research is based on a detailed literature review relating to the emergence of the early music labour market, and interviews with 40 experts in the field (including HIP music directors, performers, agents, broadcasters, record company directors and instrument makers in the UK).

Far from being a mere backdrop to the ideologically driven practice of HIP, the paper demonstrates the close connection between market‐led entrepreneurial activity of some performers, and the subsequent success of early music performance. Particular attention is brought to the mediating role of authenticity discourse in bridging the art‐commerce divide and marketing early music successfully.

The paper offers a novel perspective from which to understand the artistic and commercial development of this cultural movement. It is suggested that the emphasis on the mediating role of authenticity discourse; and the closeness of the relationship between performance ideology and market‐based practices warrants further research across artistic and cultural movements more broadly.

A conference on this theme was organised at the Cardiff Business School, 14–15th September, 1988 and a selection of abstracts of papers presented has been compiled.

The purpose of this paper is to reflect back over his career as a management and business historian so far as to consider opportunities for the future of management and business history as a disciplinary area.

The paper consists of two segments – the first half is an auto-ethnographic personal reflection looking at the author’s research journey and how the discipline as experienced by the author has evolved over that time. The second half is a prescriptive look forward to consider how we should leverage the strengths as historians to progress the discipline forward.

The paper demonstrates opportunities for management and business history to encompass new agendas including the expansion of the topic into teaching, the possibility for the advancement of empirical contributions and opportunities for findings in new research areas, including the global south and public and project management history.

The paper demonstrates that historians should be more confident in the disciplinary capabilities, particularly their understandings of historic context, continuity, change and chronologies when making empirical and theoretical contributions.