Dutch Enterprise in the 20th Century:

This is the first book to summarize the twentieth century economic history of the Netherlands from a business history perspective. It has a broad historical coverage of Dutch business development including in particular the major multinationals such as Philips, Shell, and Unilever. Although focused on Dutch business it has a strong international flavor.

Keetie E. Sluyterman is Professor of Business History at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.

List of illustrations

xi

Acknowledgements

xii

Introduction

1

(17)

Business strategy

2

(2)

The Netherlands as a small country with an open economy

4

(4)

Debates in business history

8

(5)

National business systems

13

(2)

Long-term perspective

15

(3)

CHAPTER 1: FAMILY-BASED MANAGEMENT IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT, 1895-1914

18

(50)

Introduction

18

(5)

Interlude 1: The Philips family and the incandescent lamp

20

(3)

1.1 Small scale and family run

23

(16)

Cotton industry

26

(3)

Engineering and shipbuilding

29

(2)

Chemical industry

31

(3)

Food sector

34

(3)

Family management

37

(2)

1.2 The stimulating influence of the Dutch East Indies

39

(13)

A profusion of companies, many of them free-standing

40

(1)

The colonial network

41

(4)

Managing from a distance

45

(2)

The spectacular rise of the petroleum industry

47

(2)

Multinationals

49

(3)

1.3 Businessmen and the spirit of free enterprise

52

(15)

Trade, restrictive trade practices, trusts and cartels

52

(4)

Discussion on a national patent law

56

(4)

Labour relations

60

(7)

Conclusion

67

(1)

CHAPTER 2: A SMALL COUNTRY IN AN ERA OF WAR AND PROTECTIONISM, 1914-1945

68

(58)

Introduction

68

(7)

Interlude 2: The Philips family firm becomes a multinational company

72

(3)

2.1 The First World War and its aftermath

75

(16)

Close alliance between business and government

78

(3)

Vertical and horizontal integration

81

(3)

Collaboration between capital and labour

84

(4)

A short but fierce crisis

88

(3)

2.2 From roaring twenties to gloomy depression

91

(22)

Internationalisation of Dutch enterprise

92

(8)

Fluctuating business in the Dutch East Indies

100

(5)

Management, organisation and rationalisation

105

(6)

Huddling together during the depression

111

(2)

2.3 The Second World War

113

(11)

Adapting to new circumstances

114

(3)

A cog in the German war machine

117

(5)

Dutch business outside the Netherlands

122

(2)

Conclusion

124

(2)

CHAPTER 3: FOLLOWING THE AMERICAN LEAD, 1945-1975

126

(57)

Introduction

126

(7)

Interlude 3: Philips achieves rapid expansion in consumer mass markets

129

(4)

3.1 The managed economy: between socialism and capitalism

133

(15)

Industrial relations and the centrally directed wage policy

134

(4)

Government and the promotion of the manufacturing industry

138

(6)

To whom does the company owe its responsibility?

144

(2)

The welfare state and consumer capitalism

146

(2)

3.2 The spread of the managerial enterprise

148

(17)

The productivity drive

149

(3)

The family firm under pressure

152

(5)

Cartels, mergers and diversification

157

(8)

3.3 Internationalisation, losses and gains

165

(16)

Loss of the Dutch East Indies: political and economic decolonisation

167

(6)

Dutch multinational companies in fragmented markets

173

(6)

The Netherlands as host for multinational companies

179

(2)

Conclusion

181

(2)

CHAPTER 4: COMPETING IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, 1975-2000

183

(60)

Introduction

183

(8)

Interlude 4: Philips under pressure in global markets

188

(3)

4.1 The glide into economic recession

191

(10)

Downward spiral in an unfriendly business climate

192

(4)

Spectacular failures

196

(4)

A new appreciation of entrepreneurship and the small firm

200

(1)

4.2 flexibility in post-industrial society

201

(21)

Flexible organisation of the enterprise

202

(3)

Changing views on the best strategies

205

(2)

Mergers and acquisitions

207

(4)

Revolt of the capital market

211

(3)

Wage moderation and flexibility in labour relations

214

(5)

A more modest role for government

219

(3)

4.3 International business and national boundaries

222

(19)

Global strategies of manufacturing companies

226

(4)

The rise of the service multinationals

230

(5)

Foreign masters

235

(4)

Cross-border mergers and national cultures

239

(2)

Conclusion

241

(2)

Conclusion

243

(15)

Internal organisation of the firms

244

(2)

External organisation of firms

246

(2)

International orientation

248

(2)

Management and labour relations

250

(2)

Attitudes towards the state

252

(2)

Dutch business system

254

(4)

Notes

258

(33)

Bibliography

291

(21)

Index

312

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Dutch Enterprise in the 20th Century: Business Strategies in Small Open Country

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials