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Retrospect: Citrine, Self and the Management of Change

In: Engineers, Managers and Politicians

Author

Listed:
  • Leslie Hannah

    (London School of Economics)

Abstract

Lord Citrine, as chairman of the British Electricity Authority for more than ten years, was, quite simply, the biggest British businessman. No other industrialist at any time in history has had control of so large a share of national investment for so long a period. The organisation which he headed was massive by any standards, and his dream of losing authority within it (see quotation above) was not unique to him. None of his successors have been able to ignore the enormity of the challenge that faces them, nor failed to experience doubts about their capacity to monitor and direct such a large organisation. The burden on Citrine was, moreover, immeasurably greater since he lacked experience as a businessman or engineer and was faced with the more difficult initial task of welding together many disparate pieces into one national organisation. Any achievements and failures of the first ten years of nationalisation must, then, be seen in the context of the almost superhuman task which its organisers faced.

Suggested Citation

  • Leslie Hannah, 1982. "Retrospect: Citrine, Self and the Management of Change," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Engineers, Managers and Politicians, chapter 11, pages 139-148, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-03446-8_11
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-03446-8_11
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