The Governance of Large Technical Systems: (Routledge Studies in Business Organizations and Networks)

This work examines the governance of large technical systems (LTS) at firm, imdustry and state levels and the interactions between the systems and society. In particular, international contributors explore the implications of major technological , economic and social changes during the last twenty years for traditional forms of LTS governance. Their research is centred around the following themes: * traditional forms of governance * new regulatory challenges * the governability of complex technologies * conceptual issues related to the governance of inter-organizational networks

Table of Contents:
Introductory Essay: The Evolving Forms of Governance of Large Technical Systems Olivier Coutard, Center National de la Recerche Scientifique, France Part 1. On Traditional Modes of Governance Transforming an energy system: The evolution of the manufactured gas industry and the transition of natural gas in the United States (1807-1954) Joel Tarr, Carnegie Mellon University USA Striking Bonanza. The establishment of a natural gas regime in the Netherlands Arne Kaijer, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden Technical systems and strategy: Intercontinental telecommunications in the first quarter of the twentieth century Pascal Griset, University of Bordeaux, France Designing and operating storm water drain systems: Empirical findings and conceptual developments Konstantinos Chatzis, Ecole nationale des Ponts et Chaussees, France Part 2. New Challenges Power plays: the politics of interlinking systems Jane Summerton, University of Linkoping, Sweden From control to coordination: new governance models for information networks and other large technical systems Janet Abbate, Rutgers University, USA The Internationalisation of large technical systems: Dynamics of change and challenges to regulation in electricity and telecommunications Francis McGowan, University of Suusex, UK Splintering networks: The social, spatial, and environmental implications of the privatisation and liberalisation of utilities in Britain Simon Guy, Stephen Graham and Simon Marvin, all at University of Newcastle, UK Part 3. On the Governability of Complex Technologies Theories of Technology and the abolition of nuclear weapons Donald MacKenzie, Edinburgh University, UK Some theoretical and critical remarks on the air transportation system and other large technical systems Alain Gras, Sorbonne University, France Part 4. Conceptualizing Governance for Inter-Organizational Networks Are there such things as small networks? Jean-marc Offner, LATTS, France On control and shifting boundaries. Modern society in the web of systems and networks Reiner Grundmann, Aston University, Birmingham High variability discourse in the history and sociology of large technical systems Bernward Joerges, Technische Universitat Berlin, Germany