Technology and Transformation in the American Electric Utility Industry [Paperback]

This book examines management failures in America's electric utility industry in the 1960s and 1970s.This book focuses on the role of technological stagnation in the decline of the American electric utility industry in the late 1960s and 1970s. Professor Hirsh argues that a long and successful history of managing a conventional technology set the stage for the industry's deterioration.This book focuses on the role of technological stagnation in the decline of the American electric utility industry in the late 1960s and 1970s. Professor Hirsh argues that a long and successful history of managing a conventional technology set the stage for the industry's deterioration.After improving steadily for decades, the technology that brought unequalled productivity growth to the American electric utility industry appeared to stall in the late 1960s, making it impossible to mitigate the difficult economic and regulatory assaults of the 1970s. Unfortunately, most managers did not recognize the severity of the technological problems they faced and chose to focus instead on issues that appeared more manageable. Partly as a result of this lack of attention to technological issues, the industry found itself challenged by the prospects of deregulation and restructuring in the 1980s. This book focuses on the role of technological stagnation in the decline of the industry and argues that a long and successful history of managing a conventional technology set the stage for the industry's deterioration.Preface; Acknowledgment of financial support; Introduction; Part I. Progress and Culture: 1. Managerial and technological foundations; 2. Establishment of a management culture; 3. Manufacturers and technological progress before World War II; 4. Postwar strategies of utilities and manufacturers; 5. Utilities' role in technological progress; 6. The mid-1960s: at the pinnacle of success; Part II. Stasis: 7. Technical limits to progress in the 1960s and 1970s; 8. Design deficiencies and faulÓÆ