Topic: Problems of outsourcing: How should Nike react to bad publicity surrounding its labour practices?

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Critical Literature Review

Topic: Problems of outsourcing: How should Nike react to bad publicity surrounding its labour practices?

  1. Literature on the Theoretical Framework: Academic Books and Articles

The theories and concepts that will be used in this critical literature review are those concerning organisational outsourcing and the problems that are concerned. These areas are discussed in various academic texts, which can be located by means of electronic subject and title searches of library catalogues. From completing these searches the following academic books have been revealed.

A good reference source containing relevant information in this field is Rugman, chapter 3 (p.72) of:

Rugman, Alan M, Donald J Lecraw and Laurence D Booth (McGraw-Hill 1985) International Business

Other academic literature found through library catalogue searches relevant to the topic:

Katz, Donald R. (Holbrook, Adams Media, 1994) Just do it: the Nike spirit in the corporate world

Goldman, R and Papson (SAGE, 1998) Nike culture: the sign of the swoosh

Shaw, Randy (Berkeley, 1999) Reclaiming America: Nike, clean air, and the new national activism

Bonacich, (Edna Berkeley 2000). Behind the label : inequality in the Los Angeles apparel industry

Literature by other authors was found when running searches for organisational behaviour:

edited by Mike Smith Basingstoke : (Macmillan Education, 1991) Analysing organizational behaviour 

[edited by] Derek Adam-Smith and Alan Peacock. (Pitman, 1994)  Cases in organisational behaviour

From the lituratue found all of the information should be accurate and reliable as they are sources of reference and information and not fiction. All of the listings contain relevant information to give a wider understanding of the aspects involved within the topic.

  1. Company and Market Sector Information from Commotional Databases.

The most useful commercial database for locating relevant information was ABI/Inform-ProQuest, especially when using the search option. A Title search of “Nike & outsourcing” produced 45,410 citations, but a similar search of “outsourcing” found a more manageable total of 30 articles. Some of the more significant articles located by these searches of ABI/Inform-ProQuest are referenced below.

Hunt, Kevin D.; MAI 42/02, DAI-A 64/11, p. 4036, May 2004 Ethos, texts, and technology: Nike and its critics on the Web

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Williams, Heidi Michele; p. 486, Apr 2004 Smiling and lying: Corporate evasions of responsibility regarding global sweatshops

Aaron Bernstein. Business Week. New York: November 8, 1999. , Iss. 3654;  pg. 104

Cynthia Koury. Telegram & Gazette. Worcester, Mass.: Nov 18, 1999. pg. A.1

Kelley Holland,  Aaron Bernstein Business Week. (Industrial/technology edition). New York: May 25, 1998. , Iss. 3579;  pg. 46. After years of pressure to stop abusive practices in Nike's overseas plants, CEO Philip Knight has decided to revamp labour policies. He is also challenging other US companies to match his new standards. Business Week, a reliable well established source.

Andy Bernstein. Sporting Goods Business. San Francisco: Dec 15, 1997. Vol. 30, Iss. 18;  pg. 10, 1 pgs.

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