National Cultures and International Competition
The Experience of Schering AG, 1851–1950

This book is first and foremost a history of Schering AG.

Christopher Kobrak (Author)

9780521814812, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 7 October 2002

432 pages, 16 b/w illus. 1 map
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.9 cm, 0.8 kg

"...explains many interesting aspects of the first one hundred years of Schering's history, especially its organization, and the actions of its managers. The International History Review

This book is first and foremost a history of Schering AG, one of Germany's best known pharmaceutical companies, from its birth as a pharmacy in the middle of the nineteenth century to the first steps of its rebirth as a multinational in 1950. The book traces the various stages of Schering's development, its relationships to other chemical companies, its government, its bankers and other shareholders. As the title implies, the book also tries to put this history in the context of Schering's changing - and for the most part increasingly hostile - political, social and economic environment, which formed the context for the company's efforts to organise its personnel, develop its research and production capacity and to internationalise its business. The author argues that the evolution of Germany's system of corporate governance did not keep up with that country's ability to make technical innovations and actually hindered Germany's ability to respond to the business challenges following World War I.

Preface
1. Opportunities and obstacles: Schering AG as historical subject
2. Triumph and tragedy: Schering and the 'great illusion' 1851–1913
3. Schering and the 'organised insanity'
4. Beer, banks and coal: Schering is 'rationalised' 1922–3
5. Babylon on the spree: stabilisation and reorganisation
6. The reestablishment of Schering's international businesses
7. Missed opportunities: Schering and the depressions
8. 'Leap into the unknown': Schering 1933–6
9. The crest of the wave: 1937–9
10. World War II and Schering 1940–5
11. Epilogue: Schering's second ascent from the ashes
Appendix
Index.

Subject Areas: Business & management [KJ], Economic history [KCZ]