A critical management history of strategy and disease in the mining industry: a pilot survey of archives. (360G-Wellcome-106708_Z_14_Z)

This project will conduct a pilot survey of archives to establish the feasibility of conducting a critical management history of the effects of disease among miners in shaping corporate strategy in the mining industry. The literature on the social history of disease in the mining industry indicates that mining companies were aware of the significant medical problems among miners associated with mining (for example, by the diseases of silicosis and pneumoconiosis). However, the business and manag ement history of the mining industry (specifically that which deals with strategic management by senior executives) does not discuss the operational effects or the human costs of disease among miners. This project is aimed at beginning to address this gap in the historiography, to establish how strategy was made with reference to diseases associated with industrial working conditions in the mining industry. However, a possible barrier to this research is whether sufficient historical records are in existence to allow the project to be undertaken. This application for funding will facilitate a survey of archives to establish the extent and location of relevant archival materials on which further research could be based.