Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The computer industry, which includes the production of hardware, software and services, is one of the UK's most important 'high-technology' industries, employing 220,000 workers in 1995. Yet during the 1990s, UK computer firms have been facing intense competitive pressures and rapidly changing technology and market demand. Within this context, this project investigated the impact of changing technology, market demand and globalisation of production upon business organisation, performance and location in this important industry. The research covered both computer hardware manufacturing, which is dominated by foreign direct investment and large companies, and computer software and services, both of which have experienced a considerable growth of smaller indigenous UK companies.

Main Topics:

The dataset contains information regarding the firm's general characteristics; product range; firm's origins and entrepreneurship; subsidiaries; firm development and markets; competition and growth; inter-firm relations; technology and innovation; and investment and finance.

Random sample, stratified by computer sector activity and firm size characteristics in South East E

Face-to-face interview

Self-completion