We believe that we have to keep the customer in the centre of our business and that includes our authors with their need or desire to publish. It is a renewing challenge to make sure both facets of the centre are well served. The achievement of these qualitative objectives is not counter to the commercial character of our operation in fact it underpins the fiscal health of the company. There is no contradiction in this idea. Evolution, revolution, transition and transformation.
Electronic publishing has several aspects as a threat.
Its also a fast moving world where investments can be costly due to constant redundancy of equipment and software. In common with all other publishers, until quite recently, we have only faced technological developments that have enabled greater efficiency in our organisation or for manufacture. I am mostly thinking of print technology and communications technology. Each step made the processes more automated and quicker. From the postal system to the telex, to the fax and now email.