Abstract

Most publishers in the textbook publishing industry experience production delays. If the delays are serious it could result in a postponed publication date. The ramifications of a postponed publication date range from anxiety to the author and publisher to lost revenues. Most textbook publishers are required to have their new texts reviewed by adoption committies, therefore it is imperative that their books be ready by a certain date. There are many functions involved in the book making process. A delay in any one area may hold things up in other areas, thus compounding the situation. The purpose of this thesis is to identify where the greatest frequency of delays occur. The hypothesis assumes that suppliers are the main suspect for delays since here is where the publisher usually jobs out the work. It is therefore important for publishers to use suppliers who are reliable. Reliability is also considered in its deeper dimensions to consider its total role in the publisher/supplier relationship. The research was conducted in three parts. The first two parts consisted of survey questionnaires. The surveys were conducted at the Book Manufacturer's Institute Seminar for publishers at Rochester Institute of Technology and the Pubmart Convention in New York City. The third part consisted of several interviews with the production managers of text book houses in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. The two surveys tested the hypothesis objectively as well as providing pertinent background information on the problem. All three parts of the research indicated that most delays are not attributable to suppliers, but to other areas of the book making process - most notably the author. The hypothesis was discredited. The deeper dimension of reliability surfaced as the real problem; viz. integrity. This aspect proved to be the foundation of the publisher/supplier relationship.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Educational publishing; Publishers and publishing

Publication Date

8-1-1979

Document Type

Thesis

Department, Program, or Center

School of Media Sciences (CIAS)

Advisor

Gross, Carl

Advisor/Committee Member

Silver, Julius

Advisor/Committee Member

Guldin, Mark

Comments

Note: imported from RIT’s Digital Media Library running on DSpace to RIT Scholar Works in December 2013.

Physical copy available from RIT's Wallace Library at Z286.E3 B73

Campus

RIT – Main Campus

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