Blunderboss : how Britain's bosses are failing you

"British business - for all its pretensions to play on the world stage - seems content to bumble along.

The lack of urgency, the sloppiness about time-keeping and disregard for service in general pervade all sectors of British industry.

Retailers complain about sluggish sales but seem unconcerned about their inability to supply what people want; exporters claim that they have brilliant products but cannot attract buyers because the strong pound makes them unattractive; and manufacturers seem intent on making what they want rather than what the market demands.

It is not just this writer who is angry, frustrated and puzzled."