bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contract Electronics Manufacture Moves Ahead as Growth in European Assembled Surface Area Declines
Authors: Hannon M.
Published: February 2008

This paper addresses the increasing market and technological changes coming to bear on West European electronics assembly. The twin pincer forces of increasing low‐cost base competition on the one hand and greatly increased interconnect densities on the other are causing opportunities or threats dependent on one's positioning. Increasing interconnect density will reduce growth in assembled PCB surface area, over the next trade cycle, to zero. As the continuing miniaturisation of electronics gathers pace, there is an increased need for fine pitch placement lines which only certain highly utilised assembly companies can afford. Simultaneously, there are moves to the one‐stop‐shop Contract Electronics Manufacture service where the contract electronics manufacturer will provide services from chip design to full build of the electronics assembly including casing. This integrated approach to subcontract electronics manufacture will be increasingly necessary. Viewing the major market drivers, it becomes evident that the recent market contraction in Western Europe is related just as much to the maturation of electronics production as it is to the more transitory effects of the trade cycle. The results of the long‐term slow‐down in West European electronics production value can be viewed by the number of OEMs reducing their involvement in electronics assembly. Here one sees many OEMs shedding plants or/and entering contract electronics manufacture. On the other hand, many contract electronics manufacturers are recognising opportunity in buying the previously captive OEM assembly plant. The paper goes on to say that the major focus for future rationalisation will be high‐cost Germany, under attack from South East Asia, Eastern Europe, Mexico and low‐cost parts of Western Europe. Within this context it is stated that West European electronics assembly sites should be careful to avoid high volume standard technology work more easily processed in the aforementioned lower cost bases. The reasons behind these changes are the increasing proportion of circuitry going on to silicon coupled with the increased number and strength of the newly industrialising economies.
Cirbo Ltd, Bodmin, Cornwall, England
Authors: Cullen Lorna
Published: February 2008

A 20‐minute drive inland from the immaculate little new airport above the resort of Newquay takes the visitor to the market town of Bodmin situated on the edge of Bodmin Moor and midway between north and south Cornish coasts. Flat moorland scenery is broken up by ‘artificial’ hills — conical waste dumps characterising china‐clay country. The moors are also home to Bronze Age stone circles, Iron Age hill forts and ruined engine houses, a relic of the 19th century tin‐mining industry. Bodmin itself, Cornwall's historic county town, boasts as its latest tourist attraction the former county prison — Bodmin Gaol — now open to the public. Dating back to 1776, the jail offered protection to the Crown Jewels and the Domesday Book during World War I, and prisoners were still being hanged there less than 80 years ago. Further points of interest are the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry Museum and a standard gauge steam railway. On a day when British Rail signal operators had almost paralysed the public rail service nation‐wide, the rhythmic puffing of ‘Swiftsure’, the Bodmin & Wenford Railway engine, as it climbed the gradient to Bodmin General Station, was a welcome, if unexpected, sound.
Report on EIPC Italian Seminar 1994
Authors: Galbraith T.
Published: February 2008

Stepping off the British Airways flight from Heathrow into the midday sun of Bologna, Italy, it is amazing the difference in temperature two short hours can make. A brief bus trip, train journey and taxi cab later and we arrive at the hotel housing the delegates for the two‐day meeting. The conference/exhibition centre is less than two kilometres away. A pleasant walk in dry weather, but the following two days preceded some of the wettest weather in Europe, with four inches of rainfall in one day. Our location is Modena in northern Italy, heartland of some of the richest cuisine in the country.
Half Way There
Authors: Tyler Roger
Published: February 2008

At the beginning of 1990 I was given the honour of writing the editorial for the January issue of Circuit World as we started the countdown on the final decade leading up to the year 2000. The article was heavily laced with poetic phrases about the significance of the figure 2 in our lives and then went on to look at the development of electronics and the growing acceleration of the silicon industry.
On Insulation Resistance
Authors: Ellis B.N.
Published: February 2008

Surface insulation, electrochemical migration and various other insulation resistances are terms which are often glibly used, sometimes even incorrectly. This paper categorises different types of insulation resistance and catalogues about twenty practical applications of insulation resistance measurement, each with its ideal general conditions of measurement (test voltage, bias voltage, bias polarity, test voltage period, test frequency, test duration, temperature, humidity, test pattern type, test pattern dimensions, voltage gradients, tolerances, etc.) This description is independent of any of the nearly forty known, often contradictory, standards, most of which no longer correspond to the practical printed circuit or assembly of today. Also discussed are the different technologies of insulation resistance measurement, starting with the original non‐electronic ‘Megger®’ types through to modern laboratory electrometers and, finally, instrumentation specific to the practical measurement of printed circuit insulation resistances, including static and dynamic types. The importance of automatic statistical analyses is emphasised, especially with production testing as well as qualification procedures. This paper is aimed not only at those wishing to learn what modern insulation resistance testing is all about, but also at experienced persons wanting to marshall their thoughts about the fundamental meanings of insulation testing for different applications and specifications.
A Reliability Study of Fuzz Button Interconnects
Authors: Harris D.B. , Pecht M.G.
Published: February 2008

This paper presents the methods and results of load, deflection and electrical contact resistance experiments for reliable electronic module design using fuzz button technology. Both beryllium copper (BeCu) and molybdenum (Mo) fuzz button contacts were examined, as a function of wire diameter, button diameter and button density.
Testing Controlled Impedance Boards
Authors: Burkhardt A.J.
Published: February 2008

This paper presents the results of research into the process of testing controlled impedance circuit boards. It aims to provide a general introduction to the subject of controlled impedance circuit board production for manufacturers wishing to make this type of board in the future and offers constructive suggestions for those who may want to improve on their current process. Consequently, in addition to describing test issues there are references to some of the other main subject areas that require attention when the production of high quality controlled impedance circuit boards is to be considered, namely design, materials and fabrication. The content of this paper is based on production trials that were conducted by MEPD Met‐Etch (Selkirk) Ltd at their manufacturing facilities in Scotland as part of a UK Ministry of Defence research contract. The results of this research were included in a report for the UK Defence Research Agency (Electronics Division) and subsequently were also detailed in an individual ‘Guidelines for Designers’ document. This document has since been separately submitted to ECL 19 with a view towards incorporation into the CECC 23000 Approval System. In order to verify the test results, separate comparison measurements were also conducted by other circuit board manufacturers using a range of suitable test instrumentation. There is a growing requirement in the printed circuit board industry for a simple means of testing controlled impedance boards. This paper promotes the use of computer‐controlled test instrumentation so that accurate and repeatable measurements can be made by production staff in a manufacturing environment. If this is achieved, it should be possible to close the quality loop on controlled impedance circuit board production using normal statistical process control techniques.
PCMCIA: Material Considerations
Authors: Bouska J.
Published: February 2008

The market for PCMCIA or PC cards is the fastest growing market in today's printed wiring board market. It represents a very important opportunity for the North American marketplace because the increased use of these materials denotes significant growth opportunities for an industry which has stagnated with the general economic downturn. This opportunity is not without significant challenges. The printed wiring boards required for these miniaturised circuits are 4,6 and 8 layers, but with overall finished board thicknesses of 15 to 24 mils. This means that individual layers within the multilayer construction will be in the 1.5 to 5 mil range, with significant demand for materials in the 2 mil range. Laminators will face the challenge of producing ultra‐thin materials economically with the appropriate performance characteristics. This paper focuses on the efforts required of laminators to meet this challenge, discussing capabilities to produce materials in large sheet formats necessary for the required economics. It addresses equipment, handling and overall processing issues from the laminator's point of view. Significant discussion focuses on the capability of laminate raw materials to supply acceptable laminates. In areas where these materials fall short, co‐operative development efforts are discussed for designing and evaluating materials specifically for this area of application.
The Concept and Success of No‐clean Technology
Authors: Rubin W.
Published: February 2008

No‐clean fluxes and solder pastes are rapidly finding an important position in soldering production technology. Their growth has been strongly influenced by the increasingly large usage of surface mount components, and accelerated by the need for an alternative to cleaning procedures which incorporate CFCs. The ‘no‐clean’ concept is not new, but the very low residue levels now attainable have added an important new dimension in formulation and inspection technologies.
Fluxless Wave Soldering
Authors: Tench D.M. , White J.T. , Hillman D. , Lucey G.K. , Gher T. , Piekarski B.
Published: February 2008

Fluxless wave soldering in a nitrogen atmosphere was investigated for epoxy‐fibreglass circuit board coupons having bare copper and solder‐coated through‐holes. The Reduced Oxide Soldering Activation (ROSA™) pretreatment was found to consistently provide good hole filling and through‐hole solder joints of excellent appearance. For preheated coupons, low levels of residual oxygen and short exposure to air after the ROSA treatment were found to have no effect
DOING BUSINESS IN CENTRAL EUROPE: STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE 1990s
Authors: Katsioloudes Marios I. , Balsmeier Phillip W.
Published: February 2008

The three Central European countries (CE‐3), Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Poland, are gradually opening for direct investment. The opportunities are there for the U.S. investors, who need to be well aware and informed about the economies of the CE‐3, the business characteristics, the mentality of the people, and the successful companies already established there.
STRATEGIC MARKET PLANNING IN A CHANGING GLOBAL MARKET—CHINESE ECONOMIC AREA AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN COUNTRIES
Authors: Lee Monle , Ruhe Jack
Published: February 2008

Today's marketplace can best be characterized as dramatic and uncertain. This situation dictates that multinational corporations (MNCs) design strategies and policies that enable them to reduce uncertainty while satisfying customer needs across borders. Traditionally, MNCs are motivated by the demand of an advanced industrial society but ignore the demand of customers in the semi‐industrial societies within developing nations. The purpose of this study is to suggest certain factors in a strategic market planning framework that will maximize the interaction between MNCs and societies in which they operate, especially in Asian countries.
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY: GOOD WORKS NOT GOOD WORDS
Authors: Roddick Anita
Published: February 2008

I have only a limited time to begin a process of glasnost—a process of free trade in ideas—so I will be blunt. There is growing global acceptance of one of the economic establishment's most sacred cows: the unshakable belief in the omnipotence of unfettered free trade. While many celebrate its spread, I wonder whether it is possible that I am the only one with deep reservations about the course of the trade debate?
BIG EMERGING MARKETS AND U.S. TRADE
Authors: Aguilar Linda M. , Singer Michael A.
Published: February 2008

United States history is steeped in trade and trade debate, from the pivotal role of the Boston Tea Party in shaping the United States as a nation to the recent debate over the merits of U.S. ratification of the present version of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) negotiations. It is no surprise, then, that the U.S. Department of Commerce is actively involved in promoting exports. In 1993, President Clinton announced a national export strategy for the United States, described as “a comprehensive plan [that] upgrades and coordinates the government's export promotion and export finance programs to help American firms compete in the global marketplace” (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1994). In particular, the strategy identifies past problems with U.S. trade promotion efforts and recommends improvements upon current ones. This includes enhancing existing trade finance programs such as the Exim Bank and the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, and creating the Tied Aid Fund to help U.S. firms compete on a level playing field. As an outcrop of this initiative, the Commerce Department identified 10 foreign nations as the big emerging markets (BEMs) of the upcoming century, markets where the potential for trade growth is the greatest.
REGIONAL INTEGRATION AGREEMENTS AND THE BORDERLESS MARKET: LESSONS FROM HISTORY
Authors: Winsor Robert D. , Sibeck Gary , Rody Raymond
Published: February 2008

This paper examines the phenomenon of market consolidation and integration, where competitors in localized, isolated markets are forced to compete with numerous new rivals in a unified market. In contemporary business experience, this deluge of new competitors and new competitive forms is the consequence of forces which have served to integrate formerly isolated national competitive arenas into a unified, interdependent whole, known as a globalized or regionalized market (Johnson, 1991). This evolution of global and regional markets is strategically significant to the extent that past market consolidations have typically resulted in devastating economic battles and competitive shakeouts. It is thus important to analyze the effects of national policy issues such as international trade agreements from the perspective of global or regional market consolidation.
GOVERNMENTS AND COMPETITIVENESS IN CENTRAL & EASTERN EUROPE
Authors: Glowacka Aleksandra E.
Published: February 2008

Newly emerging democracies in central and Eastern Europe face a painful task of making the transition from central planning to a market economy. They urgently need modern technology and the knowledge of Western business practices to accomplish their goals of stimulating economic development and joining the industrialized nations as equal partners in global trade. In the past, government control of the economy, subsidies for unprofitable state enterprises, lack of market competition, and guaranteed employment created an environment without incentives to modernize technology or improve productivity (Gomulka, 1994).
PRIVATIZATION IN EASTERN EUROPE: A FIELD REPORT
Authors: Hartley Douglas L. , Minor Michael S.
Published: February 2008

“Privatization” as a process is easily understood but the location of the privatization affects how complicated this process may be (see e.g. Hartley and Minor, 1995; Culpan & Kumar, 1995; Frydman & Rapaczynski, 1994; Jackson & Bilsen, 1994; Rondinelli, 1994; Welfens & Jasinski, 1994). For example, in the United States contracting with private firms to provide public services is already widespread. Many cities have recently transferred the collection and disposal of the waste generated by the businesses and people of the city to private firms. In most cases, public employees were competent, but savings were possible by having a private firm perform the work. Janitorial work in public schools is another area where private enterprises have been active. Considerable interest has also been shown in privatizing penal systems, and in privatizing Amtrak, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and the U.S. Postal Service, among others.
EXAMINING U. S. INVESTMENTS IN THE ASEAN REGION: IMPERATIVES FROM A NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS STANDPOINT
Authors: Fitzgerald Elizabeth M. , Veliyath Rajaram
Published: February 2008

External globalization drivers have been proposed to influence the degree of internationalization occurring in industries (Yip, 1989). Industry globalization drivers, when used in conjunction with firm‐specific global strategy levers (Bartlett & Ghoshal, 1995), provide the bases for obtaining competitive advantage. However, the relative importance of the various drivers of globalization varies across industries. Further, the presence of each driver in different countries may also vary. This paper proposes that the interplay of these two factors impacts the investment decisions occurring in different industry sectors across different countries. The case of investments of the U.S. automobile, computer, and petroleum refining industries in the ASEAN region is used to illustrate the argument. The main proposition in this paper is that U.S. firms need to undertake more investments in the ASEAN region from a global competitiveness standpoint independent of traditional market‐ or resource‐drivers.
ALCAVE COFFEE: AN INNOVATIVE WAY FOR A TRADITIONAL DRINK
Authors: Al‐Aali Abdulrahman
Published: February 2008

While at home one day, Mr. Mansour Al‐Zamil observed his wife preparing Arabian coffee for some of her guests. The Arabian coffee (in Arabic, “Gahwa”) is a symbol of the famous Arabian hospitality. In Saudi Arabia, as in most of the Arabian Peninsula, Gahwa is prepared in the centuries‐old, traditional way. It tastes bitter and is served without sugar, in a special, small cup.
LONG‐TERM CORPORATE MINORITY‐LEVEL EQUITY HOLDINGS: AN OPTION‐THEORETIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Bogert James D. , Rachakonda Shiva
Published: February 2008

The inverse relationship between means of long‐term economic performance measures of toehold targets and associated investing corporations suggests minority‐level equity holdings may often provide benefits that go beyond the total return provided by dividends and capital appreciation. Like security options, minority investments plausibly limit the downside risk associated with some corporate investment alternatives without limiting the upside potential that can be realized if the toehold target becomes very successful. Thus, a better corporate strategy may be to hold a portfolio of minority‐level equity investments than to hold an option on a mutual fund.
TOWARD THE UNDERSTANDING OF ADVERTISING APPEALS IN TAIWANESE MAGAZINE ADS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS
Authors: Wang Yun‐Ying , Jaw J.J. , Pinkleton Bruce E. , Morton Cathy
Published: February 2008

Because of Southeast Asia's strong economic performance in the past decade and great marketing potential, many Western marketers have increased their marketing activities in this area and hope for a lucrative future. Along with this strong marketing interest is a rapid increase in the number of Western advertising agencies and advertising expenditures in Southeast Asia. For example, six out of the top ten agencies in Taiwan are managed by, or work in cooperation with, American or Japanese agencies (Taipei Advertising Agency Association, 1992). According to Ogilvy & Mather, in 1985, advertising expenditures in Southeast Asia rose by almost 50 percent from 1980 to 1984. During this period, over one billion dollars were spent on mass media advertising in the region (Frith & Frith, 1990). And for the first time, U.S. agency billings from foreign sources surpassed domestic billings in 1988 (Frazer, 1990). International advertising has become a big business in Southeast Asia.
NAFTA: OPPORTUNITIES FOR U.S. COMPUTER INDUSTRY
Authors: Sadri McCampbell Atefeh
Published: February 2008

The North American Free Trade Agreements (NAFTA) purports to eliminate barriers to free trade among the North American nations of Canada, the United States and Mexico. The vehicles to this end are the phaseout of tariffs and accords concerning intellectual property rights, land transportation, and aspects of the environment. Full implementation is scheduled to take place by January 1, 1998 (Ernst and Young, 1991). One of NAFTA's prime advantages for the United States is the possibility of new business opportunities. Major questions arising from these advantages are: which country contains the better opportunity? Moreover, how is this determined? Based on collected data, certain environmental factors and subfactors were most important in assessing the business potential of each country. These factors, along with corresponding subfactors, are market potential (market size, competition); political; social (education, crime); cultural (language); and economic (exchange rate, transportation, labor, tariffs). A discussion of these factors on Mexico and Canada follows.
FIRM COMPETITIVENESS AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Authors: Becker Thomas , Miller Van , Crespy Charles
Published: February 2008

The widening rift at the macro level between the proponents of economic growth and those of environmental protection may have triggered forces acting in the opposite direction at the micro‐level where competitive performance is increasingly becoming a function of the ability of firms to respond to environmentally‐defined strategic advantages. We cite examples of current corporate behavior which suggest a stages model of responses to environmental threats and opportunities. The model portrays an evolutionary process in which competitiveness and environmental goals may converge to become complementary forces driving pro‐active firms toward a strategy of competitive environmentalism.
CULTURAL IMPLICATIONS OF ECONOMIC INTEGRATION: A CASE IN NAFTA
Authors: Bahaee Mahmood S. , Theeke Herman A.
Published: February 2008

This study investigates the perceptions of Mexican and U.S. managers regarding NAFTA's implications. The results show that both groups agree on many of the issues which had shaped the public debate on NAFTA in the U.S. In particular, that NAFTA would lead to a loss of jobs in the U.S., increase jobs in Mexico, foster political stability in Mexico, and that it would have an adverse impact on the environment. However, the result also revealed a concern, only on the part of Mexican managers, regarding NAFTA's influence on culture and national identity. Implication of the results for future research is discussed.
A SECTORAL ANALYSIS OF EUROPE'S INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS
Authors: Heidensohn Klaus , Hibbert Edgar P.
Published: February 2008

The aim of this paper is to throw some light on Europe's competitiveness in international trade. With the exception of Krugman, who has argued that ‘concerns about competitiveness are … almost completely unfounded’ and ‘that obsession with competitiveness is not only wrong but dangerous …’ (Krugman 1994: 30); most if not all commentators hold the view that an important economic problem facing countries is one of global competition, i.e., competing in world markets. In the words of President Clinton each nation is Nov. 12 Nov. 12 “like a big corporation competing in the global market place”(quoted in Krugman 1994: 29).
STRATEGIC PLANNING IN HEALTH CARE: MERGING TWO METHODOLOGIES
Authors: Hemmasi Masoud , Graf Lee A. , Williams Michael R.
Published: February 2008

With U.S. health care costs increasing at three times the rate of inflation and Americans spending 50 percent more on health care than any other nation, health care practitioners will most certainly continue to focus upon cost containment and budgets (Guthrie, 1991). However, as suggested by some experts (e.g. Lytle and Mokwa, 1992), managerial approaches preoccupied with containing costs and financial budgeting are no longer sufficient for success, or maybe even survival, in today's intensely competitive marketplace. The major transformations in structure that have taken place in the health care industry throughout the 1980s call for more proactive and strategic approaches to planning and managing if health care organizations are to be successful in today's highly competitive environment.
PRIVATISATION IN PORTUGAL: AN INSIGHT INTO THE EFFECTS OF A NEW POLITICAL STRATEGY
Authors: Nunes João , Montanheiro Luiz
Published: February 2008

In recent years, Portugal has followed the example of other Western countries, first by regulating access of private initiative into a variety of economic activities starting with banking in 1985 and lately, selling state‐owned companies in 1989. Privatization has been seen as a key issue in the former Portuguese Prime Minister Cavaco Silva's reforms to enable Portugal to achieve a better socio‐economic performance. These reforms started before 1986, the period of European Union membership, having as main goals: economic growth, modernization of economic units, and increase of competitiveness within the European context. Indeed, within many of the privatization objectives, it is partly recognized that privatization played an important role in the Portuguese government's strategy, which was complemented by price liberalization, taxation, and financial system reforms.
Microsoft and the Justice Department: Can We Trust Market Forces?
Authors: Ali Abbas J.
Published: February 2008

A recent uproar in the high tech industry, stemming from an allegation initially raised by Sun and Netscape, is that Microsoft is attempting to expand its market power by bundling its Internet Explorer Web browser with Windows. The allegation caused the Justice Department to introduce a lawsuit against Microsoft. The Justice Department along with Microsoft competitors claimed that Microsoft is trying to achieve a monopoly in the marketplace and will drive some of its traditional competitors out of business.
INTRODUCTION: by Robert Lawless
Authors: Lawless Robert
Published: February 2008

I don't know how much you know about Herb Kelleher. He's an extraordinary individual. He was a college athlete and scholar at Wesley, then he went to NYU School of Law. He then entered law practice and ultimately founded his own law firm in San Antonio. While doing so he had many clients of various inclinations and one client came to him one day and they sat consuming his daily fifth of Wild Turkey (that's not an exaggeration). He stays with the fives, I think he smokes five packs of cigarettes and a fifth of Wild Turkey everyday. It has embalmed him pretty good. He's in rather good shape for his age. But anyway, he went to this bar with Rolin King and Rolin talked to him about starting an airline and they actually drew out the triangle of Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio all on a cocktail napkin. Kelleher is always willing to do almost anything and he said, “sure let's do it.” Well, that was in 1967.
THE FUTURE COMPETITIVENESS OF AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN ENTERPRISES
Authors: Møller Ørstrøm
Published: February 2008

The nation states have dominated international political and economic architecture for the past 200 years. They led to national seclusion: National products, national markets, national culture.
FROM NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS TO BLOC AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS
Authors: Cho Dong‐Sung
Published: February 2008

This paper has two objectives. First, it attempts to prove that the level of competitiveness can be measured for any entities with different domains—product, firm, industry, nation, bloc, or the globe. It shows that sources of competitiveness are identical for all the entities. The distinguishing feature among these entities is the roles they play in determining the respective levels of competitiveness. Second, the paper suggests that the genuine purpose in our analysis of competitiveness should be to find ways to increase the level of global competitiveness. To identify sources of competitiveness, I propose the nine‐factor model, which encompasses both physical and human factors. These nine factors are classified into four categories —subject, environment, resources, and mechanism —by the roles they play to increase the level of competitiveness. The “integrated model of competitiveness” shows that different classifications of the nine factors take place for different entities. Specifically, as the domain of the entity increases, the scope of resources that subjects can utilize expands and the scope of the uncontrollable environment shrinks. Global competitiveness is not cross‐sectional in nature. I suggest ways to increase the future level of global competitiveness for the better welfare of all humankind.
THE SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY IN THE 21st CENTURY: A GLOBAL ANALYSIS USING MICHAEL PORTER'S INDUSTRY RELATED CLUSTERS
Authors: Bridwell Larry , Richard Marc
Published: February 2008

The semiconductor industry has attracted considerable attention during the last twenty years as a major high stakes business battlefield between American corporations and Japanese society. Recently, other Asian countries have made inroads into this industry. Consistent with Michael Porter's thesis on the importance of national industry related clusters (Porter, J 990), this paper predicts that between now and the year 2000, the entrepreneurial characteristics of American companies will lead them to significant market share increases and that Japanese businesses will lose market share to other Asian companies, particularly in South Korea. Beyond the year 2000, the industry may evolve to the point where geographic areas concentrate on specific dimensions of the industry with the United States strong in innovation and Asia emphasizing manufacturing efficiencies. It is also possible that later in the 21st century, continued economic growth in Asia could lead to Asian companies taking expanded leadership roles in the industry. This paper acknowledges the importance of government intervention both in the United States and Japan in the early stages of the industry, but argues that the evolving maturity of the semiconductor industry is reducing the need for government subsidies, even though trade issues, especially with China, continue to be important.
PRIVATE ROADS, COMPETITION, AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AND PRICE CONTROLS
Authors: Block Walter
Published: February 2008

In the view of most economists, highways and streets are “public goods,” not amenable to ordinary market competition. The present papers argues, to the contrary, that these thoroughfares are conducive to competitiveness, and then applies these insights to automobile insurance and price controls.
Competitiveness and Intellectual Property
Authors: Hayward Malcolm
Published: February 2008

“If I see further,” said Isaac Newton, “it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” Recent rulings on patent law and intellectual property rights have made it considerably harder to climb up on those shoulders—at least without paying for the privilege. Such rulings, which make it possible to patent not only software procedures but even mathematical formulas, deal a serious blow to the ability of the United States to compete in the global economy.
THE CASE FOR DIVERSITY IN GLOBAL BUSINESS, AND THE IMPACT OF DIVERSITY ON TEAM PERFORMANCE
Authors: Lattimer Robert L.
Published: February 2008

Those entrusted with leading corporations and organizations into the 215t century face profound changes. They must address severe competitive pressures, globalization of markets, and deregulation, as well as an increasingly sophisticated, diverse customer base. All this is taking place as the workforce is becoming more diverse and its values and expectations are changing in fundamental and challenging ways. As a result, it has become clear that leaders of organizations must quickly develop business strategies and manage performance in significantly more creative and flexible ways.
Kuwaiti Managers' Perceptions of the National Competitiveness of the U.S., Germany, and Japan
Authors: Ali Abbas J. , Aziz Taqi Abdel , Camp Robert C.
Published: February 2008

In international business, the customers' perception is vital for marketing and strategic planning. This study is designed to address the perceptions of managers in Kuwait of the national environments of Japan, Germany, and the U.S. and the prospect of global leadership for each nation. Sixty‐four major Kuwaiti firms participated. The results indicate that Japan is perceived to offer the most conducive business environment for effective global competition. In addition, participants believe that Japan will surpass the U.S. economically and technologically in the near future. Nevertheless, the results show that U.S. based firms are perceived to be more adaptable to changing world conditions and that they do a better job of attracting the best human resources than German or Japanese based firms.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) TOURIST INDUSTRY: MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING ISSUES AND COMPETITIVENESS
Authors: Sadi Muhammad A. , Bartels Frank L.
Published: February 2008

The tourist industry in the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region has grown at an unprecedented rate, keenly reflecting the rapid growth of the individual economies of the region. Associated training and manpower development efforts — keys to a position of competitiveness — however, have not kept pace with this growth. While various measures have been suggested to develop manpower capabilities in the tourism sector in this region, efforts to meet obligations are arguably insufficient. This paper traces recent developments in the tourist industry in ASEAN and its region and examines training and manpower development challenges that the region faces at present. This article also suggests ways to address those issues.
HUNGARY — AN INVESTMENT TARGET: IMPLICATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS
Authors: Chacko Jacob M.
Published: February 2008

It has been eight years since the Eastern European nations decided to move away from a command economy and adopt free market economic policies. The transformation process has not been without problems, however their efforts and successes in many areas are commendable. Among the Eastern European nations, Hungary has been by far the most successful in transforming its economy and currently first in line for membership into the European Union and the enlarged North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The study assesses the attractiveness of Hungary for foreign investors, by using the country risk assessment model developed by Haner and Ewing (1985). Based on the discussion, this paper proposes recommendations for prospective investors.
INDIA'S ECONOMIC REFORMS: INTERPRETING THE DYNAMICS OF CHANGE FROM A CONTEXTUAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Josiam Bharath M. , Zutshi Ravinder K. , Ahmed Zafar U.
Published: February 2008

If one traces the changes in India's economic policies over the last five decades, they bear the imprint of changing geopolitical dynamics. While India's policy makers often couch their agendas in ideological terms, in reality the economy has been steered by the ruling elite to their economic advantage. Therefore, liberalization and the permissible boundaries within which a reform process will operate can be best understood if contextually examined and interpreted. This paper attempts to explain the dynamics of the economic policy process and outlines the contours of India's liberalization program.
HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN CHINA: A SWOT ANALYSIS
Authors: Helms Marilyn M.
Published: February 2008

Developing new businesses and managing operations in China require an in‐depth knowledge of business practices and conditions. This article applies the popular strategic tool of SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to plant location decisions in mainland China. In this context, notably comprehensive factors and issues with important influence on plant location decisions are going to be examined. Since China's economic development has serious imbalances in its vast territory, the best sites for plant location will also be explored based more on regional infrastructure and local skill levels than on cost‐based factors alone. In addition to these explicit considerations of China's environment for investment, implicit concepts in Chinese society that have strong influence on the businesses' success are also discussed to further aid managers in decision making.
A SURVEY OF ETHICS AND CULTURAL DIMENSIONS OF MNCS
Authors: Barker Thomas S. , Cobb Steven L.
Published: February 2008

In an increasingly global business environment, the interaction of people with different cultural and ethical norms requires that multinational corporations consider these differences in addressing the concerns of stakeholders at home and abroad. This article examines the cultural and ethical issues facing MNCs in developing an international code of ethics and training expatriate managers.
ISSUES IN ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING AN ACADEMIC CENTER FOR QUALITY AND PRODUCTIVITY IN RUSSIA TODAY
Authors: Klaviter Keith E. , Prybutok Victor , White Richard E.
Published: February 2008

U.S. academic centers for quality and productivity provide many benefits for academic and business communities. The centers support the diffusion of new technologies and business practices that allow U.S. businesses to improve their competitiveness. These centers also provide opportunitiesto improve the education process through innovative research, leading edge course work, and student involvement and compensation. Although establishing and operating academic quality and productivity centers provides many challenges for involved faculty, the U.S. economy and culture typically embrace academic centers and associated activities. Now, changes in the Russian economy are paving the way for consideration of academic centers in Russia. Academic centers for quality and productivity can provide Russian businesses with assistance in their efforts to compete in the global economy. However, the Russian economy does not provide the same infrastructure and support for academic centers as the U.S. does, and the introduction of academic centers in Russia may be faced with impediments unfamiliar to their U.S. counterparts. A case involving the establishment of academic centers at a Russian university is discussed to provide insight into some of these issues.
FAMILY MATTERS
Authors: Hayward Malcolm
Published: February 2008

Recently some of the most significant work in competitiveness studies has investigated the human side of economics. Concepts such as trust, fairness, and justice have emerged as important components of the healthy functioning of businesses, for both national and multinational corporations (MNCs). In fact, it may well be the case that MNCs have taken the lead in this arena. Ethical and religious issues are most clearly highlighted when cultural differences come into play. A corporate monoculture does not need to examine closely the basic propositions, which all its members share—or are assumed to share. But when a corporation must take into consideration the differing needs and expectations of many of the members of its corporate family, it can, and in fact must, begin to reconsider some of the basic premises upon which that corporation was founded or has been operating. This is manifestly a healthy situation, not only for the new “family members” when, through growth, acquisition, or merger, a national corporation becomes multinational, but also for all members of the original business.
PRIVATIZATION, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND GLOBAL COMPETITIVENESS IN THE 21st CENTURY
Authors: Zahra Shaker A. , Dianne Hansen Carol
Published: February 2008

Privatization is a popular strategy for restructuring the national economies of advanced and advancing countries. This strategy centers on promoting the forces of the free market system by transforming state‐owned enterprises into private companies and changing their ownership and management systems. These changes can alter organizational cultures and promote risk‐taking, innovation and entrepreneurship. This article examines the contributions of privatization to entrepreneurship in new ventures and established companies, outlines factors that can limit entreprenurial gains from national privatization programs, and discusses the implications of entrepreneurial changes that occur following privatization for global competitiveness.
From Social Responsibility to Global Compact: Toward Inclusion Polices and Responsive Business Operations
Authors: Ali Abbas J.
Published: February 2008

Several years ago, we called scholars' attention to the need to look beyond the prevailing narrow concept of corporate social responsibility. The concept was a product of an era of domestic business growth, cold war rivalry, and limited appreciations for international involvement. Even after the rapid international trade growth that was experienced in the 1970s, scholars did not recognize that the concept and practice of corporate social responsibility should be revisited.
TIME‐BASED COMPETITIVENESS: A STRATEGIC PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Helms Marilyn M. , Ettkin Lawrence P.
Published: February 2008

Time is the top priority. We now live in real time. It's no longer life in the fast lane because every lane is fast. The computer has changed the way we view time. We expect everything to occur at Pentium speed! A time lag causes stress since it is viewed as an unnecessary waste. This is not a matter of immediate gratification; rather delays—such as standing in line—are viewed as something being wrong with the system, and the company that allows it to happen is perceived as not being up to speed! (Graham, 1996, p. 4).
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND FIRM PERFORMANCE
Authors: Ma Hao
Published: February 2008

Competitive advantage is perhaps the most widely used term in strategic management, yet it remains poorly defined and operationalized. This paper makes three observations regarding competitive advantage and conceptually explores the various patterns of relationship between competitive advantage and firm performance. First, competitive advantage does not equate to superior performance. Second, competitive advantage is a relational term. Third, it is context‐specific. This paper examines three patterns of relationship between competitive advantage and firm performance: 1) competitive advantage leading to superior performance; 2) competitive advantage without superior performance, and 3) superior performance without competitive advantage. The ultimate purpose of this article is to help generate a healthy debate among strategy scholars on the usefulness of the competitive advantage construct for our theory building and testing. This paper proposes that we re‐examine the notion of competitive advantage and formally assess its usefulness for theory building and testing in the field of Strategic Management. The notion of competitive advantage has been a cornerstone of our field. As such, research on competitive advantage occupies a central position in strategy literature (e.g., Porter, 1980, 1985; Rumelt, 1984, 1987; Barney, 1986, 1991; Ghemawat, 1986, 1991; Peteraf, 1993; Teece, Pisano, & Shuen, 1997). However, the notion of competitive advantage itself has rarely been systematically addressed and, to date, remains poorly defined and operationalized. Is competitive advantage what it takes to compete, a characterization observed during competition, or an outcome of competition? Is competitive advantage contingent on the competitive situation or is it a more general trait of the firm? Put differently, how is competitive advantage different from competence, strengths and, ultimately, performance? This article, addressing the above questions, makes three observations regarding competitive advantage. First, competitive advantage does not equate to (superior) performance. Second, competitive advantage is a relational construct. Third, competitive advantage is context‐specific. In presenting these three observations, this article proposes suggestions to refine and operationalize “competitive advantage.” It then conceptually explores the relationship between competitive advantage and performance, which is argued to be much more complex than it is currently being treated in the literature. Concluding remarks follow.
THE GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE FIRM: FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION, VALUE CHAIN LOGISTICS, GLOBAL MARKETING, AND BUSINESS COLLEGE STRATEGIC SUPPORT
Authors: Anderson Shirley C.
Published: February 2008

This paper examines four underlying trends in the changing business environment relating to information technology and geographic, functional and sectorial integration. It discusses three required changes in management focus needed to reach global profitability from product inception to promotion. The skills required for this change are listed by functional area, although the techniques are predominantly cross‐cultural. This paper explains the steps needed to move from a traditional firm to a globally competitive network and the cultural barriers to building consumer‐focused extended‐value chains. Finally it discusses ways in which business school education can promote strategic thinking about profitability and heighten awareness of the potential gains from cooperative inter‐firm partnerships.
GAINING A COMPETITIVE EDGE THROUGH AIRLINE ALLIANCES
Authors: Vander Kraats Stephan A.
Published: February 2008

Alliances and code sharing have become increasingly popular among airlines of all sizes as costs associated with expansion become impractical. To remain cost efficient and compete effectively in various markets, most airlines have formed alliances with other airlines to further strengthen their economic potential. Economic benefits of alliances and code sharing are examined. Either arrangement gives the airline a competitive advantage over those that do not enter into these agreements.
POST‐DOWNSCALING PRODUCTIVITY LOSSES: WHEN PROJECTED GAINS TURN TO UNEXPECTED LOSSES
Authors: Legatski Ted W. , Cresson John , Davey Anne
Published: February 2008

While profitability improved for a sample of 260 downscaling firms in 46 industries, productivity declined dramatically. We propose and critically examine five competing hypotheses to explain these findings: (1) learning curve effects associated with new technologies; (2) experience curve effects associated with the introduction of new products or entering new markets; (3) systemic problems within the firm; (4) unexpected loss of more productive employees, and (5) reduced commitment among remaining employees.
A TWO‐COUNTRY COMPARISON OF THE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN COMPETITIVE STRATEGY: SWEDEN AND THE UNITED STATES
Authors: Mattson Melvin R. , Beheshti Hooshang M. , Salehi‐Sangari Esmail
Published: February 2008

Many factors in today's competitive and global business environment contribute to an organization's financial success. A business enterprise's management must adopt a strategy that fully exploits information technology's power as a key element in order to optimize the organization's competitiveness. Recent spectacular technological advances and breakthroughs have made the effective use of modern information technology a critical, competitive business weapon.