The number of industrial technology alliances in the U.S. has increased rapidly. Mergers and acquisitions are on the rise. The size and complexity of these acquisitions is growing and many mergers and acquisitions now cross national boundaries. The number and value of mergers and acquisitions has been increasing rapidly over the last 13 years. The number of mergers and acquisitions grew nearly 10 fold between 1985 and 1998.
Organized labor represents a small share of the workforce today.
In the private sector, the number of unionized workers is less than one in ten. High performance workplace practices are diffusing. In 1992, just under one in four establishments had adopted high performance workplace practices while by 1997 the share of establishments that had adopted high performance workplace practices rose to nearly two in five. New patterns of work are emerging. More persons are working at home or on flexible work schedules.