Helping management make those decisions is what Semiconductor Magazine is all about. As this magazine closes the first issue of its second year of publication, there doesn't seem to be much of a doubt about the need for a new business magazine to cover management topics directly related to the semiconductor industry. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, and we expect it to get better. As we look forward to reading the industry pulse at SEMI's annual ISS U.S. business conference in Monterey, it's clear that business information remains a critical need for industry executives trying to make decisions during periods of uncertainty. In fact, the launch of the magazine at last year's ISS Monterey amid speculation about the state of the industry set the stage for the success the magazine enjoyed all year long.
Timing is everything.
With all the forces of supply and demand in flux, trying to make decisions about new capacity investments is more like untying the Gordian Knot. The mythical knot was thought to be so difficult to untie that the person who could untie it would become ruler of the known world. In the end, Alexander the Great is said to have solved the riddle of the Gordian knot with a single slice of his sword. Some of our readers might jump at the chance to rule the known world, but most would probably just settle for a few straight answers to a few difficult questions. We will be trying to provide those answers in the coming year, and hopefully those that follow, with new features such as next month's look at how the responsibility of the board of directors is changing and new sections that look at such important topics as regional development and government policies affecting investment in capital equipment.