Companies and nations have a vested interest in preventing patent infringement, copyright infringement, product counterfeiting, unauthorized trademark use, and similar offenses. The concept of patent protection dates from the fifthteenth century, but intellectual property laws have had a hard time keeping pace with technological change. Nevertheless, current efforts to protect intellectual property in global markets should be of paramount importance to many U.S. managers. As the global economy has transformed the human resource function from an industrial enterprise model to a knowledge-based enterprise model, graduate programs in the field have not always kept up. The structure of Japanese industry is very different from that of the U.S. Large groups of manufacturers and parts suppliers form vertical keiretsu, many of which belong to a horizontal keiretsu.
Some companies are independent.
This study reveals interesting similarities and differences among parents, subsidiaries, and independents regarding profitability, employee compensation patterns, productivity, production and marketing costs, and other areas. This role is mandated by rapid changes in today's business environment, which places a premium on workforce skills and suitability. HR professionals may play roles as advocates of the planning process, as stakeholders representing HR needs, and as facilitators of the process. Since the last two may conflict, choices must be made. An estimated four to ten million American adults have ADHD, and many of them may have difficulty holding a job or advancing in a company.