Computers communicate globally via satellite or fiber optic links, wide area networks share resources thousands of miles away, and the average home can have the capacity of access information at the push of a button - the digital information age has arrived! Several technologies have made this computer age possible, helped it grow, and affected its dynamics over time. This book addresses the problem of formulating a model that interrelates the factors that drive the supply of these technologies over time to the attributes of the computers that are manufactured from them.

The Japanese government is becoming less involved in shaping industrial policy - but what does this imply for the openness of Japanese markets to foreign competition?;In an extensive study of "post-development" Japan, Ulrike Schaede argues that, contrary to what many have suggested, the reduced role of government regulation may not result in more open markets. Instead, as has happened throughout Japanese history, deregulation and the recession of the 1990s have once again led Japanese trade associations to assume important regulatory functions of their own. They do this through "self-regulation" - setting and enforcing the rules of trade for their industries, independent from the government. As a result, many Japanese markets are now effectively governed by incumbent firms, in particular in terms of structuring the distribution system. As the record of post-war antitrust enforcement reveals, Japan's antitrust system considers most activities of self-regulation, other than outright price-fixing, as legal.

This volume provides a comprehensive view of the interindustry structure of the large diversified enterprise. The study shows that companies have diversified mainly into industries experiencing rapid technological change.

The book develops the idea that a shift in the techno-economic paradigm creates opportunities for the rise of new firms, industries and countries to technological leadership, making the adoption of an adequate national system of innovation fundamental to success in such changes. This task is supported by a case study of how the Japanese System of Innovation has responded to the advanced materials revolution of the last two decades as well as diffusion of the information technology paradigm.

Miwa is one of the leading young Japanese scholars debunking the myths - all too common in the west but eagerly promoted in Japan also - about the distinctive Japanese way. He soberly examines the roles of government and banks, firms and networks, workers and managers. The result is a fine analysis of how where and why the Japanese economic system fundamentally resembles that in the west, with a clear explanation of the few areas where it significantly differs.' - Leslie Hannah, London School of Economics and Political Science; Professor Miwa has earned quite a name for himself in Japan for his brilliant but biting iconoclastic views. Now, Western readers will learn what the fuss has been about. Self-styled authorities on the Japanese economy will squirm, for Miwa takes no prisoners; his logic is relentless, merciless and - inevitably - right.' - J.Mark Ramseyer, the University of Chicago Law School; This is a monumental work, demystifying the Japanese economy and contesting the conventional view that Japan is different'. In doing so, Professor Miwa paves the way for a new era of comparative study.' - Kazuo Koike, Hosei University, Tokyo; Professor Miwa, no longer an enfant terri

Enhancing competitiveness poses a challenge to all countries. The analysis of different developing regions shows that the most dynamic countries are not those that bank solely on competition between isolated forms, unconditioned free trade and the state as an institution of regulation and supervision. Instead, the successful countries are those that actively shape locational and competitive advantages. The authors emphasize that an economy's competitiveness relies on purposive and intermeshed measures at four system levels (the meta-, macro-, meso-, and micro- levels) and a multidimensional guidance concept consisting of competition, dialogue and shared decision-making which integrates the key groups of actors.

The last two decades have seen a shift towards service-based value in a process referred to as servitization. Manufacturers have been challenged to create relevant knowledge and adapt to this change. This book has two key purposes. First of all, the authors examine the theoretical underpinnings of knowledge management and servitization, before proposing a conceptual model for knowledge co-creation and organizational knowledge management processes. Then, the model is tested through a series of case studies from Japan and Malaysia, providing insight into experiences of business transformation from produce-centric to service-centric in developed and developing Asian economies. This book will be of interest to academics, students and practitioners in servitization, knowledge creation and knowledge management, especially those interested in Asian economies.

It is common to assert that utility investors are compensated in the allowed rate of return for the risk of large disallowances, such as arise for investments found imprudent or not used and useful'. However, this book develops a new theory of asymmetric regulatory risk that shows that infallible estimates of the cost of capital are sure to provide downward-biased estimates of the necessary allowed rates of return in the presence of such regulatory risks. The book uses the new theory of regulatory risk to understand recent developments in the risk of natural gas pipelines and other regulated industries.

A perfectly poured history of the world's greatest beer.

"Joseph Conrad was wrong. The real journey into the Heart of Darkness is recounted within the pages of Bill Yenne's fine book. Guinness (the beer) is a touchstone for brewers and beer lovers the world over. Guinness (the book) gives beer enthusiasts all the information and education necessary to take beer culture out of the clutches of light lagers and back into the dark ages. Cheers!"
--Sam Calagione, owner, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery and author of Brewing Up a Business, Extreme Brewing, and Beer or Wine?

"Marvelous! As Bill Yenne embarks on his epic quest for the perfect pint, he takes us along on a magical tour into the depths of all things Guinness. Interweaving the tales of the world's greatest beer and the nation that spawned it, Yenne introduces us to a cast of characters worthy of a dozen novels, a brewery literally dripping with history, and--of course--the one-and-only way to properly pour a pint. You can taste the stout porter on every page."
--Dan Roam, author of The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

Location is an important factor in the efficiency and profitability of industrial activity. This work provides an introduction to and critical review of this field of growing academic and business interest. In business, the right choices have to be made to produce profit. Industrial location is a fixed investment, crucial to the strategy and capital investment of any organization. Location also impacts upon non-investors, directly affecting employment, the environment and economic activity in the locale. Focusing chiefly on the United States, but drawing on an international range of cases, the authors explain the economic, social and political forces which have shaped contemporary patterns of industrialization and examine the changing nature of production and systems.

Sustainable Industrialization in Africa explores the issues that confront development policy in the context of the MDGs and the post-2015 development agenda from an African perspective. The book argues that development is an ultimate outcome of sustainable, equitable industrialization, and that any development agenda for the future has to ensure that industrialization is fostered in a way that makes economies independent and responsive to the needs of all citizens. Future challenges for sustainable industrialization in Africa, based upon the differences in its current industrialization trajectories, are discussed to ensure that industrial growth results in positive economic and social outcomes in the context of the post-2015 development agenda.

A complete handbook on a critical issue for today’s business leaders–how to improve customer satisfaction, control costs, and maximize profits

Producing a product or service to heighten customer satisfaction–and doing so cost effectively–do not have to be mutually exclusive objectives. With Market Driven Enterprise, Amiya Chakravarty presents a state-of-the-art, clearly designed framework for responding to market forces while keeping total costs in check.

The book’s twelve chapters are divided into three sections: interfaces and decision-making in an enterprise, product design and time-to-market, and responsive supply chains and manufacturing. A generous supply of real-world examples and more than 200 illustrations enhance the book’s readability–as does its detailed table of contents breaking down each chapter into subsections for quick reference. Some of the book’s most valuable features include:

• An analysis of the entire product development and manufacturing processes in light of customer needs
• An innovative treatment of digitally connected supply networks and new business models
• A focus on the optimization of manufacturing and marketing processes for greater managerial insights leading to the highest potential profit
• Coverage of the most vital management techniques and philosophies–concurrent engineering and quality function deployment, manufacturing flexibility, information transparency, collaboration, and the virtual enterprise–and their relationship to the market-driven manufacturing process
• Mathematical models for product-platform, product launch, supply-chain coordination, and market-driven manufacturing

For students and professionals in business and engineering, production and operations management, marketing, or production and design engineering, Market Driven Enterprise is an essential handbook. Anyone whose business is striving to attain an optimal position in a demanding marketplace will find it an excellent place to start.

The recognised success of the post-war Japanese economy has rested on the qualities of its manufacturing industries. This book explores the origins, rationale, and consequences of this transformation. Using theoretical insights and detailed evidence, it reviews the rise of the Japanese economy and the nature, causes, and changing objectives of vertical and horizontal integration; ownership, control, financing and bank-industry relations; and the major operational functions of production, human resources, distribution and marketing.

As improving energy efficiency and increasing energy R&D investment may be the main means for China's industrial sector to achieve sustainable growth, this book attempts to unify energy use efficiency and energy R&D inputs into a standardized economic analysis framework. By distinguishing between energy R&D inputs and non-energy R&D inputs, this book draws on the research paradigm of neoclassical economics to clarify the basic concepts and endogenous mechanisms of energy-saving technological progress as a logical starting point. Under the framework of the existing endogenous growth theory analysis, the heterogeneous R&D inputs are divided into two different mechanisms that affect energy use efficiency, namely factor substitution effect and energy-efficient input increase effect, and a heterogeneous R&D input is constructed. This book constructed an analytical framework for endogenous energy-saving technological progress in the industrial sector based on heterogeneous R&D inputs; it established a mathematical model for the endogenous energy-saving technological advancement of the industrial sector based on heterogeneous R&D inputs; it estimated the energy-saving technological progress rate of 37 Chinese industrial sub-sectors from 1980 to 2010; fourth, it has empirically examined the relationship between the heterogeneous R&D investment in China's industrial sector and its energy-saving technological advancement rate.

What are the links among industrial structure, segmentation, the internal structure of firms, job characteristics, technology, productivity, labor markets, and product markets? The answers, posited by a distinguished group of sociologists and economists, have gained resonance as the field of economic sociology has grown. In this expanded edition, the editors and their economist colleague, Kevin Lang, explore the theoretical interstices and update the references.

Sociologists and economists have responded differently to work within the other discipline. For some sociologists, the typical economic assumption of basic actors engaged in rational action is both unrealistic and objectionable. Other sociologists have not always agreed with everything economists do, they have seen "rational choice" as a partially true description of human behavior and as a starting point for sociological theorizing. Among economists, the situation is quite different: most have maintained their basic rational choice model while pushing aggressively into substantive areas previously addressed only by sociologists and political scientists.

Industries, Firms, and Jobs is a welcome reassertion of an old tradition of interdisciplinary research. That tradition has recently weakened, largely because of an enormous expansion of the domain of neoclassical economics. The expansion has fed on two scientific developments: human capital theory and contract theory. This book is an invaluable resource for all economists, sociologists, labor specialists, and business professionals.

The idea for this book was formed during the early 1980s when the author was studying the impact of plant closings on displaced workers and communities. In one community, workers who were displaced by a plant closing expected to receive retraining funds through the Job Training and Partnership Act (JTPA), only to find that the state had committed all the JTPA funds to train new workers for a Japanese transplant. Soon it became apparent that deindustrialization, job loss, and economically depressed communities were linked with the escalating interstate competition to provide multi-million dollar incentive packages for businesses to settle in their state. When Japanese automobile companies considered coming to the United States, they fueled the interstate competition for these large projects, which promised thousands of jobs and economic growth.

Geographic information system (GIS) computer technology is revolutionizing the way we interact with information. Data, text, drawings, maps, and images contain information that can be accessed and used intuitively through drawings containing graphical representations of the facilities to which they apply, e.g., emission stacks, sampling locations, and sites, to name only a few examples.
Environmental GIS technology is being applied with increasing frequency to manage industrial facilities. Environmental GIS describes the application of this information technology. It addresses environmental, safety, and health (ES&H) information management in an integrated manner. The book focuses on dealing with information from an organizational or corporate standpoint, meaning that the needs are not specialized to the ES&H area, but are an inherent part of managing the organization. Environmental, safety, and health information management needs are examined in the context of the overall corporate information flow. This book addresses

The formal theory of bargaining originated with John Nash's work in the early 1950s. This book discusses two recent developments in this theory. The first uses the tool of extensive games to construct theories of bargaining in which time is modeled explicitly. The second applies the theory of bargaining to the study of decentralized markets. Rather than surveying the field, the authors present a select number of models, each of which illustrates a key point. In addition, they give detailed proofs throughout the book. It uses a small number of models, rather than a survey of the field, to illustrate key points, and includes detailed proofs given as explanations for the models. The text has been class-tested in a semester-long graduate course.

The world of business has always been considered quick and unforgiving, but it is certainly getting even quicker and less forgiving as we enter the new "millennium." New problems have given rise to new approaches while some, but not all, old problems yield new solutions. The theme of this volume "Strategies and organizations in Transition" reflects a world in which variety, change, and unique perspectives are interwoven into the fabric of 21st-century business. The volume articles presented here represent a combination of empirical business research and practical business insight covering a wide range of current and future business issues, with specific emphasis upon the changing dynamics. Articles of particular interest such as Neil Kay's examination of cooperative strategies from a transaction cost theoretical basis, Srinivasan and Brush's examination of modern vertical relationships, and Ryman and Fryxell's analysis of the impact of technology on the health care system are all likely to have implications well beyond the pages of this volume. Equally, "Strategies and Organizations in Transition" also contains Bennett and Stamper's groundbreaking exploration of the complex area of discretionary workplace behaviour and Curt Stiles' exploration of product diversity and specialization in industry. With a more academic focus, Dean and Bamford provide a conceptual examination and interpretation of various economic disequilibrium theories of classical economists as a foundation for extending entrepreneurial research, while Ling, Lubatkin and Schulze explore the relationship between altruism and the governance of family firms. The volume also attempts to further extend the realm of traditional business concerns by its inclusion of two papers that underscore how traditional business and Government constraints impact those wishing to engage in space related entrepreneurial activity.

Contents:
Aknowledgements List of Figures List of Photographs 1. Introduction 2. Biological Basis 3. Historical Development 4. Economic Charateristics 5. Spatial Organisation 6. Trends in Production in Oceans, Continents and Countries 7. Recreational Fishing 8. Fisheries Management 9. Aquaculture 10. Fish Landings, First Sales and Processing 11. Marketing and Consumption of Fish and Fish Commodities 12. Conclusion Bibliography

This is the fourth edition of Avrom Bendavid-Val's classic book that has become a standard for practitioners and students of public administration, urban and regional planning, and regional economics. Last revised in 1983, the work now provides a comprehensive practitioner-oriented study of the state of the art of regional and local economic development planning, with emphasis on specific project activity arrived at through an analysis of the regional economic context. The book is written in a straightforward style, free of technical terms and jargon, and is suitable for readers without an extensive background in economics, mathematics, or statistics. In addition, all analytical work is presented in a form that can be carried out without the use of vast databases or computers.

Bendavid-Val divides his work into five basic parts, each covering a different feature or method of analysis and planning. Part one introduces important aspects of the overall economic and development context within which the methods of regional analysis are used. Parts two, three, and four offer an introduction to common descriptive methods of analysis for use in regional planning, covering aggregate regional analysis, intraregional analysis, and project identification and evaluation. Finally, part five deals with approaches to regional development planning, providing help in selecting the methods that will be most useful in a given situation. A selected bibliography concludes the book. This work contains everything the practitioner or student needs in order to understand what regional and local economic development is all about, as well as to acquire the basic analytical skills for regional development planning, and to design and carry out a regional development planning process. Public and academic libraries will find this updated and expanded edition to be a significant addition to their collections, and for students and practitioners in regional planning and development, it will be an essential reference source.

First Published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an Informa company.

The West has long been ignorant of cultural and political processes in China. Today, a growing number of Westerners are becoming aware of China's real and giant potential as a player in the international business arena. As business becomes increasingly international, it is vital to understand the concrete nature of business and underlying attitudes in the world's most populated country.
This volume presents a unique view of the major facets of international business in China. It examines the workings of finance and accounting, law, management, and marketing as well as trade, foreign direct investment, and the management of foreign subsidiaries. Discussion of such functional areas is placed firmly in the context of developments in China in recent years, with special emphasis placed on implications for firms doing business in or with China. Succinct, up-to-date analysis is combined with practical guidelines and recommendations for the business person.
This highly international bookis an important step towards demystification of the workings of international business. The material presented is from leading experts in business from around the world who write from direct experience of business in China.

Small Sub Saharan African countries are facing difficult times trying to accelerate their economic growth while at the same time attempting to liberalize their economies. For many, independence has brought political freedom without concomitant economic and social improvement for their indigenous populations. Zimbabwe fits this description and while it has made significant strides in educating its populations and distributing some agricultural land, it still lags in modernizing its manufacturing industries which survived for many years with little or no capital investment and restricted access to imports. This study, based on a detailed analysis of the results of a survey of manufacturing firms in selected industries, shows the origin of the technologies they have mastered, the use made of external and domestic sources of technology, the skills being applied, their training and other needs, as well as the policies that could favourably affect future industrial development in Zimbabwe.