International Journal of Technology Management

Gold, Bela

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025501pmid: N/A

This paper reports the findings from twelve National Science Foundation–supported field studies of the significantly changing strategies and policies of Japanese manufacturing firms between successive stages of seeking to increase their competitiveness in various industries in the USA. The analysis covers changes over time, as well as differences among the participants, in ownership patterns, products and marketing, as well as adjustments over time in: production facilities; practices in developing American as compared with Japanese executives and engineers; policies concerning relationships between management and labour; and efforts to strengthen relationships with customers.

Nakamura, Yoshiaki ; Shibuya, Minoru

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025502pmid: N/A

This paper examines the successes and failures of the Fifth Generation Computer Project (FGCP), which was completed in March 1995, in order to discern lessons for future technology policy. While much criticism has been aimed at the FGCP for failing to produce commercial results, the enhancement of Japan's industrial competitiveness was never the goal of the project. Rather, the primary objective was to carry out basic research with government funding to benefit the international community. Here we attempt an evaluation of the FGCP's success with respect to this primary objective by considering three factors: 1. its impact on academic research 2. international spillovers created by the project 3. its ability to overcome externalities associated with research in high technology fields. We conclude that the FGCP fulfilled its primary objective. Finally we note that, unlike most government–funded projects, which tend to wither once funding is cut off, the FGCP has succeeded in weaning the research projects it spawned away from government funding.

Tsuda, K.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025503pmid: N/A

The Japanese steel industry has achieved a number of advances which centre around the expansion of facilities and significant innovations in operating technologies. However, these improvements have limitations in improving international competitiveness. In order for Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd. (SMI) to ensure such competitiveness, it recognizes the importance of also strengthening the contributions of its human resources. This paper discusses such efforts in two areas: (1) the historical development of SMI's education/training system for white and blue collar workers; and (2) the more recent educational and training system for blue collar workers offered in the Human Resources Development Centre which was established in August 1993.

Bowonder, B. ; Sarnot, S.L. ; Rao, M.S. ; Miyake, T.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025504pmid: N/A

Electronic information displays represent one of the strategic product industries which are likely to shape the information revolution. Currently, large Japanese firms dominate some segments of this market. The information and communications technology industry is one of the fastest growing segments of global industry. This paper analyzes the competitive trends in global information display industry. It is divided into three sections. First, an overview of the global display industry is presented. Then, initiatives in display technology used by the major Japanese, US, Taiwanese and South Korean firms are analyzed. Finally the future direction of display technology and strategies will be presented.

Mathe, Herve ; Dagi, Teo Forcht

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025532pmid: N/A

This paper summarizes the latest phase of an ongoing research programme regarding the strategic management of globalization in the service sector. In this phase, we have focused on the role of technology in international expansion in three industries which contain virtually the entire spectrum of possibilities from pure service to pure product–based firms. Yet this study demonstrates that their ability and success in incorporating technology has been remarkably similar. The availability of technological applications does not diminish the importance of developing and implementing a coherent overall business strategy. Globalization should not be driven purely by technological capabilities. If the front line operations of the firm are not compatible with expansion before the introduction of technology, they are unlikely to be so afterwards unless the technological innovation is specifically intended to address the limiting factor. Back office operations, on the other hand, may well profit from more generic technological innovations.

Ayres, Robert U.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025505pmid: N/A

Industrial ecosystems, designed "from scratch" to imitate nature by utilizing the waste products of each component company as raw materials – or "food" – are an attractive theoretical idea. As yet they are mostly at the proposal stage. It is important to stress that process changes to take advantage of "returns–to–closure" (of the materials cycle) &ndash are very definitely not another version of "end–of–pipe" treatment of wastes. Is this an idea whose time has come? This paper examines a number of such proposals and considers the prerequisites for success. It appears that there are several: first, a fairly large scale of operation is required. This means that at least one first tier 'exporter' must be present to achieve the necessary scale. Second, at least one other major firm (or industrial sector) must be present locally to utilize the major waste of the exporter, after conversion to a useful form. Third, one or more specialized "satellite" firms will be required to convert the wastes of the first tier 'exporter' into useful raw materials for the consumer, and to convert the latter's wastes into marketable commodities, secondary inputs to other local firms, or final wastes for disposal. A final condition, of great importance (and difficult to achieve in practice) is that a reliable mechanism be established to ensure close and long–term technical cooperation – i.e. information sharing – among the participating firms. The guarantor of this cooperation must be either the first tier 'exporter' itself, a major bank, a major marketing organization, or a public agency. The detailed mechanisms by which it can be achieved in practice remain to be worked out.

Balachandra, R.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025506pmid: N/A

International technology transfers are growing in recent years as trade barriers are lowered and repatriation of income laws are relaxed in many developing countries. Simultaneously, there have been great improvements in logistics and communications. These developments have transformed the conventional international technology transfer processes. This paper reviews the traditional processes of international technology transfer. The process is illustrated with two case studies, and their problems are briefly discussed. The paradigm of the process and its weaknesses in the present are discussed. With the help of a recent case study involving small businesses the paper presents a new paradigm for technology transfer. Some important features of this paradigm are – small firms can actively seek to sell their technology only, and the crucial role played by the international communication technology.

Boura, K. ; Cosmetatos, G.P.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025507pmid: N/A

This paper presents a methodology to decompose changes in foreign trade figures with a view to identifying and quantifying the effects of major contributing factors such as prices, physical quantity, quantity mix (structural change) and product quality. The methodology is applied to data on Greek exports and imports of manufactured food, beverage and tobacco products, 1980–1993. Issues of measurement and interpretation are discussed and conclusions drawn.

Zysman, J.

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025531pmid: N/A

Differences in national structures account for technological outcomes. Technology is a tool for comparativists to analyse the differences in national structures. Does technology drive society, and force an economy's institutions to adapt, or does the character of a society's community and institutional arrangements shape the character of technology? These are not necessarily competing hypotheses, but deeply intertwined stones that reflect the process by which technology recreates itself as it drives adaptations in the society at large. Embedding technological and economic development within institutions with historical roots in the nation improves upon the purely economical approach to explaining technological growth.

Geisler, Eliezer ; Drago, William

doi: 10.1504/IJTM.1996.025508pmid: N/A

This paper examines the literature on the effects of industry structure and technology strategy on the international competitiveness of American companies in the sector of information technology. Key propositions which are prevalent in the literature are described, and several case studies of successes and failures are highlighted. The paper also discusses the paucity of empirical studies in the area of technology and corporate policy, and provides some examples from the literature and from an exploratory field investigation of information technology companies. Finally, the paper proposes some possible scenarios for the future development of the US information technology industry as it matures and solidifies its international position.