International in perspective, this volume provides insights into the important problem of how to transfer Japanese practice to Western countries. It also examines key aspects of Japanese multinationals and discusses how they are developing their global strategies and how they are managing their local workforces. Topics covered include relations with suppliers, governments and competitors, leadership patterns and business philosophy. The impact of Japanese multinationals on the local economies of host countries is a particular focus. The dynamics of strategic alliances, technology transfers and research and development centres are also discussed.

This volume charts the ways in which multinational corporations contributed to the restructuring of the world economy, paying particular attention to the spatial consequences of, and responses to, their operations at a number of scales. The book takes as its theme the differential spatial outcomes of the restructuring of different types of multinational corporation.

This volume assesses the situation for multinationals at the beginning of the 1990s, bringing together contributions from academics recognized as world leaders in the field and from practitioners with wide experience in international management. Drawing on perspectives from Europe, the USA and Japan, the contributors outline the shape of the global firm of the future. They focus squarely on the development of the corporation as a whole, rather than on the narrow management of individual foreign subsidiaries, and they also explore the specific implications for areas such as strategic planning systems, financial management, information systems and R & D management.

This book explores some aspects of the interface between technology, competitiveness and the role of multinational enterprises in the world economy. This group of essays stresses the role of asset creation and usage, rather than reliance on natural factor endowments as a basis for national competitiveness and examines the role of multinational enterprises as vehicles for technological transfer, and the efficient co-ordination of economic activity across national boundaries.

When it was originally published this book presented the first independent review of the critical role played by multinationals in Europe. Extending its focus beyond 1992, the book examines both the economic and business strategy frameworks the firms need to develop to maintain a competitive advantage. Using case-studies from specific industries, it looks not only at the activity of multinationals within the single market but explores the competitive strategies of non-European firms with special emphasis on Japanese companies which were poised to exploit 1992. The importance of interaction between multinationals and national government policies is also analysed taking into account the integration already achieved.

The focus of the book is understanding international influences that affect international business, and relevant aspects of the world environment. These aspects are economic, physical, sociocultural, political, legal and technological and include the cultures of foreign business organizations. Each chapter is written by an expert in the field who has been involved in international business in that area. The purpose of each chapter is to enable effective performance in the international business arena. An integrated system view of the country or region and how managers can obtain success in that area is provided. Global in its coverage this book provides information on global trends, different regions and their consumer cultures and business customs, as well as methods of entry and global strategies.

This book brings together the work of noted authorities in the field of multinational enterprises who explain and debate the merits of internalization theory as the new general theory of the multinational enterprise. Alternatives to internalization, such as licensing, joint ventures and other contractual arrangements are also evaluated. There are many applications to actual businesses, such as in the hotel, fish, food and banking industries. Also considered are regional office location and applications of the theory to Canada, Japan, the former Yugoslavia, the UK and USA.