Global Corporate Alliances and the Competitive Edge: Strategies and Tactics for Management

(Hardback)

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Martin Starr addresses two of the most important concerns in business today: the globalization of commerce and the problem that US. business is having competing with other companies. He approaches these problems from the standpoint of how American corporations can develop business alliances with corporations elsewhere, rather than competing with them, and how they can build on their own strengths by incorporating the strengths of others. He fully analyzes the massive changes that are creating a new global-based economy, and offers strategies and tactics that can help corporate America to improve its global standing. Following a brief introductory essay, the work is divided into four main sections. Part I looks at the causes of economic turmoil, focusing on the long-wave cycles of technological change that have placed the industrialized United States at a disadvantage. Part II examines the effects of technological change, in particular the increasing need for flexible manufacturing systems and new methods of management. The reorganization of established firms, and the use of global corporate alliances, is the focus of Part III, while Part IV explores timing, the new competitive variable of the 1990s, and the strategies of time-based management. Also included are two research reports that describe how Japanese firms employ alliances and how foreign firms view the effect of alliances.

Reviews

US firms in meeting the challenge of world-class competition. The author first identifies causes responsible for changes in the global contest, enabling him to identify the factors associated with the success of winning firms. From that base, he suggests approaches for emulating the winners by shedding past constraints and espousing management practices appropriate to the present scene. Among the practices suggested, the author stresses the prevalence of global corporate alliances--from which the book's title is derived. Rather than offering an all-encompassing recipe for success, Starr provides insights and thought-provoking ideas. The book should be read by all business managers or aspiring managers; although much of the material presented is not new, unique arrangement, forceful logic, and reference to long-term cycles result in fresh approaches to a few of the most troublesome problems of our time. Many books in this area have appeared in recent years. Some elaborate on topics discussed by Starr, who attempts a more comprehensive view (e.g., Robert S. Eckley. Global Competition in Capital Goods. 1991). Recommended for public and academic collections, community college through graduate.-Choice
Well-written and thoughtful. . . . The book presents a clearly written and well-organized summary of the field concerning the importance of technological change and its effect on firms' ability to compete over the past 10 years. The book provides an excellent introduction to the sources of change that have resulted in the current economic environment and the strategic and tactical responses to that environment. It would be appropriate as a supplemental text in an international business survey course and for managers interested in the development and possible reasons behind successful methods of competition among today's global firms.-The International Trade Journal
"Well-written and thoughtful. . . . The book presents a clearly written and well-organized summary of the field concerning the importance of technological change and its effect on firms' ability to compete over the past 10 years. The book provides an excellent introduction to the sources of change that have resulted in the current economic environment and the strategic and tactical responses to that environment. It would be appropriate as a supplemental text in an international business survey course and for managers interested in the development and possible reasons behind successful methods of competition among today's global firms."-The International Trade Journal
"US firms in meeting the challenge of world-class competition. The author first identifies causes responsible for changes in the global contest, enabling him to identify the factors associated with the success of winning firms. From that base, he suggests approaches for emulating the winners by shedding past constraints and espousing management practices appropriate to the present scene. Among the practices suggested, the author stresses the prevalence of global corporate alliances--from which the book's title is derived. Rather than offering an all-encompassing recipe for success, Starr provides insights and thought-provoking ideas. The book should be read by all business managers or aspiring managers; although much of the material presented is not new, unique arrangement, forceful logic, and reference to long-term cycles result in fresh approaches to a few of the most troublesome problems of our time. Many books in this area have appeared in recent years. Some elaborate on topics discussed by Starr, who attempts a more comprehensive view (e.g., Robert S. Eckley. Global Competition in Capital Goods. 1991). Recommended for public and academic collections, community college through graduate."-Choice

Author Bio

MARTIN K. STARR is a Professor at the Columbia Business School as well as Director of the Center for Operations based there. He has authored, co-authored, or edited nearly 100 books and articles on such topics as production systems, product design, and interactions between marketing and operations.