Industry as a Player in the Political and Social Arena: Defining the Competitive Environment

(Hardback)

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Changing social values, scepticism of corporate behaviour and regulation are forcing firms to recognise the impact of these issues on potential success. Political and social action can impact dramatically on individual firms and industry-wide competitiveness by changing rules by which competition occurs. In addition, policies that restrict trade in the international arena, regulatory interventions that impose additional costs and public interest group activities that challenge the legitimacy of the firm and industry product and service offerings also alter the rules of competition. Firms and industries that learn to play by the new rules of engagement can significantly improve their competitive positioning within the economy.

Reviews

"Mahon and McGowan have made a significant contribution to both the general strategic management literature and our understanding of the role of political action as an important corporate strategic option."-Edwin M. Epstein Dean, School of Economics & Business Administration Saint Mary's College of California
"This is a book that should have been written years ago--and one that every CEO should read. It's a compelling rationale why companies have to devote more resources to monitoring and managing their socio-political environment. The authors show why "competitive advantage" (or disadvantage) can result as surely from management (or mismanagement) of social and political factors as from so-called business factors."-Raymond L. Hoewing President, Public Affairs Council
"Your book, Industry as a Player in the Political and Social Arena does an excellent job of depicting the benefits and liabilities attached to failing to take into account external political and social factors which have the potential of altering the way companies manufacture or market their products and services."-Gene Hill Regional Director, State Government Relations Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Industry as a player in the Political and Social Arena points to a gaping hole in scholarly work on corporate strategy. Strategy is often oriented to gaining political outcomes that advantage firms and industries, but this realm is almost entirely neglected by scholars. The book makes clear that corporate managers themselves understand how important it is to have public policies that will work to their advantage.-Administrative Science Quarterly
Industry as a Player in the Political and Social Arena points to a gaping hole in scholarly work on corporate strategy....The book makes clear that corporate managers themselves understand how important it is to have public policies that will work to their advantage. Mahon and McGowan's arguments are most compelling when they ...deal with the core policies that shape the market, such as antitrust. In such cases we see that corporate political action is the norm, not the exception.-Administative Science Quarterly
"Industry as a player in the Political and Social Arena points to a gaping hole in scholarly work on corporate strategy. Strategy is often oriented to gaining political outcomes that advantage firms and industries, but this realm is almost entirely neglected by scholars. The book makes clear that corporate managers themselves understand how important it is to have public policies that will work to their advantage."-Administrative Science Quarterly
"Industry as a Player in the Political and Social Arena points to a gaping hole in scholarly work on corporate strategy....The book makes clear that corporate managers themselves understand how important it is to have public policies that will work to their advantage. Mahon and McGowan's arguments are most compelling when they ...deal with the core policies that shape the market, such as antitrust. In such cases we see that corporate political action is the norm, not the exception."-Administative Science Quarterly

Author Bio

JOHN F. MAHON is Professor of Management Policy in the School of Management at Boston University. Dr. Mahon has written many articles and three books on related subjects. RICHARD A. McGOWAN is Visiting Professor of Economics at Boston College. Dr. McGowan is the author of two books, Business, Politics, and Cigarettes: Multiple Levels, Multiple Agendas (Quorum, 1995) and State Lotteries and Legalized Gambling: Painless Revenue or Painful Mirage (Quorum, 1994).