In this book, we argue that the strategies a company’s managers pursue have a major impact on its performance relative to rivals. A strategy is a set of actions that managers take to increase their company’s performance relative to rivals. If a company’s strategy does result in superior performance, it is said to have a competitive advantage. Much of this book is about identifying an…
eflecting their broad interest in the health of America’s research enterprise, the National Academies launched a study in early 2000 on the implications of information technology for the future of the nation’s research university—a social institution of great importance to our economic strength, national security, and quality of life. The premise of this study was a simple one. Although t…
In this short book, I try to outline the history of the European economy—which is somewhat different from an economic history of Eu- rope. By “European economy,” I mean a world economy in the sense of Fernand Braudel and Immanuel Wallerstein, one that is of course located in Europe and has some common aspects and some common institutions; one that is somewhat integrated, as its different …
Handheld computers or personal digital assistants (PDAs) were launched in the marketplace in 1996. Within 18 months, these handheld devices had swept through the business community and virtually trans- formed the way people took notes and kept professional and personal cal- endars. Today, PDAs can connect to the Internet and provide a variety of services, from scouting out restaurants in the vi…
More importantly, the committee has tried in this report to provide a way of thinking about workforce issues in IT/HT that is largely indepen- dent of specific legislation. It seems safe to predict that the debate over the IT/HT workforce and immigration will not be definitively resolved by any one piece of legislation—such is the nature of controversial issues engaged by the political proce…
Computing technology is widely touted as fast moving. Generations of products and their underlying electronics are introduced at intervals of 18 to 24 months, and the number and variety of computer- and communications-based goods and services are growing. Technology and industry experts believe that the double-digit rates of improvement experienced in the last couple of decades can be sustain…
With the current economic downturn, your customers are watching how they spend their dollars. And that means your company has to tighten its belt, too.
As we approach the start of a new century, it is apparent that science and technology (S&T) will continue to play a pivotal role in modern life. Skilled workers will be needed at all levels. Many of these workers will be drawn from the pool of students presently passing through school systems around the world; the remainder represent workers already employed who will need to maintain their tech…
Over half of the students who enrol on economics degree courses have not studied mathe- matics beyond GCSE or an equivalent level. These include many mature students whose last encounter with algebra, or any other mathematics beyond basic arithmetic, is now a dim and distant memory. It is mainly for these students that this book is intended. It aims to develop their mathematical ability up …
Electronic networks are a new communication medium that allows people to interact, coordinate action, and access and exchange information, all from their desktop computers. The networks have spawned a growing set of services that now include electronic mail, electronic publications and bulletin boards, conferencing, on-line information services and digital libraries, electronic transactions, an…