Corporate Strategy, Public Policy and New Technologies

Based on in-depth study of the electronics giant Philips, Corporate Strategy, PublicPolicy and New Technologies examines the key factors which have determined thesuccess or failure of new technologies and the global competitiveness of firms within a majorEuropean consumer industry. Drawing on the insights gained from intensive empiricalresearch into the company's growth, structure and competitive strategy, the book traces thereciprocal influences of Philips and of European Community policymaking on each other andon the development of the industry since the 1970s.The core of the book focuses ondetailed case studies of three major technological initiatives, and analyses the reasons fortheir success or failure: the European VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) industry and Philips'VCR 2000 format; Philips and the development of the European HDTV (High DefinitionTelevision) system; and Philips' CD-i (Compact Disc-interactive) project. All three studiesraise important issues of competition, collaboration, technology and the role of public policy, with a firm theoretical grounding in the most relevant and up-to-date academicresearch.In addition to providing an instructive analysis of the performance of an industryat the levels of the firm, the state and the European Community, the book emphasises that thestrategies and policies discussed were adopted largely in response to the global challengefrom the USA and, above all, Japan.