Competitors in Alliance

By understanding the historical antecedents and current organization of industry associations business and government will better be able to help restructure them and thus assist American industry more effectively battle foreign competition. Procassini president of the Semiconductor Industry Association maintains that American associations can and should be reorganized by reviewing and comparing their origins and operations today to similar associations in America''s two major trade competitors Germany and Japan. Comprehensive thoroughly researched readable and anecdotal this book is the first to focus on the role of associations in the global marketplace. A provocative and useful analysis for businesspeople government officials and members of the academic community concerned with the structure and practice of international commerce.The author compares U.S. industry associations to those in Germany and Japan in two ways. First he looks at their past legacies and present mandates; then with special emphasis on America''s major high-tech industries he analyzes their organization and operation. After a general overview of the past present and foreseeable future of associations and a detailed study of those in the U.S. Germany and Japan he turns to specific industries aerospace biotechnology semiconductors and computer systems and their trade associations defining and comparing the characteristics of each. Part IV of the book digs into the ways in which associations fail as well as succeed in the mission demanded of them today. From this analysis and the author''s extensive experience as a corporation and association executive emerge a series of recommendations for redefining the associations'' mission in today''s global economy and a blueprint for achieving these goals.