U.S. productivity continues to gain

Article Abstract:

US businesses had strong growth throughout 1995, with 2nd qtr 1995 productivity increases of 4.9%, marking the best increase in nine years. US 3rd qtr growth was strong at 6.9%, 2% more than the previous quarter and 3.4% more than 3rd qtr 1994. The increase in productivity is helping US enterprises improve profit performance, and increasing the US' lead over other industrialized nations. In a comparison performed by the McKinsey Global Institute using 1993 data, the country's productivity surpasses those of Germany, Japan and France. Japan's poor performance may be attributable to its dual economy, whereby only 30% of the country's economy is represented by manufacturing. However, Japan's computer industry has benefitted by the recently mandated government breakup of IBM Japan. Meanwhile, 60% of the European computer capacity has been put in place by US companies. High productivity in the US is the result of increased investments in automation and computers, reorganization of labor operations, built-in ease of manufacturability and reduction of middle management positions.

Economic aspects, Industrial productivity, Review of past year, Business conditions, Productivity

---

First to market and all alone

Article Abstract:

The urge to develop and quickly bring to market an innovative multimedia product leads some companies to ignore important market considerations, resulting in products that serve niche markets instead of mainstream applications. The extreme publicity surrounding the Internet has led some companies to develop costly Web-compatible TV monitors on the presumption that consumer demand would be stronger than it has. Analyst projections about the market penetration of TV Web browsers vary dramatically, an indication that acceptance of the technology is still in its formative stages. The unpredictability of consumer desires makes the introduction of products with convergent technologies a difficult proposition, and the rush to be first-to-market can often result in revenue losses for companies that are too aggressive.

Industry trend, Multimedia technology, Multimedia systems

---

Sharp maps a new route to multimedia

Article Abstract:

Sharp Corp is pursuing a multimedia strategy that is based on technology and driven by consumers demand. The pursuit of multimedia technology involves a different process than consumer electronics giants such as Sharp have used in the past. It involves the integration of communications and computer technologies. Sharp has established the Multimedia Development Center in Oct 1995 and has enabled its engineers to gain access to any technology Sharp has. Its charter is to lead product development in areas that Sharp has expertise and to determine how such products will be marketed. The Center is based in the US headquarters and its director, Philip Abram, reports to the president of the US subsidiary. Basing multimedia development in the US belies the fact that new technology always takes root in the US first.

Management, Company marketing practices, Sharp Corp. (Osaka, Japan)

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: New product reviews: digital consumer electronics. New product reviews. New Product reviews: digital consumer electronics
• Abstracts: Surviving the perfect storm. GARMIN maps a new direction. Money on the table: finer points and sticky wickets of vendor/dealer negotiation
• Abstracts: Surviving a downturn. Convergence is key at D & H
• Abstracts: Creating a new model. Taking it to the street. CompUSA's online success story
• Abstracts: Lasers take the guesswork out of sags, clearances. Survey vehicles carry GPS, lasers, video - the works. Tension monitoring: direct route to dynamic rating

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.