Sabine Urban

Europe in the Global Competition

The topic is today of but new. Visions which are “all-encompassing”, universal — of many ideologies, thoughts, or political ambitions — are centuries old because humanity has always balked at a sense of enclosure. However, today’s globalization is a new phenomenon in that it affects deeply practically all players and all countries, which have become very interdependent and also in as much as it affects all the flows: goods and services, intangible elements, transfer of people and of capital. Today’s globalization also inspires a certain degree of fear because it is spreading at a speed which is difficult to control, and it emphasizes the complex, unpredictable, chaotic nature of reality. The fabulous opportunities offered by this global environment are therefore tarnished by a concomitant accumulation of threats and risks. The regulatory and compliance institutions — regardless of their level within the government — have trouble maintaining their place and their role in a kind of jungle where almost everything seems allowed or possible (undue influence on leaders, unfair pressure on the decision makers or on the decision-making process, underground economy, tolerance of Mafia networks, cheating and all kinds of corruption).

Financial markets' expectations and human development

Purpose – It matters to be aware of the important direct or indirect role of the financial markets in the human development dynamics in a globalizing world. The purpose of this paper is to identify some main inter‐relations in the socio‐economic system. Deterministic technical factors are opposed to individual or political will. Invisible and visible hands of “players” are designing the future. Is fear justified?Design/methodology/approach – This paper uses a systemic approach to describe the impact of the regulation rules through market forces (here the financial markets). But, these forces are not just anonymous; behind hide shareholders, stakeholders, financial funds and institutions, corporate managers, consultants and analysts, employees, retired individuals, politicians, etc. The socio‐economic game is asymmetric and often conflicting.Findings – The paper tries to explain how the present winners of the game are powerful. The domination effect has its rationale. Applied skills and behaviour of the pl...

Building the future through real value creation and innovation: achieving competitiveness in a chaotic world

This paper aims at providing a perspective of innovation processes, long term and real value oriented, and at suggesting a normative model. This TPM model intends to present an appropriate methodological framework, based on systemic analysis, where the diverse functions of the different elements of the system, their interrelations and their interactions, in time, are coming out. Creative management has to integrate a large variety of knowledge and behaviour, as illustrated in the model.

„Alliance Capitalism“ in Irland

Laut John H. Dunning wurde der Begriff „Alliance Capitalism“ zuerst von Michael Gerlach (Gerlach 1992) benutzt, um die soziale Organisation der japanischen Wirtschaft zu erklaren. John H. Dunning, der den Begriff jungst konzeptionell gefestigt hat, gibt folgende Definition (1997,17): “Alliance Capitalism is a generic expression which epitomizes a deep structural interdependence between corporations, governments, workers, consumers, shareholders and, indeed, all stakeholders — in the wealth-creating activities of society. (...) It also has several spatial implications”.

Information and Management: A Radical Evolution

Since the earliest times, systems of information management are at the heart of organizations from whence they determine the nature of influence, power and efficiency. This observation is valid for political and religious institutions, military systems, and economic organizations. What is new today is the extraordinary intrusion of technology. Although we call this technology „new“, modern life has been transformed since the beginning of the century by „new“ information and communication technologies, powerfully shaped by the world wars.

West German firms and European industrial co-operation

The authors have conducted a major statistical study into the attitudes of West German executives towards the key issues of European industrial co-operation. They enquire into the areas in which cooperation might be possible, and uncover the conditions in which it happens. They express much reservation about the situations in which they find co-operation, and conclude by asking whether there is a stronger way forward.