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Briefly reviews previous literature by the author before presenting an original 12 step system integration protocol designed to ensure the success of companies or countries in their efforts to develop and market new products. Looks at the issues from different strategic levels such as corporate, international, military and economic. Presents 31 case studies, including the success of Japan in microchips to the failure of Xerox to sell its invention of the Alto personal computer 3 years before Apple: from the success in DNA and Superconductor research to the success of Sunbeam in inventing and marketing food processors: and from the daring invention and production of atomic energy for survival to the successes of sewing machine inventor Howe in co‐operating on patents to compete in markets. Includes 306 questions and answers in order to qualify concepts introduced.

This paper examines whether or not the close relationship between buyers and suppliers in the Japanese automotive industry was also the norm in the electronic equipment and office machine industries. The results indicate that it was not. In fact, the level of integration between buyers and suppliers in Japan was even lower than in the U.S. American buyers were more likely than their Japanese counterparts to provide technical, financial, and managerial assistance. American buyers and suppliers were also more likely to participate in joint R&D projects. However, Japanese buyers placed greater emphasis upon trust‐building activities such as developing long‐term relationships, dedicating funds to customized investments, and making frequent face‐to‐face contact. The research findings point to the danger in generalizing about the entire Japanese economy based upon the record of the Japanese automotive keiretsu. At the very least, the Japanese electronic industry does appear to be open to outside suppliers.

While there are similarities in the patterns of expansion between the television, semiconductor and computer industries, there are likely to be important differences. These will derive from the fact that ten years' experience of overseas marketing and manufacture of the former two industries can now be put to good use in the strategy for international expansion of computers.

This paper discusses the future trends of electronic interconnections to produce electronic equipment being manufactured in the Far East. Reviewed are details of simplistic circuits, as well as relatively complex multilayer boards used in new computer technology. The size of the market, techniques for component assembly, and various other aspects of the approach to electronic packaging are discussed.

The purpose of this study is to explore whether a connection exists between business operational efficiency and environmental responsibility.

This research adopts the DEA method through a four‐step analysis to examine inter‐industry differences in terms of operational efficiency with environmental consideration. The sample comprises 32 Japanese firms from three different industries listed in the Tokyo Stock Exchange between 2001 and 2006.

The results indicate a positive correlation with statistical significance in terms of a firm's environmental conservation cost, net income and economic benefit of environmental conservation for the three Japanese industries. In addition, the relationship among a firm's environmental conservation cost, CO₂ emission reduction and total CO₂ emission are positively correlated but without significance. In particular, business operational efficiency integrating social responsibility for anti‐global warming initiatives ( = total CO₂ emission level) could be applied to distinguish differences in terms of operational efficiency among industries.

Japanese firms adopt a voluntary environmental disclosure; therefore this study is constrained by the availability of long‐term data.

This study enables environmentally conscious investors and fund managers to distinguish the operationally efficient industries when taking environmental performance into account.

The study is a novel attempt to analyze inter‐industry differences in terms of operational efficiency when considering environmental conservation through the DEA method using a four‐step analysis.

Producers of scientific and technical databases received a survey questionnaire early in March 1990. The packet contained a cover letter, an envelope with postage stamps affixed, and a nine‐page survey instrument. What made this survey interesting was the penetrating, almost blunt nature of the questions. Database surveys usually toss powder puffs at the respondent. This survey fires fastballs. An organization answering the ten questions gives the analyst a glimpse of the family jewels and the dirty laundry. One other point: the survey's sponsor was the Japanese government.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of exchange rate and global industry shocks on the relative performance of global industries.

In addition to SUR approach, we also use GARCH approach to control for heteroskedasticity.

Using industry data from Japan and the USA, the authors find that although both exchange rate and global industry shocks are statistically significant in explaining the performance of these industries relative to their domestic markets, economically the global industry shock plays the major role in determining this performance.

The authors' findings are only based on two countries, the USA and Japan, so future researchers can use the authors' empirical models to test if their results hold using data from other countries.

Investors should focus more on the performance of global industries instead of exchange rate changes when creating their portfolios.

Our empirical results may explain the poor performance of the regression models in Griffin and Stulz ten years ago where they fail to control for the global industry shock.

The analysis of manufacturer-supplier relationships in Japan has contributed significantly to the advancement of interorganizational theory. It has yielded broad evidence that long-term collaborative partnerships enable firms to exploit the incentive benefits of market-based exchange while reaping the learning and coordination benefits of internalization within a corporate hierarchy. In this paper, we go beyond the issues of trust and cooperation that have occupied much prior theory and research on supplier relations in considering another dimension along which collaborative agreements may be arrayed. We build on transaction and network theories, respectively, to propose two types of long-term collaborative ties: dyadic or bilateral governance and network embeddedness. A comparative analysis of collaborative relationships in product and process development between two Japanese TV manufacturing companies and their suppliers provides empirical evidence for the distinctive effect of network ties over dyadic relationships for collaborative knowledge-sharing.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the electronic industry's reaction to environmental regulations specifically in terms of lead‐free solders and halogen‐free flame‐retardants (FRs).

This work achieves its objective by discussing the various international regulations pertaining to electronics manufacturing and relating the industry reactions to those regulations. The electronics industry is pursuing lead‐free solders and halogen‐free FRs, in part due to regulations. However, the paper includes examples of how the industry is successful in implementing environmentally friendly changes.

The authors compared regulations from Japan, the European Union, and the US. While the regulations themselves vary in scope, industry actions to find alternatives do have common purposes. Electronics manufacturers recognize that environmentally motivated changes are beneficial in terms of waste minimization. Regardless of the regulatory motivation, minimization does lead to energy and economic efficiency.

Electronics manufacturers that are interested in green design will benefit from understanding present regulations. They will also benefit from the included examples of product and process improvement for the purpose of environmental compatibility. The paper includes specific examples of material alternatives to banned substances.

This paper derives its perspective from a similar review of literature and company findings that the authors completed in 2001. As refinement of the regulations has continued, the electronics industry has developed improvements in basic materials and processes.

The purpose of this study is to provide a rigorous and holistic analysis of the main features of the Japanese accounting environment. It also raises issues related to the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) in Japan.

For the purpose of investigating the Japanese accounting system, this study applies the accounting ecology framework developed by Gernon and Wallace (1995) and provides a content analysis of relevant meetings of the Business Accounting Council of Japan.

The findings of this study provide evidence that it would be problematic to require the adoption of IFRS for all listed companies in Japan. The main reason for this is that the Japanese policymakers and standard-setting bodies follow two objectives: enhancing the international comparability of financial reporting and maintaining institutional complementarity between financial reporting and other infrastructures such as accounting-related laws.

This study is relevant for accounting researchers and professionals with an interest in Japanese accounting practices. It is also useful for the International Accounting Standards Board and representatives of countries planning to adopt IFRS in the future.

The findings of this study show that contextual issues such as social, organizational and professional environments cannot be ignored in the adoption of IFRS in Japan.