Future indicative?

Article Abstract:

Prof Michael Porter believes that a country's long-term innovative capacity can be measured at the national level. Porter, a professor at the Harvard Business School, has identified three broad measures by which to evaluate a country's innovative capacity. These are the infrastructure for research and development, the support given to research in linked groups of industry, and the proportion of industrial research conducted at private companies and at universities. According to Porter, these three measures can be used to create an international innovation index for benchmarking competitiveness. Using this index, Porter identifies Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Japan to be the innovation leaders in the developed world with Germany, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, the UK and the US are described as the countries where innovative capacity has dropped most significantly.

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, Commercial physical research, Research & Development-Industry, Economic aspects, Industrial research, Science and technology policy, Industrialized countries, Technological innovations, International competition (Commerce), International competition (Economics), Industrial nations, Porter, Michael

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The plastic in your pocket

Article Abstract:

The credit card industry is booming while competition is also intensifying. In the UK, it has been estimated that the market has consistently grown by 18% since 1995 and that the value of transactions has risen 20% year on year. The market's growth in recent years can be attributed partly to the rise in the British standard of living and the growing similarity of British lending practices to US lending. British banks are becoming less risk-averse and more willing to cater to riskier borrowers than their counterparts in Continental Europe because of the availability of sophisticated risk management techniques. To succeed in this increasingly competitive market, credit card companies are employing such marketing techniques as saturation mailing, tie-ups with national organizations or cause-oriented groups, pre-approved cards and sophisticated behavioral modeling.

Commercial Banks, Commercial Banking, Bank Credit Cards, Nonbank Credit Card Firms, Credit Card Issuing, Personal credit institutions, United Kingdom, Industry Overview, Nonbank credit card services, Credit and debit card industry, Credit card industry

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It's a serious business

Article Abstract:

Business is conducted formally and seriously in Germany. When scheduling a meeting or an appointment in the country, it is advisable to arrange it more than a month in advance, to avoid Friday afternoons because offices often close early, and to avoid the vacation months of July, August and September. Punctuality is expected by the Germans, as are courtesy and formality. It is important to remember that they do not appreciate levity, casual dressing and the use of first names in the business setting. The German language should be spoken whenever possible, colleagues should always be called by their full name preceded by 'Herr' or 'Frau,' and professional titles should always be used in written communications. The giving of gifts should be avoided because it is prohibited under the Promotional Gifts Ordinance.

Germany, Business etiquette, Germans

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