French arms buying puts technocrats at the helm

Article Abstract:

France's political system is renowned for its ability to develop and purchase arms. This is a function of the country's military budget and the ambitious goal of its military visionaries, especially the late President Charles de Gaulle. De Gaulle made France a third option for world arms buyers, after the US and the Soviet Union. The strategy's keystone was a comprehensive arsenal of nuclear and conventional weapons and a self-reliant weapons industry. Until de Gaulle's reforms, the weapons procurement system in France was like that in the US. Each branch of the service ran their own show in procurement, a system that was rife with redundancies and needless competition. Today, a separate government agency oversees arms procurement for all branches of the military. This new procurement department has established itself as an independent entity staffed with a new technical elite who look at weapons needs from a technical standpoint.

France, Weapons industry, Purchasing Systems, Military, Government

---

Tradeoffs: turf vs. togetherness

Article Abstract:

Today's global economy makes the old policies of protecting ailing domestic industries and continuing expensive and redundant defenses obsolete and the European Community is working toward a unified Europe by the end of 1992. But the term "United States of Europe" is found objectionable by many. Research is the area where scientists and engineers are able to come together to work to overcome the fragmentation in technology in Europe. The work is mostly in applied research at the expense of basic science. Research is also helping the move toward a single market, especially in telecommunications. Information flow is of critical importance to the EC economy so the Commission is working hard to untangle contradictory regulations and break the monopolies of the national post and telecommunications authorities. The other monopolistic industry is energy, but the Commission is moving with caution in this area.

Europe, International trade, Energy Management, European Economic Community

---

Siemens: making marketing as important as technology

Article Abstract:

Siemens AG, the largest electronics firm in Europe, is expanding both at home and abroad, investing billions of Deutsche Marks in an acquisition program to enhance its international competitiveness. In 1990, Siemens restructured itself without laying off any employees. The company is expected to lead in European semiconductor sales in 1991; however, costs are mounting quickly. Siemens needs to double its sales or cut its development costs in this area. Being a world leader in broad technological areas is not easy; unlike IBM, that is having difficulty in financing its computer technology research and development, Siemens also has to stay in the lead in telecommunications, medical and automobile electronics, and nuclear and fossil-fuel power.

Electronic parts and equipment, Management, Semiconductor industry, Siemens AG, Leadership, Market share, Sales, Company Profile, Marketing Strategy, Acquisition, Expansion

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Education conference stresses business links, technology, use of quality tools. Members talk about terrorist attacks
• Abstracts: Electronics puts its foot on the gas. Software. Luxury sedan: molded by computer
• Abstracts: Parting shots. It's the law, but is it ethical? An electronic nation
• Abstracts: Taming quirky ceramics. Technology in medicine: too much too soon? Contract research gains adherents for its flexibility and low overhead
• Abstracts: Power consumers in the dark. The measurement explosion. A powerful time

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