Global Competition Between and Within Standards - by Jeffrey L Funk (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Managing technology and globalization are two of the main concerns facing companies today. This book argues that the success of firms such as Ericsson and Nokia is a function of how they have managed these two areas simultaneously. The author summarises the development of the global mobile communications industry to date, examining how global standards have been established, and why particular firms have succeeded within these standards. He goes on to examine the factors that will determine the market leaders in third-generation mobile communications systems and phones, and shows how other high technology industries can benefit from the strategies used.

Review Quotes

'As the industry gears up for the next generation of high-speed products and services, Professor Funk's treatise takes an exemplary new look at global competition in the evolution and adoption of mobile phone standards.' - Mike Butler (VP Product Creation Nokia Mobile Phones)

'The growth of the mobile communication technology in recent years has attracted great attention of people all over the world. Despite the recent setback in the telecom sector in the western capital market, telecommunication remains the most important single factor in the world economy today. Jeffrey Funk has done a great job of tracking the growth of this industry in the international arena. He has presented the results of his research in the area of standards and how they affect the growth of the industry. To understand the political process behind the development of telecom standards, one needs to delve into a lot factors that Dr Funk has studied. The book will be valuable to any one who wants to understand the forces that have shaped this dynamic industry.' - Alok Chakrabarti, PhD, Senior Research Fellow, Industrial Performance Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

'Jeffrey Funk's analysis of competition in the mobile communication industry over the last 20 years gives a compelling insight into how competition will proceed into the third generation mobile communications system.' - Heinz Blankenfeld, Siemens AG/p>

About the Author

JEFFREY L. FUNK is Associate Professor of Business at Kobe University's Research Institute for Economics and Business. His research focuses on how firms can use technology to create a sustainable competitive edge with a focus on the mobile phone industry. This includes issues of standards, product development management, switching costs, and information technology.