Microelectronics Applications, Product Strategies and Competence Needs in Great Britain and West Germany

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Campbell, Adrian^a | Sorge, Arndt^b | Warner, Malcolm^c

Affiliations: [a] University of Aston, Birmingham, England | [b] University of Maastricht, The Netherlands | [c] University of Cambridge, England

Abstract: This paper looks at applications of microelectronics in Britain and Germany in relation to product strategy, competence and training, showing the links between quantitative and qualitative factors at different levels of analysis. It conjectures that variations in product strategies may provide a plausible explanation of different competence needs of companies, and that strategic differences between national samples may help to explain differences in the emphasis on particular skills and skill mixes.

Keywords: Competence, engineering, manufacturing, microelectronics, personnel policy, product applications, skills training, work organization

DOI: 10.3233/HSM-1989-8210

Journal: Human Systems Management, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 155-166, 1989