Introduction: Manufacturing Possibilities, Creative Action, and Industrial Recomposition

The Changing Worlds and Workplaces of Capitalism

“…Our discussion has not only suggested some core characteristics which SMNCS must develop in order to be able to act successfully in sustained contingent collaboration (Herrigel 2010) with other agencies of a NeIS, it has also made it much clearer what the Nordic countries' welfare states have let the firms accomplish. For sure, SMNCs of Nordic countries are not even close to operating as 'armies of scientists'.…”

“…Innovation in some developed countries has shifted from domination by LMNCs to dispersal across all firm sizes, collaborating mutually in open innovation or networked innovation systems (NeIS) (Chesbrough 2007). Whereas formerly LMNCs of the advanced countries secured their future position by being first or early movers in new technologies, today even LMNCs, for example IBM, must become part of global networks to be able to compete with multiple actors, follow technological advances, and to adapt their own role and business model to the roles to which other network-participants aspire (Herrigel 2010). The shift away from innovation by LMNCs to networked innovation systems (NeIS) challenges the existing or aspired for growth and development regimes (GDRs) of advanced countries.…”

Embedded Flexibility Strategies and Diversity within National Institutional Frameworks: How many Flexibility Profiles are in the German Model?

“…Berghoff (2006) stressed that within the VoC-debate there has been a bias towards large firms. Other authors have also raised the importance of smaller firms for employment and economic activity in Germany (see also Streeck, 1991;Herrigel, 1996Herrigel, , 2010. Berghoff (2006) acknowledged that beside some similarities between larger and smaller companies, substantial differences can be found as well.…”

Containing, embracing and hyper-activating Britishness: British-based foreign-owned firms

“…This is so because particular control interests and associated approaches to financial commitment and business strategies may in BBFOFs emerge at firm level. These approaches may contain, that is, override national institutional characteristics embedded within a particular national capitalism (Herrigel, 2010). Therefore new dynamics may develop dialectically over time as a form of relative autonomy from the mechanics of embedded coordination mechanics, that is, those structured by the business system.…”