The prerequisites for international industrial competitiveness are constantly changing. Technical developments, widespread internationalization, and deregulations bring about more establishments and different competitive situations. Furthermore, customer needs and demands vary. All these changes affect to a high degree individual companies, industries and the society as a whole. However, we do not know enough about what constitutes industrial competitiveness and underlying processes. Therefore this question is pertinent:  

How is industrial competitiveness created in constantly changing international environmnets?

Finding answers to this all-embracing question is, thus, the foundation for the research presented in this book. The first part of the book presents separate projects which focus on industrial competitiveness from an internal effectiveness perspective, while the second part consists of projects which penetrate the subject from a business perspective. The final part starts with a discussion on the overall findings, and ends with conclusions in relation to the question above and specifications of the need for further research.

The outcome of this book contributes to theory on sources of industrial competitiveness in general. More specifically, frameworks are developed comprising concepts and models in crucial areas such as business strategy, core competence, industrial marketing, quality management, interorganizational relations and internal effectiveness. 

Companies may benefit from the results as it provides guidance and supportin the search for competitiveness, based on studies of high performing companies in different industries. The knowledge will also help in understanding crucial processes that effect economies and the society as a whole.