This volume, originally published in 1993 is based on extensive research and draws together a selection of detailed global case studies illustrating a variety of issues from Japanese joint ventures to small business development. It considers the scope and scale of collaboration in order to assess the way successful companies have achieved their growth. The book presents a synthesis of business functions and economic analysis and asks what the implications for skills development are; what effect public policy has; how far such ventures can go and what decision making processes are involved.