QUESTIONS Thoroughly read Chapters 7 through 10 of the Policy Issues Essay

QUESTIONS Thoroughly read Chapters 7 through 10 of the Policy Issues textbook, and then prepare an annotated bibliography for - Essay Example Scientific research and understanding creates practical technological applications which in turn require institutional implementation and management which in turn lead to more technological change as specific implementations are made which in turn leads to more scientific change. Therefore, science and technology policy have to bear in mind that innovation is more complex than a simple model of science and technology leading to innovation. Metcalfe moves on to distinguish between types of policy and innovation, such as academic scientific research versus practical technology, and further notes that despite their dialectical interrelationship, science and technology are different things. Finally, he ties this in with economic policy. Freeman, C. 2002, â€Å"National Systems of Innovation†, Policy Issues for Business, ed. Vivek Suneja, Sage Publications Ltd. Freeman expands on the analysis made by Metcalfe by noting that innovation is inherently dynamically social: No firm innov ates on their own, and technology and science are best done in systems of shared, free inquiry. Networks of governmental, scientific, educational, business and NGO innovators produce innovation over time. Freeman notes that the Friedrich list, a system whereby Germany specifically tied industrial and technological policy in the arena of education, was highly efficacious. He also notes that in Japan, R&D and business are tied together specifically, while in Russia, R&D and enterprise were often quite distinct. However, he does note that the Soviet Union's R&D and scientific research was not bad by any stretch of the imagination: They focused on arenas like mathematics, military innovation and space travel. This indicates that the priorities of national policy have direct and indirect results on atmospheres of innovation and creation. Freeman concludes by arguing a) regional and local factors will remain important in any technology and innovation policy no matter how globalized and in tegrated the world becomes, and b) Britain's experience should lead policy-makers to conclude that while learning by doing and interacting are important, innovations needs to be stressed at a systemic level. Porter, ME. 2002, â€Å"The Competitive Advantage of Nations†, Policy Issues for Business, ed. Vivek Suneja, Sage Publications Ltd. Porter continues in Freeman's vein by analyzing what makes nations competitively advantageous in the global marketplace. Strong investments in science and technology, a skilled workforce, government support and culture are all good elements, unsurprisingly, but Porter argues that in fact challenges can be opportunities. A country facing competitive challenge at home and abroad, difficult and selective customers, and aggressive suppliers will be highly effective if it can survive the challenges and weather the storm. Aside from noting the influence of national playing fields created by national policy, Porter also recommends that firms, even i f they are local or nationally oriented, should adopt a global perspective and strategy, and should move towards trying to sell under their brand name globally and control their business directly even on the global level rather than using middlemen. Porter also notes that, since markets change so rapidly, they are likely to obviate and make advantages obsolete, so companies need to treat even presently relevant advantages as soon likely to be obsolete