Winner Take All: How Competitiveness Shapes the Fate of Nations

By Richard J. Elkus Jr. and Richard Elkus

Over the past thirty years, the United States has lost commanding leads in business after business. We no longer make cameras, TVs, MP3 players, cell phones, or DVD players, and we have become the... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 046500315X
• ISBN13: 9780465003150
• Release Date: July 2008
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.5" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Agree with the thesis, needs more of employment impacts

As a professional who has been in the semiconductor and related industries, I agree wholeheartedly with the thesis of the book. We are losing more than "technologies"; we are losing economic viability as a nation. Elkus addresses several facets of this crisis, including the educational aspects: after all, why would one work hard to get through a master's degree in the sciences or engineering if there is no job out there? (to contradict another reviewer's proposition that we no longer have the student talent: if that were the case, then how and why are medical school slots all occupied? that is highly competitive, too - so it shows that American students can and do compete. We have to give them something to compete FOR!). I would have wanted Mr. Elkus to explore the great tragedy I see in the scenario (first hand): the destruction of what I call "the professional technical middle class". We have worked long and hard to attain our respective expertise(s), only to spend weeks and months on end in Asian factories effectively "downloading" and concentrating all that knowledge and experience as we hand over our jobs. This is true - I and my colleagues have all had to do this. As our economy rebuilds in these challenged times, more policy needs to be built to give technical professionals a path to something other than the unemployment office.

A serious perspective on national strategy for America.

This is an excellent book. It is a great discussion on the evolution of the high technology industry. It analyzes the way America in the last decades has lost the leadership in key industries. The timing of this book may be close to perfect, for in a moment of a great crisis in the American Economy, it may contribute to the discussion on how to develop the right strategy for the future. A crisis is a good moment to think about past mistakes. The key conclusion of Mr.Elkus is that America needs a coordinated strategy to keep key technologies in the hands of American Companies. This may mean a new way to think the hole of America in the World Economy. The ideas expressed by the author are not perfect. For example, He sees Bruce Henderson of BCG as an strategist that did believe only in cash, but this is not Henderson's full vision in terms of strategy. Many of Henderson thoughts were based on the fact that the economy is similar to the envinronment for living organisms, so he tried to create a new branch of economics, under the name of "Bionomics" drawing concepts for the economic system from analogies to the behavior of living organisms in terms of competition. Henderson, understood very well that key industries and corporations create envinronments where many technologies, smaller companies, creative individuals can develop their competencies and capacities. I point to this, because using the concepts related to Bionomics would generate quite different strategies than the one pursued by major American Companies. Corporate America should have paid more attention to Henderson's thoughts. (think about the Quality movement in Japan... it was triggered by American Engineers!!! and today the Japanese are the teachers!) I also like this book because it presents several stories related to the evolution of companies that are very interesting (like Ampex and the VCR). This is not a finished review, I will keep improving it.

A MUST READ FOR ANYONE INTERESTED IN US TECH

This book is an absolute must read for anyone affiliated with the US technology industry. The author paints a very interesting picture, that becomes more and more clear as you get thru the book - that the US is systematically losing its edge in technology, whether it realizes it not. Whether you are a US tech executive (or any US industry executive), starting your own tech firm, are a policy maker affiliated with the industry, a consultant, or an investment professional, the book is very insightful and a quick read. I think this book should be a required read at every top MBA program in the country. Kudos to the author for hopefully shedding some light on a serious issue facing the US and its future.

A brilliant analysis of a serious issue facing US competitiveness

This book, first of all, is a great read. It tells an alarming story regarding the fate of US competitiveness that is the result of errant business decisions that seemed like a good idea at the time because they bolstered short-term profit margins. But in surrendering involvement in key technology markets, Elkus argues, the US has lost its competitive edge. And the cost of getting that edge back is very dear. Elkus knows what he is talking about. A long-time technology executive, Elkus has witnessed this first hand and has testified eloquently on the subject for many years. The book is organized according to 10 principles of competitiveness, which one might dub "Elkus's Rules of Competitiveness", and indeed, they could be a proverbial 10 commandments. This is a serious book executed with a light touch- it is written in a way to be accessible and interesting, told through many personal stories and anecdotes. Anyone with an interest in technology, history, strategy, and global competition and cares about the future of America should pick up this book.