Title: Feeling for the future: strategic responses to industrial, economic and technological change in the European instruments and sensors sector

Authors: Lawrence Green, Khaleel Malik

Addresses: PREST, Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK. ' PREST, Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Abstract: Via analysis of trends and trajectories in the instruments and sensors sector in Europe, this paper examines responses to the major industrial, technological and socio-economic shifts witnessed throughout the past two decades. The paper outlines the contours of evolving manufacturing and commercial strategies as firms in the instruments sector organise themselves to do business in new, continually fluxing and often uncertain competitive environments. The paper examines the drivers for change in the European instruments sector; and reviews the industry|s associated shift towards strategic renewal at operational, technological and commercial levels. By exploring trajectories in this predominantly hi-tech and scientifically sophisticated sector, the paper foregrounds factors that are shaping decision-making in a critical area of European manufacturing, and sketches both nascent and established strategic responses that are likely to have some resonance with adjacent and parallel fields of activity.

Keywords: competition strategy; foresight; industrial change; innovation strategy; strategic visioning; technological change; instrumentation; sensors; manufacturing strategy; business strategy; instruments sector; European manufacturing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJFIP.2007.014011

International Journal of Foresight and Innovation Policy, 2007 Vol.3 No.3, pp.277 - 296

Published online: 10 Jun 2007 *

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