Ideas rarely emerge full-grown but instead are nurtured by conversa-

tion, debate, and argument. This book is no exception. I am indebted, first

of all, to several of my colleagues here at Harvard's Kennedy School of

Government--particularly Richard Neustadt, William Hogan, Mark

Moore, Herman Leonard, Stephen Kelman, and Francis Bator--whose

careful comments on earlier drafts, coupled with their own thought-

provoking research, added immeasurably to whatever strengths the book

now possesses. Across the river at the Business School, Joseph Badaracco

and Thomas McCraw both helped me comprehend the mysterious ways

of business decision making, and management consultants Tom Hour,

Edward Morrison, and Ira Magaziner helped keep my sights focused on

the real world of competitive strategy. I owe a special thanks to Ira,

whose extraordinary knowledge of international business and insights

into industrial policy are an invaluable fund on which I continue to draw.