The goal of this pathbreaking volume is to relativize the experience of Japanese industries in terms of both location and time, exploring its similarities and differences with other countries and its unique relationship with the "global standard" of company performance set by US firms. By examining the intertwining of the organizational and market principles in interfirm relationships, this book tries to overcome the weaknesses of existing studies by looking beyond organizational principles, overturning stereotypes, and covering a wide range of industries.