How does a person with a background in physics and philosophy get involved in studying industrial competitiveness?
Goldman: For many years, I taught the history and philosophy of science. Through that work, I became increasingly interested in technological innovation and, in particular, the corporate drivers of technological innovation. As I began to develop a reputation for studying technology and engineering in social settings, I was asked to be part of a faculty team contracted in 1991 by the Department of Defense to study U.S. industrial competitiveness. We made a big stir with that report, and much of what we argued has come true. BF: After the publication of that report, you started talking about how companies need to become more agile and responsive in light of global competitive pressures. Now you ve woven those same concepts into something you re calling the Next Generation Enterprise. Define NGE for me. Goldman: The Next Generation Enterprise is one whose organizational structure and configuration of human and physical resources is pulled by constantly changing customer opportunities rath
