Global Advantage Awards

With so many acquisitions, mergers, joint ventures and alliances in the press, it is difficult to know which moves are good and which are not so good. Regardless, companies are "on the move" and we have decided to recognize those moves with our Global Advantage Awards, or "Globies."

**** Three cheers for MCI and British Telecom for their deal with Spanish Telecom and realization that a battle in South America and Mexico can swing North America and Europe their way. The entire Concert network has changed the dynamics in telecommunications and now requires a major response from staid AT&T. Concert has advertised their global intent heavily; now they are implementing their plan.

*** A good move by Chrysler to align with BMW for production of engines in Brazil. Many at the automaker crowed a few years back that they were already "global." In fact, they were far from it. Chrysler is heavily dependent on U.S. suppliers, and the spike of the dollar by nearly 25 percent will no doubt affect their thinking. The plant in Brazil may also be a sign of a new supply route to South Africa for the new BMW plant currently under construction.

** It is too unfortunate that the sale of CompuServe has been bantered about. Their presence internationally is impressive. America Online slipped ahead with flashy graphics – and it appears to be here to stay for some time. AOL is growing its global presence.

* It is amazing that labor officials in Germany are demanding a 32-hour work week in upcoming negotiations. The "social" is obliterating the "market" in the German social-market economy.
If you would like to nominate your company for a "Globie", email your entry.