myopia of top management in the American industry, however, might well attack only the manifestations of the underlying problem, as opposed to the crux of the problem. For more than a decade, it has been theorized that the American economy is being transformed from an industrial to a post industrial character. Actions by the federal government in GATT negotiations, the pursuit of North American free trade, and the conduct of bilateral economic activity all point to an increasing emphasis on the service sector of the American economy at the expense of the industrial sector. Therefore, it is well within the realm of the possible that the problems being experienced by the American automobile manufacturing industry in the 1990s are more structural than managerial in character.
The proposed research study will examine the problems faced by the American automobile manufacturing industry in the 1990s within the context of a structural versus a managerial character of such problems. The conclusions drawn from the findings of this research will provide a basis for assessing the future of the industry in the early years of the next century. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the proposed research study will be to correctly identify the character of the problems faced by the American automobile manufacturing industry in the 1990s. With this knowledge, responsible parties in both the American automobile industry and the federal government will be in a better position to determine what is likely to happen to the American automobile manufacturing industry, and, if warranted, to implement policies to either reverse the indicated outcome, or to deal effectively with such an outcome. Definition of Terms
The researcher does not anticipate that the proposed research study will require the use of any specialized terms or symbols. The use of quantitative procedures requiring the operational definition of terms, similarly, is not anticipate...