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The paper analyses the implications of a platform strategy in new product development with reference to the automobile industry. The implications and benefits of a platform strategy are discussed from both the technical and organisational points of view. The impact of a platform strategy on international product development is then analysed. The paper draws on examples from the experience of major Japanese automobile companies. In general, the analysis highlights how platform strategies are evolving and how they must be recognised more and more in relation to the internationalisation processes of R&D activities and operations. Moreover, different approaches are pointed out concerning more advanced and/or conservative approaches to platform development. A more advanced approach leads to more benefits in terms of the performance of the product development process and the reorganisation of the development process on a global level.

Public Policies are vital for unleashing and fostering entrepreneurship in every society. This paper reviewed the national policies for the promotion and support of productive entrepreneurial activities aimed at enhancing the achievement of entrepreneurial economic growth in three countries in Africa. This is an explorative multiple case study that has used national and international documents and reports to examine the state and nature of the entrepreneurship policies in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. The selected countries are all members of the East African Community. The findings revealed what has been accomplished and what challenges policymakers face in improving entrepreneurial performance. The comparison showed the major similarities and dissimilarities between countries and which countries are performing fairly well in specific policy areas. From the findings, an entrepreneurship policy framework was developed that takes into account the type and level of entrepreneurship being practiced. This could be useful to policymakers taking into consideration that entrepreneurship exists in the formal and informal sectors at the national level. At the regional level, the similarities of policies could be a starting point for a regional entrepreneurship policy because entrepreneurial economic growth of countries and regions is a strong indicator of successful entrepreneurship policies.