ABSTRACT
The unified European market is presenting a test of the strength of the economies of each of the twelve member nations. While committed to a strong European market, leaders of each country have enacted policies to improve their national economic competitiveness, realizing that the key to leadership within the European community lay in a stable economy, sound economic policies, and strong healthy businesses. The reputation of French companies as global competitors has been poor. Analysts and observers cite familiar reasons why: French companies tend to be state controlled, inwardly focused and more concerned with maintaining employment levels than with profitability. Behaviors once considered typical of French managers and companies are being replaced by more systematic management practices. The transformation of Thomson can be attributed to three things: Alain Gomez’s personal leadership of the company; political changes in France; and changes in the international environment to which successful French companies were obliged to adapt.
