ABSTRACT
In this chapter we present a range of relatively successful firms from three countries on three continents, from five different sectors – brewing, bicycles, glass, cement and software. One firm, Cemex, is a world leader in the cement industry and in one decade has closed the gap to become the world’s third largest and, of these top three, the most profitable. The others have not achieved Cemex’s success but have made significant advances in production, growing value and improving competitiveness, nationally and sometimes internationally. Three were set up in strongly protected environments and have recently had to become more efficient and innovative. One is in a highly exportoriented and competitive industry but is still well behind the world leaders. The chapter illustrates, then, a variety of success in moving up the value-chain in a range of firms and industries.
