Symposium on Harrison's "Lean and Mean": What are the Questions?

The article presents the author's views on the criticism of his book "Lean and Mean." I strongly advocate special support for smaller companies as part of a strategy for encouraging the building of innovative networks. In this regard, I find the ongoing Commerce and Defense Department programs in the United States that promote technology transfer, manufacturing modernization and the use of dual use technologies, to upgrade the capabilities of especially the small and medium sized companies, to be quite positive developments.