Probing Into The Essence, Roles & Functions And Operating Mechanism Of Industrial Association--An Analysis Of The China-foreign Comparative Perspective

This study is a stage achievement of an on-going project entitled "Management Consulting in China: A Strategy for Development" and funded by the Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC). And on the basis of the NPO's (non-profit organization) theoretical line, this article made a research on industrial association from perspectives of politics, economics, sociology and new public management. After debating on the essences and definition of industrial association, the paper discussed the operating mechanism by taking industrial associations in America, Germany and Japan. Meanwhile, the author analyzed the growing pattern of industrial association in China and made a comparison with foreign countries'. In conclusion, the article put forward some orientations in developing our industrial associations.This paper consisted of five parts. The first part introduced the theoretical and practical meaning in research on industrial association and part two discussed the essence and definition of industrial association by integrating four perspectives. The third part: introduced and analyzed the association's roles & functions, relations with government and operating mechanism in America, Germany and Japan. The forth part focused mainly on the practice of industrial association in China and last part pointed out the importance of association's innovation in China.