Contracts are won and lost on a fraction of a cent per unit.

ECONOMIST: How a boring gadget saved $2 billion-worth of electricity

At even a fraction of a penny profit per unit, it looks like a very successful venture.

FORBES: Size Isn't Everything When Assessing Impact

The departure of Lawson is especially intriguing, because he took over as head of aeronautics only 12 months ago, and he is leaving to lead a second-tier company that has a fraction of the sales his Lockheed unit did.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

As the world's financial markets go electronic and information flies around the globe, the unit of accounting will, eventually, become a fraction of a day.

ECONOMIST: A 24-hour day is inefficient