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Competitive priorities of small manufacturers in Brazil

Matthias Thürer (Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brasil)
Moacir Godinho Filho (Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos, Brasil)
Mark Stevenson (Department of Management Science, Lancaster University Management School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK)
Lawrence D. Fredendall (Department of Management, Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina, USA)

Industrial Management & Data Systems

ISSN: 0263-5577

Article publication date: 21 June 2013

1294

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the state of small manufacturing companies in Brazil. The paper seeks to identify their competitive priorities based on their recent developments and their anticipated opportunities and challenges.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study based on semi‐structured telephone interviews. The interview guide contained around 30, mainly open‐ended questions.

Findings

The research both confirms and refutes previous research. It refutes the “traditional view” that small firms are driven by cost, quality, flexibility and delivery only; it supports recent research which has argued that there has been a shift in terms of what competitive priorities are being pursued. More specifically, innovativeness was identified as an important new competitive priority, but there was little evidence in support of other recently proposed priorities like security and sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This study is restricted to one area of Brazil (São Carlos). Further research is therefore necessary to confirm the relevance of the findings to other small firms in other regions, e.g. through a large‐scale survey.

Originality/value

Much of the available literature focuses on large firms in developed economies, and it assumes operations strategy is built on four “traditional” broad competitive priorities. This study provides insight into the state of small manufacturers in an emerging economy. It identifies innovativeness as a fifth key priority and argues that firms must compete on a blend of outcomes; this adds to the complexity of managerial tasks.

Keywords

Citation

Thürer, M., Godinho Filho, M., Stevenson, M. and Fredendall, L.D. (2013), "Competitive priorities of small manufacturers in Brazil", Industrial Management & Data Systems, Vol. 113 No. 6, pp. 856-874. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-01-2013-0049

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2013, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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