STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND THE SMALLER FIRM

Abstract

The relevance of theories of strategic management and the approaches and techniques which they advocate is examined for managers in smaller firms attempting to gain competitive advantage. The distinctions drawn by Whittington between four generic perspectives on strategy — classical, evolutionary, processual and systemic — are considered in the light of the experiences of four small‐ and medium‐sized component manufacturers in the West Midlands. It is argued that the processual approach is likely to be most appropriate for the survival and enhanced competitiveness of such firms, but that it requires adaptation to the circumstances of smaller firms.

Citation

Lee, G.L. (1995), "STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT AND THE SMALLER FIRM", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 2 No. 3, pp. 158-164. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb020958