Title: Competing in the cauldron of the global economy: tools, processes, case studies, and theory supporting economic development

Authors: Mary Ann Allison, Sheila Browning

Addresses: The Allison Group, LLC, 100 Freeman Street, Suite F2, Brooklyn, New York, NY 11222-5899, USA. ' Icaem Insight Ltd, 17 Glamis Gardens, Dalgety Bay, Fife KY11 9TD, UK

Abstract: In this paper, we explore selected tools and processes as well as the underlying theory we use to support business strategic planning and cluster economic development. Key among these are enabling infrastructures and new forms of leadership, which include appreciative inquiry. In particular, we report our experiences in working with micromultinational businesses in the UK and extend the findings reported by Dimitratos, Johnson, Slow, and Young (2003) to suggest four additional success strategies for companies that are |taking their businesses global|. We conclude with two short case studies.

Keywords: cluster economic development; online data gathering; dynamic decision modelling; enabling infrastructure; global competition; micromultinational enterprises; Enterpriser; appreciative inquiry; Scottish enterprise; SMEs; globalisation; business strategy; strategic planning; leadership.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2006.008307

International Journal of Technology Management, 2006 Vol.33 No.2/3, pp.130 - 143

Published online: 02 Dec 2005 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article