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The secret of new growth in old German 'Mittelstand' companies

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  • Muzyka, Daniel
  • Breuninger, Hans
  • Rossell, Gerda

Abstract

The authors have selected five typical 'Mittelstand' or small- and medium-sized companies in Germany with export activities, which however, have been successful in transforming themselves from traditional organisations and sluggish performers into more entrepreneurial, successful value-creating firms. They seek to understand the nature of the new model evolving within these entrepreneurial 'Mittelstand' companies and to document the nature of the transformation required to implement the new model. The five successful companies hold the key to many lessons which German 'Mittelstand' companies would be wise to heed. For example, an emphasis on applying technology to improving customer value, not better product technolog.. New ideas concerning the focus of the company and better knowledge-management to drive more efficient decision-making are also critical. The authors spell out in some detail what changes are essential and how best they can be introduced.

Suggested Citation

  • Muzyka, Daniel & Breuninger, Hans & Rossell, Gerda, 1997. "The secret of new growth in old German 'Mittelstand' companies," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 15(2), pages 147-157, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:15:y:1997:i:2:p:147-157
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    Cited by:

    1. André Pahnke & Friederike Welter & David B. Audretsch, 2023. "In the eye of the beholder? Differentiating between SMEs and Mittelstand," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 729-743, February.
    2. Matthias S. Johann & Jörn H. Block & Lena Benz, 2022. "Financial performance of hidden champions: Evidence from German manufacturing firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 873-892, October.
    3. Caprano, Johannes, 2019. "Recruiting Generation Y for the Backbone of Economy: Organizational Attractiveness of Small, Family Owned, and Rural Firms," Junior Management Science (JUMS), Junior Management Science e. V., vol. 4(4), pages 493-523.
    4. Gessler, Michael, 2017. "The lack of collaboration between companies and schools in the German dual apprenticeship system: Historical background and recent data," International Journal for Research in Vocational Education and Training (IJRVET), European Research Network in Vocational Education and Training (VETNET), European Educational Research Association, vol. 4(2), pages 164-195.
    5. Christina Guenther & Maksim Belitski & Nada Rejeb, 2023. "Overcoming the ability-willingness paradox in small family firms’ collaborations," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 60(4), pages 1409-1429, April.
    6. Vanessa Weimann & Maike Gerken & Marcel Hülsbeck, 2021. "Old flames never die – the role of binding social ties for corporate entrepreneurship in family firms," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 17(4), pages 1707-1730, December.
    7. Pahnke, André & Welter, Friederike & Audretsch, David B., 2021. "Im Auge des Betrachters? Warum wir zwischen KMU und Mittelstand unterscheiden müssen," Working Papers 04/21, Institut für Mittelstandsforschung (IfM) Bonn.

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