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Verifying the Miles and Snow strategy types in Australian small- and medium-size enterprises

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  • Karen Blackmore
  • Keith Nesbitt

    (School of Design, Communication and IT, University of Newcastle, Australia)

Abstract

In this paper we set out to verify the existence of Miles and Snow strategy types in Australian small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) through objective classification. Australian SMEs, in particular, are interesting as they are reported to have some unique characteristics, with as many as 70% following a low growth or life-style pathway. While numerous empirical studies have been conducted to validate the existence and characteristics of the Miles and Snow strategy types in different domains for both larger and smaller enterprises, these studies typically rely on a subjective, ‘self-typing’ approach. In this study we employ a more objective approach by identifying measures from existing survey data that capture the strategic dimensions proposed by Miles and Snow. We use these objective measures in a K -means cluster analysis to identify four different strategic groups. Three of the groups correspond to the three ‘viable’ Miles and Snow strategy types of Defender, Prospector and Analyser; however, we also identify a ‘Static’ strategy type that constitutes 42% of SMEs in the sample.

Suggested Citation

  • Karen Blackmore & Keith Nesbitt, 2013. "Verifying the Miles and Snow strategy types in Australian small- and medium-size enterprises," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 38(1), pages 171-190, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:ausman:v:38:y:2013:i:1:p:171-190
    DOI: 10.1177/0312896212444692
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. John A. Parnell, 2017. "Cronyism from the Perspective of the Firm: A Cross-National Assessment of Nonmarket Strategy," Journal of Private Enterprise, The Association of Private Enterprise Education, vol. 32(Fall 2017), pages 47-74.
    2. Karen Benson & Peter M Clarkson & Tom Smith & Irene Tutticci, 2015. "A review of accounting research in the Asia Pacific region," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 40(1), pages 36-88, February.
    3. Uzcátegui, Carolina & Solano, Javier, 2015. "Validez y confiabilidad de un cuestionario para la medición de la “influencia del liderazgo, estrategia y entorno en la competitividad empresarial en la pyme ecuatoriana" [Validity and reliabi," MPRA Paper 69721, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised Nov 2015.

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