The history of the area of strategy and competitiveness relates back to the important works of Professor Michael Porter in the 1980s and 1990s. Instead of approaching strategy as a managerial concept – driven by top management – a new research avenue opened up linking strategy with the competitive environment. How strategies are set, which strategies survive, what the structural drivers of profitability are, how different “qualities” (level of innovation, internationalization etc.) of strategies evolve, and so on, were put at the centre of the analysis. Research has shown that strategies to a large extent are driven by structural characteristics of surrounding industries, and the degree of sophistication of the immediate microeconomic business environment of the firm.

During the 1990s the focus moved from industry (involving both structural and climatic aspects), to clusters (systems of inter-linked industries, research organisations and authorities). Furthermore, the competitiveness of firms (at the micro level) was linked to the attractiveness of regions and nations.

The Center for Strategy and Competitiveness produces books and reports, academic articles, opinion editorials, as well as teaching cases. 

Research Agenda

• Strategy and International Business 
• Creation and Diffusion of Knowledge in Networks
• Clusters and Competitiveness
• Competitiveness Policy 

Output

• Books and reports
• Academic articles
• Opinion editorials
• Teaching cases