by Tonino Pencarelli, Elisabetta Savelli, Simone Splendiani

International Journal of Business & Economics, Vol.8 n.1/2009

The paper is a new version of that presented at 8th Global Conference on Business & Economics, October 18-19th, 2008 – Florence, Italy

ABSTRACT

This paper is based on an empirical study, founded on the case-study method, carried out on 49 SEs localized in the Province of Pesaro-Urbino in the Marche Region of Italy. It seeks to analyze the entrepreneurs’ perception about their own competitive position.By taking into account both theoretical studies and empirical evidence, the paper focuses on two themes. First, it analyzes the degree of current (“where the company is”) and perspective (“where the company might go”) awareness of local entrepreneurs. Local small enterprises are often unable to identify the resources and capabilities on which their competitive advantage is based, and sometimes they understimate their strengths, being mainly aware of their weaknesses. They also lack the skills necessary to analyze and recognize the threats, opportunities and success factors of the competitive environment in which they work. Second, the paper examines the growth strategies developed by local entrepreneurs in order to defend or  strengthen their competitive position. In particular, it focuses on the main difficulties which hinder small enterprises in achieving theis strategic plans and discusses some implications for local Institutions that seek to assist the competitive groth of local firms and to increase their strategic awareness..