COMPETITIVE STRATEGY AND FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING - NEW DIMENSIONS IN HIGH-TECHNOLOGY VENTURE-BASED ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT

Competition between cities, counties, and states for high-technology ventures has been transformed into a high-stakes race for economic survival. Past economic development strategies may no longer be appropriate for luring these coveted enterprises. As a result of advances in manufacturing processes, the infrastructure requirements of firms vary significantly. In this study, high-technology firms were surveyed regarding strategies, community infrastructure requirements, and location behavior. An empirical typology was developed and utilized to investigate linkages with location decisions. The analyses suggest that community infrastructure requirements, location intentions, and actual spatial tendencies are significantly related to the underlying competitive strategy of the firm.