An Application of Clustering for Strategic Group Analysis

Taxonomies, factor analysis and clustering are discussed as tools to investigate the structure of competitors within an industry (‘strategic groups’). An example using cluster analysis is presented as one means of operationalizing this concept. Careful definition and selection of the dimensions used to identify the boundaries between strategic groups (their mobility barriers) are particularly crucial in the effective application of analytical tools.

[1]  T. Joyce,et al.  Classifying Market Survey Respondents , 1966 .

[2]  Marshall Hall,et al.  Firm Size and Profitability , 1967 .

[3]  Paul E. Green,et al.  Cluster Analysis in Test Market Selection , 1967 .

[4]  S. C. Johnson.  Hierarchical clustering schemes , 1967, Psychometrika.

[5]  Donald G. Morrison,et al.  Measurement Problems in Cluster Analysis , 1967 .

[6]  G H Ball,et al.  A clustering technique for summarizing multivariate data. , 1967, Behavioral science.

[7]  Paul E. Green,et al.  Numerical Taxonomy in Marketing Analysis: A Review Article , 1968 .

[8]  Matityahu Marcus,et al.  Profitability and Size of Firm: Some Further Evidence , 1969 .

[9]  B. Gale,et al.  Market Share and Rate of Return , 1972 .

[10]  R. F. Ling.  A Probability Theory of Cluster Analysis , 1973 .

[11]  E. Pessemier,et al.  Will the Real Consumer Activist Please Stand Up: An Examination of Consumers’ Opinions about Marketing Practices , 1973 .

[12]  Brian Everitt,et al.  Cluster analysis , 1974 .

[13]  B. McKelvey.  Guidelines for the Empirical Classification of Organizations. , 1975 .

[14]  John A. Hartigan,et al.  Clustering Algorithms , 1975 .

[15]  W. Wells.  Psychographics: A Critical Review , 1975 .

[16]  D. Schendel,et al.  Heterogeneity within an Industry: Firm Conduct in the U.S. Brewing Industry, 1952-71 , 1977 .

[17]  Danny Miller,et al.  The Role of Multivariate “Q-Techniques” in the Study of Organizations , 1978 .

[18]  D. Schendel,et al.  A Strategic Model of the U.S. Brewing Industry: 1952-1971 , 1978 .

[19]  B. McKelvey.  Organizational Systematics: Taxonomic Lessons from Biology , 1978 .

[20]  P. H. Friesen,et al.  Archetypes of Strategy Formulation , 1978 .

[21]  H. H. Newman.  Strategic Groups and the Structure-Performance Relationship , 1978 .

[22]  R E Miles,et al.  Organizational strategy, structure, and process. , 1978, Academy of management review. Academy of Management.

[23]  C. Pinder,et al.  The Resurrection of Taxonomy to Aid the Development of Middle Range Theories of Organizational Behavior. , 1979 .

[24]  H. H. Newman.  Strategic groups and the structure-performance relationship : a study with respect to the chemical process industries , 1979 .

[25]  D. Lehmann.  Market research and analysis , 1979 .

[26]  S. Arnold.  A Test for Clusters , 1979 .

[27]  M. Porter.  The Structure Within Industries and Companies' Performance , 1979 .

[28]  Danny Miller,et al.  Archetypes of Organizational Transition. , 1980 .

[29]  Carolyn Y. Woo,et al.  Strategies of Effective Low Market Share Businesses. , 1980 .

[30]  Kathryn Rudie Harrigan,et al.  Strategies for Declining Businesses , 1980 .

[31]  K. R. Harrigan.  Barriers to entry and competitive strategies , 1981 .

[32]  D. Hambrick,et al.  Turnaround Strategies for Mature Industrial-Product Business Units , 1983 .