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Strategic Management Journal Vol. 12 No. 7 1991

Porter's ‘competitive advantage of nations’: An assessment

Robert M. Grant

California Polytechnic State University

Abstract

Porter's Competitive Advantage of Nations is an important book which bridges the gap between strategic management and international economics while contributing substantially to both. Porter's analysis of the impact of national environment on international competitive performance demonstrates the potential for the theory of competitive strategy to rescue international economics from its slide into refined irrelevance, while simultaneously broadening the scope of the theory of competitive strategy to encompass both the international dimension and the dynamic context of competition. Nevertheless, the breadth and relevance of Porter's analysis have been achieved at the expense of precision and determinancy. Concepts are often ill defined, theoretical relationships poorly specified, and empirical data chosen selectively and interpreted subjectively.

DOI
10.1002/smj.4250120706
Volume
12
Issue
7
Pages
535-548
Language
en
Sources
crossref openalex

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