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Title: A longitudinal Study of Strategic Choice, Multiple Advantage, Cumulative Model, and Order Winner/Minimum Qualifier Views of Manufacturing Strategy

Authors: Patricia L. Nemetz

Addresses: Author address listing can be found in the "About the Authors" section at the end of the article.

Abstract: Manufacturing strategy is a concept that has developed some complexity over the last decade. To increase understanding of the concept, a longitudinal study of 41 firms in the electronics, aerospace, lumber products, and recreational equipment industries was conducted using data from 1989 and 1999. The data most strongly supported Terry Hill's (1989) order winner/minimum qualifier view of manufacturing strategy. The findings are important because each view of manufacturing strategy suggests a different approach to pursuing strategic objectives. Strategic choice suggests pursuing a single strategic objective. Multiple advantage theory suggests that multiple objectives can be pursued, but the cumulative model and minimum qualifier views offer different approaches for achieving multiple advantages. The cumulative model suggests a prescribed order of priorities with quality first, followed by delivery, then flexibility, then cost. The minimum qualifier view suggests firms must scan the environment for the order of priorities. The results of this research support the more externally focused approach of the minimum qualifier view.

Keywords: Manufacturing strategy; strategic choice; cumulative model; multiple advantage; minimum qualifier.

DOI: 10.1504/JBM.2002.141075

Journal of Business and Management, 2002 Vol.8 No.1, pp.51 - 67

Published online: 05 Sep 2024 *