Measures of International Competitiveness: Empirical Findings from British Manufacturing Companies

Abstract

This paper presents the measures of competitiveness used by British managers. The evidence comes from interviews with managers in five manufacturing industries. Measures are classified as (1) performance measures, (2) measures of competitive potential and (3) management process determinants of competitiveness. In the first category, profitable market share emerged as the key concept. The most important measures of potential were R&D spending and commercialisation of R&D. Finally, process measures were given considerable weight by managers and management focus, internal and external relationships and internal functional integration and communication were particularly emphasised.