Towards a contingent approach to firm strategy on the lowest levels of the hierarchy of the defence industry
ISSN: 1463-6689
Article publication date: 7 August 2019
Issue publication date: 5 September 2019
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide a strategic analysis of firms at the lowest hierarchical levels of the defence industry.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the main results of an exploratory, multiple-case study that analyses the current strategy drivers and their views about the future ones, and their impact at the lowest hierarchical levels of the defence industry in Spain.
Findings
This investigation develops and analyses a contingency model regarding the strategy impact and effects of firms’ drivers and clients, both mediated by the strategy players because of their huge impact on the defence industry. The research model focuses on the internal relations between technical and commercial activities due to the cause and effect of their capabilities. Simultaneously, pull and push mechanisms boost firms’ capabilities and requirements to provide strategic foresight.
Practical implications
Ministries of Defence (MoDs) and prime contractors will remain mediating players in the near future even with further implications for the competition of Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB) firms. It implies that firms and MoDs must maintain a close relation and implement more flexible practices, such as open innovation, property rights or new commercialization schemes.
Originality/value
This study offers insights related to the specific applications and the necessity of commercial and technological areas alignment of these firms for the future.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank the academicians and managers who help us to design the semi structured interview as well as all the managers who offered insight information about their firms' strategic processes. They also thank two anonymous reviewers for helpful feedback on an earlier version of this paper. This research was supported by the Grant CUD-2014-SOC-02 (University of Zaragoza and the University Centre of Defence), the Government of Aragón (Group Reference CREVALOR: S42_17R), and co-financed with FEDER 2014-2020 “Construyendo Europa desde Aragón”.
Citation
Vicente Oliva, S., Martínez-Sánchez, Á. and Escribano-Bernal, F. (2019), "Towards a contingent approach to firm strategy on the lowest levels of the hierarchy of the defence industry", Foresight, Vol. 21 No. 5, pp. 582-604. https://doi.org/10.1108/FS-11-2018-0094
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited