Everything in Its Place : Entrepreneurship and the Strategic Management of Cities, Regions, and States

Every city, region and state wants to do better---or at the very least, not do worse. Places have a strong and vigorous concern with and stake in generating a stronger economic performance. This concern spans a broad spectrum of constituents and interests, including business, labor, non-profit organizations, government, and private residents. However, such decision makers mandated with the strategic management of their place receive little guidance or insight from scholars in terms of a systematic framework for evaluating how to generate and sustain a competitive advantage for their place. While an entire academic field exists devoted to analyzing how firms and organizations can create and sustain a competitive advantage and ultimately a strong economic performance---the field of strategic management in business schools---no such analogous field exists which is devoted to guiding and informing decision makers mandated and concerned with the strategic management of their place. Everything in Its Place seeks to fill this intellectual void, explaining the underlying economic and social factors and the broad spectrum of policies and instruments that can actually influence and enhance economic performance in places. Several academic fields have generated a number of important theories, empirical findings, and case studies that shed considerable light on identifying and unraveling the underlying forces about what shapes this economic performance. Combined in this book with the actual experiences and instincts garnered from practitioners and policy makers, these insights are integrated together in into a coherent, inclusive framework to guide and inform thought leaders and scholars in the strategic management of places. Every City, Region And State Wants To Do Better--or At The Very Least, Not To Do Worse. Places Have A Strong And Vigorous Concern With And Stake In Generating A Stronger Economic Performance. This Concerns A Broad Spectrum Of Constituents And Interests, Including Business, Labor, Non-profit Organizations, Government, And Private Residents. However, Such Decision Makers Mandated With The Strategic Management Of Their Place Receive Little Guidance Or Insight From Scholars In Terms Of A Systematic Framework For Evaluating How To Generate And Sustain A Competitive Advantage For Their Place. While An Entire Academic Field Exists Devoted To Analyzing How Firms And Organizations Can Create And Sustain A Competitive Advantage And Ultimately A Strong Economic Performance--the Field Of Strategic Management In Business Schools--no Such Analogous Field Exists Which Is Devoted To Guiding And Informing Decision Makers Mandated And Concerned With The Strategic Management Of Their Place. 'everything In Its Place' Seeks To Fill This Intellectual Void, Explaining The Underlying Economic And Social Factors And The Broad Spectrum Of Policies And Instruments That Can Actually Influence And Enhance Economic Performance In Places. Several Academic Fields Have Generated A Number Of Important Theories, Empirical Findings, And Case Studies That Shed Considerable Light On Identifying And Unraveling The Underlying Forces That Shape This Economic Performance. Combined In This Book With The Actual Experiences And Instincts Garnered From Practitioners And Policy Makers, These Insights Are Integrated Together Into A Coherent, Inclusive Framework To Guide And Inform Thought Leaders And Scholars In The Strategic Management Of Places--book Jacket. By David B. Audretsch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Audretsch posits a systematic and strategic framework to stimulate and guide practitioners, public policy leaders, and other individuals with a mandate to engage in the strategic management of their place in framing and implementing strategies designed to enhance the economic performance of their place. This includes not just public officials but also a much broader spectrum of practitioners, such as chambers of commerce, consulting firms, local activists, city leaders, and concerned citizens, as well as businesses with any kind of link or vested interest to a particular place Cover 1 Contents 6 Preface 8 1. Introduction 16 2. The Mandate 28 3. Resources and Factors 43 4. Organization and Structure 73 5. The Human Element 99 6. Public Policy 119 7. Conclusions 142 Notes 152 References 162 Index 174