Micro-level sectoral analysis of developing economies

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine current performance management practices, identify potential areas of improvement and recommend appropriate interventions. Developing economies continue to intrigue in light of the promise they hold for future growth markets. Existing studies tend to focus on macro-economic factors and to concentrate on a few regions. Few studies have looked at the lesser developed Middle-Eastern regions, such as Palestine. This study seeks to address that deficit; it examines firm-level factors relevant to the competitive performance of enterprises in the Palestinian stone and marble industry, one of the most important industries in the region. Design/methodology/approach: The study utilizes a mixed-methods exploratory qualitative and quantitative approach that probes operational and strategic performance factors. Interviews and insights derived from a survey-based research data from 45 respondents representing a sampling of 36 enterprises form the basis of the analysis. Findings: Findings suggest that the majority of performance measures employed by the firms investigated rely primarily on traditional financial indicators. Although some progressive metrics including those targeting measures of productivity and process efficiency are being adopted by firms in the sector, measures that focus on long-term strategic growth promoters such as innovation and organizational learning are largely not yet employed. Originality/value: The paper concludes with recommendations for how firms competing in such environments might enhance and improve their performance management.