In the German automobile industry the vertical integration, as an indicator of value added, is on average low. Beyond the argument of relative high labour costs for manufacturing, several specific reasons for the level of vertical integration, linked to the flexibility of business administration...

This study examines the strategy-performance relationship within publicly traded German firms. Strategic management literature provides several strategic frameworks that offer guidance on promising strategies. However, due to major changes such as globalization and fundamental differences...

Hidden Champions (HCs) are firms unknown to the wider public, but global leaders in the niche markets they serve. This paper looks at distinctive features of these firms, focusing on their dynamic capabilities. Employing a unique data base on German firms, we identify a representative sample of...

In today’s fast changing environment large companies need to be fast and flexible to compete successfully against smaller, more agile competitors. Strategic foresight encompasses a set of tools, processes and organisation forms that enable large companies to identify, assess, and act upon...