Resumen

ALVAREZ MEDINA, Lourdes. Competitiveness in the Industrial Enterprise: a Reflection on Methodology. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.43, pp.341-357. ISSN 1315-9984.

In recent years, an immense number of approaches to studying competitiveness have appeared, nevertheless, no consensus exists regarding the definition, dimensions or categories that should be studied. This work takes a look at the weaknesses of most well-known competitiveness indicators using secondary sources. Approaches are reviewed to evaluate competitiveness, and previous studies evaluating the competitiveness of the steel industry in Mexico are analyzed using indicators of exporter behavior and technological innovation. These indicators demonstrate weaknesses because a company that increases sales in the world market may not bring benefits to the country or its employees. Also, the most innovating companies are not always the most competitive, a situation related to industry structure and characteristics. Conclusions are that the methodology for analyzing competitiveness cannot be standardized, but is rather a mosaic of possibilities that must be analyzed in order to establish methods that best help to explain the performance of a company or industry.

Palabras clave : Competitive approach; steel industry; Mexico.