Models of strategic practices carried out by mid-size family construction firms

Abstract

There are few researches about the specificities of the strategic practices carried out by mid-size firms. This paper assumes that different sizes imply different characteristics. Based on this assumption, we seek to generate substantive propositions that offer explanations about the strategic practices carried out by mid-size firms. To achieve this objective, we have reviewed attributes that are usually related to the midsize in scientific literature and we also have collected data from three familiar construction firms. Through a longitudinal approach, we have returned to the foundation date of each company, looking for recurrences and structures that, in turn, could lead us to an explanatory model. Analyses were made by qualitative techniques. Among other results, we have found that features inherited from the small size tend to generate behaviour patterns by which the firms tends to remain in the mid-size, once the success of its proposals is related to strategies that are intrinsic to the state in which the firm is. Keywords: Midsize. Strategic Practices.Strategic Behaviour.Family Construction Firms.Longitudinal Multi-case Study.