Management Policies of Swiss Product Manufacturing Companies: Critical Factors for International Competition : (Part 1)

The purpose of this article is to illustrate the management policies behind the success of Swiss product manufacturing companies in international competition. The study included a few multinational corporations as well as a large number of "hidden champions".
The study has led to three management policies that are currently driven by their top management. The three management policies included (a) extension of the service business, (b) entering the medium market, and (c) optimising the global footprint.
This paper provides effective guidance for managers seeking to respond successfully to global competition. The management policies are complementary perspectives to many existing ideas advocated by practitioners. Shifting management attention towards these three management policies is not easy. There are several barriers limiting management attention.