Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • 2015
  • Chapter
  • Strategies for Shaping Territorial Competitiveness

What Is Regional Strategy? Lessons from Business Strategy

By: Christian H.M. Ketels
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

Regional policy, especially in Europe, makes increasing reference to the notion of strategy, a conceptual tool developed in the area of business studies. This chapter reviews some key aspects of strategy as defined by the so-called "positioning school" and discusses how these ideas can be translated into the context of regions. It identifies differences between the two areas but also finds sufficient similarities for the concept of strategy to be useful for regions. The value of a more thorough reflection on the notion of strategy becomes clear when the conceptual framework is contrasted with the reality of strategies as defined by regions. We find that some important aspects of strategy, especially the notion of strategic positioning based on specific business environment qualities, are systematically missing. Regions would benefit from a closer look at the insights from businesses when developing their strategies.

Keywords

Competitiveness; Regional Policy; Strategic Planning; Globalized Economies and Regions; Competition; Policy

Citation

Ketels, Christian H.M. "What Is Regional Strategy? Lessons from Business Strategy." Chap. 3 in Strategies for Shaping Territorial Competitiveness, edited by Jesus M. Valdaliso and James R. Wilson, 37–54. New York, NY: Routledge, 2015.
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Purchase

About The Author

Christian H.M. Ketels

→More Publications

More from the Author

    • 13 Jan 2023 - 14 Jan 2023
    • Faculty Research

    India’s Quest for Sustainable Growth in a New Global Reality:: The Need for a Region- and Sector-Driven Approach

    By: Christian H.M. Ketels and Michael E. Porter
    • 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100

    By: Michael E. Porter and Christian H.M. Ketels
    • 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Industrial Policy in a New Global Reality: Towards a More Location—and Sector—Driven Approach

    By: Christian H.M. Ketels and Emiliano Duch
More from the Author
  • India’s Quest for Sustainable Growth in a New Global Reality:: The Need for a Region- and Sector-Driven Approach By: Christian H.M. Ketels and Michael E. Porter
  • Competitiveness Roadmap for India@100 By: Michael E. Porter and Christian H.M. Ketels
  • Industrial Policy in a New Global Reality: Towards a More Location—and Sector—Driven Approach By: Christian H.M. Ketels and Emiliano Duch
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College