This study was designed to identify location decision factors used by owners/CEOs of small electronic companies in the San Diego/Baja California economic corridor, and to iden tify and define differences in these factors, as they apply to firms located in Mexico and the United States. The study was designed to elicit perceptions concerning location decision factors, and it was recognized by the researcher that percep tions are not always consistent with actual decisions.
One finding was that the American sample did not seem to attach a great deal of importance to location decisions. It was concluded that the data collection instrument designed for this study simply omitted the location decision factors which were of greatest significance to the American managers and CEOs, although the factors included in the instrument were grounded in the literature. Thus, additional research to identify the location decision factors of the greatest per ceived significance to American managers and CEOs would appear to be worthwhile. A suggestion for such research is to collect data through open ended interviews, in order to provide a greater assurance that all relevant location decision criteria will be identified.
For the Mexican sample, a generally low level of correla tion between strategic factors, and factors related to
industrial turbulence was found. The conclusion was, thus, that the strategy of Mexican companies included in the research sample is not generally compatible with turbulence characteris tics related to technology and market demand. Mexican busi nesses, thus, could likely improve their performance through incorporating turbulence characteristics into their strategy development.
For the American sample, a generally low level of correla tion between strategic factors, and factors related to indus trial turbulence was found. Some exceptions, however, did existed. The conclusion was that the strategy of Americ...