LA ESTRATEGIA, LA ESTRUCTURA Y LAS FORMAS DE ASOCIACIÓN: FUENTES DE VENTAJA COMPETITIVA PARA LAS PYMES COLOMBIANAS (Article published in Spanish)

Abstract

This article discusses the importance of strategy, structure, and types of partnerships for small and medium- sized businesses (PYMES in Spanish) in Colombia as sources of competitive advantages in the international arena. The first part of this article shows that the economic structures of both industrialized and developing countries include a high percentage of small and medium-sized businesses, which possess the same characteristics worldwide. The second part presents diagnostic studies of small and medium-sized businesses in Colombia, highlighting the absence of competitive business practices. The third part of the article describes various theoretical models that explain the life cycles and configurations of the organization. It also presents the prospects for PYMEs in the first decade of the twenty-first century. Lastly, this article presents conclusions and recommendations of competitive advantages to enable Colombian PYMEs to increase non-traditional exports significantly in the coming years.