Corporate Executive Survey Commentary: Finding Optimal Tradeoffs While Achieving Competitive Advantage
Although no single factor reflects the needs of all businesses, there is an increase focus on talent and other qualitative factors, which must be weighed against costs.
Q1 2016
The changing factor emphasis over these 30 years, as reflected in the surveys, reveals trends that have steadily put more emphasis on quality-of-life measures as the competition for talent has become more intense due to evolving industry sector needs, as well as demographic challenges. Not only has this affected location decisions about R&D centers, headquarters, engineering, and other operational units, but also manufacturing as all industry sectors have adapted advanced digital technologies and additive production processes.
As my career evolved, I saw the impacts of globalization became major drivers in location strategy and site selection. Access became the client priority. Access to intellectual capital and talent, to markets, and to suppliers rose to be top weightings in executive decisions, with quality-of-life and other qualitative factors often identified as the most critical success factors. There is no single factor chart or survey that reflects the needs of all businesses. Not only are the requirements of manufacturing vastly different from those used in siting a research center or headquarters, but also even within a narrow industry sector, competitive strategies, corporate culture, and individual requirements demand tailored approaches. Location analysis and decision-modeling has become ever more comprehensive and complex, but as the 30-Year Comparison of Site Selection Factors chart shows — the trend toward more focus on talent and other qualitative factors, while keeping an eye on costs, is prominent.
Project Announcements
AESC Expands Florence, South Carolina, Operations
03/28/2024
Alticor Expands Ada Township, Michigan, Operations
03/27/2024
Eastman Plans Longview, Texas, Production Operations
03/27/2024
DHL Supply Chain-Vantage Data Centers NV11 Plan Nevada Operations
03/26/2024
Big Jet Expands Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Operations
03/26/2024
Landmark Ceramics UST Expands Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee, Operations
03/25/2024
Most Read
-
2023's Leading Metro Locations: Hotspots of Economic Growth
Q4 2023
-
2023 Top States for Doing Business Meet the Needs of Site Selectors
Q3 2023
-
The Logistics Analysis That Drives Industrial Site Selection
Q4 2023
-
Manufacturing Momentum Is Building
Q1 2024
-
Technology’s Influence on Workforce Development
Workforce Q4 2023
-
38th Annual Corporate Survey: Are Unrealized Predictions of an Economic Slump Leading Small to Mid-Size Companies to Put Off Expansion Plans?
Q1 2024
-
37th Annual Corporate Survey: Economic Pressures Exerting Greatest Effect on Decision-Makers
Q1 2023