ABSTRACT
Initially all the data gathered were directly recorded during interviews, using the schedules designed for the administered questionnaires of 1985 (AQ 1985), the semi-structured interviews of 1985 (SSI 1985) and the reinterview administered questionnaires of 1988 (RIQ 1988). The first instrument (AQ 1985) investigated general characteristics, pricing, costs, sales and competition, and finance. The second instrument (SSI 1985) investigated competitive forces, competitive strategy, and defensive strategy. The third instrument (RIQ 1988) investigated survival rates, innovation, scale economies, skills shortages, and financial structure.
