Some indicators of dynamic technological competencies: understanding of Indian software managers

Indicators of dynamic competencies are important. Managerial attitudes, intuitive understanding and managerial opinion on what indicates competencies determines these competencies. This research constructs a few indicators of competencies, of small/start-up software firms from India, based on managerial understanding and opinion. Received literature on competencies appear more as theory-driven and suggested measures depend upon financial values of variables, both internal and public. A meta-theory driven, opinion based empirical and theory-building route to comprehending competencies, we observe, do provide a richer understanding and a set of indicators, which can be employed as well by managers to redeployed resources. Managers or entrepreneurs of several start-up or new firms in Indian software provided information on the preferred decision criteria and based on these inputs, four simple indicators of competencies in the dimensions of product, project/services, technology and strategy, have been constructed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.