Business Competitiveness in Urban Environments: Strategic Challenges for Organizational Management in Local Economies

Abstract

Cities have established themselves as strategic spaces for countries' economic growth, job creation, and business innovation. In urban environments, various factors directly influence the competitiveness of organizations: physical and technological infrastructure, connectivity, access to markets, skilled human capital, and public policies geared toward productive development. However, business competitiveness in urban areas also faces significant challenges, some of which are rising costs, intense competition, unequal access to financing, and the need for technological adaptation, which require companies, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to have a constant capacity for adjustment and differentiation. In this sense, innovation strategies, interorganizational alliances, and talent development become determining factors in strengthening the competitive position of economic units in cities.