Integrating concepts of marketing, information resources management, and planned change, this volume demonstrates the versatility and potential applications of competitive positioning programs designed to enhance local and regional economic development. In conjunction with its companion text, the volume stresses an information resources management (IRM) perspective emphasizing that the effective acquisition, interpretation, and communication of information is a basic, "line" managerial function rather than a support, "staff" managerial function. The first chapter introduces key concepts related to competitive positioning, examines critical organizational factors associated with the successful implementation of competitive positioning programs, and discusses important tasks necessary to initiate competitive positioning programs. The last three chapters focus on the analytical tasks associated with competitive positioning programs, the implementation and supervision of competitive positioning programs, and the modification and termination of competitive positioning programs. Each chapter has key activities included to aid readers in learning how to assess organizational and community readiness and to implement IRM-based techniques.