Longitudinal Study Regarding the Growth-Oriented Positioning Shift of Small Architectural Firms in Adjacent Cities

Abstract

This longitudinal study aims to understand the positioning shift of small architectural firms located in Daejeon and Sejong by comparing the survey results from 2015 and 2021. The positions of architectural firms were compared with the present and future as time categories with an internal and external point of view. The research results revealed that there were repetitive positioning patterns and the different architectural market conditions of Daejeon and Sejong were affected by the positioning of architectural firms in each city. The architectural firms in Sejong, which have many large projects, were more likely to show large firm-oriented positioning than Daejeon’s counterparts, specifically in external positioning. However, the positions shifted from large to small within the time frame of the present and future positionings of 2015 and in 2021. This positioning shift revealed the repeated pattern of desire to grow, failure to get large, and hope for growth within small, local architectural firms. These research results could help propel further research to understand and establish a growth plan while focusing on the positioning elements that are more likely to affect growth.