A new, multi-item scale for operationalizing Miles and Snow's (1978) strategic typology—
defenders, prospectors, analyzers, and reactors—is proposed and field-tested in this paper.
Relatively pure strategic types, identified as those organizations classified similarly using
both the newly developed, multi-item scale and the traditionally employed paragraph
approach, are used to analyze the relationship between strategic types, distinctive marketing
competencies, and organizational performance. Results of analysis suggest that while the
marketing competencies of prospector organizations are superior to those of analyzer,
defender, and reactor organizations, all three stable archetypes perform equally well in
terms of profitability and outperform reactors. The newly developed strategic types scale
performs well and appears to possess significant managerial and research potential. It is
theoretically anchored, easily administered, and possesses diagnostic value to both strategists
and their organizations.