Building on market-orientation theory, this research centers on the market-driving strategy and the key attributes that top and middle-level management should have in order to facilitate and perform such a strategy. Findings from an exploratory study including in-depth interviews with 27 experts, seven academicians and 20 experienced practitioners working in market-driving companies across an array of sectors, show that there is a number of common as well as unique attributes that each one of these two managerial groups should have so as to perform a market-driving strategy. Given that this is the first research to explore personnel attributes as a key antecedent of the application of a market-driving strategy, the present research results in an extensive number of academic research propositions as well as relevant managerial implications for the business community.
