Which factors impact on the success of agricultural enterprises? The objective of this paper is to identify some of the key factors in this regard. Linear structural equation models with latent variables are used to examine strategic management phenomena. The analysis is based on the results of annual financial statements of agricultural enterprises from southern Saxony-Anhalt for 1995/96 to 1999/00. The enterprises' success is measured by the gross margin in crop production. The identified success factors are from different functional areas of the corporate management. Four dimensions of corporate management have been analysed: market, production, technology, and production factor structure. The results indicate two main conclusions. Firstly, the background variables had a significant influence on indicator variables assigned to them.
Secondly, they had significant affects on the enterprise success. Success factors with significant impacts turned out to be market orientation and technology.
