In this paper we argue that market boundaries are socially constructed
around a collective cognitive model that summarizes typical organizat
ional forms within an industry. This model is produced when firms obse
rve each other's actions and define unique product positions in relati
on to each other. Our study examines the question of how firms define
a reference group of rivals when market cues are ambiguous and interor
ganizational variety is high and identifies the industry model underly
ing rivalry among Scottish knitwear producers. The data suggest that a
six-category model of organizational forms best describes the common
sense of competition in the industry and that an ensemble of attribute
s involving size, technology, product style, and geographic location f
orms the foundation for this ordering. The results also show how this
industry model is reproduced within the rivalry network structuring im
perfect competition in the industry.