4 We build connections between envelopes, a recently proposed context for efficient estima5 tion in multivariate statistics, and multivariate partial least squares (PLS) regression. In partic6 ular, we establish an envelope as the nucleus of both univariate and multivariate PLS, which 7 opens the door to pursuing the same goals as PLS but using different envelope estimators. It 8 is argued that...

A recent SMJ article (Hulland, 1999) raises interesting questions about the proper use of partial least squares (PLS) in strategy research. The present note examines some of the issues raised in the article, and briefly extends the methodological discussion to the broader aspects of theory and empirical research in strategy.