Search results for "Competitive advantage"

Automation of Warehouse Management and Assortment in the Distribution of Durable Goods: An Analysis for the Ceramics and Building Supplies Industry i…

2009

The introduction of information and communication technologies can be a source of competitive advantages for the retailer, even if at significant cost. In the present work we try to identify the factors that characterize companies that invest in these technologies to automate warehouse management and, in particular, the relation between the degree of automation and the retail assortment. In order to achieve this aim, we consider a sample of distributors of ceramics and building supplies in Spain. The results suggest that warehouse management automation is related to the depth and breadth of the products carried in the retail assortment.

Development of Customer-Orientation, Brand-Orientation and Business Performance within the First Ten Years of the Firm

2017

The business performance of young firms is significantly influenced by customer- and brand-oriented capabilities. These capabilities can be sustained competitive advantages for firms from an early age on and managers need to consciously develop them over time. In the first years, the development of these firms is still highly dependent on their environment. The products and services are still under development, and there are only little resources and market information available. Therefore, the development of customer-orientation, brand-orientation and their impact on business performance at this age is crucial to be understood for founders to appropriately manage these capabilities. The pu…

Bifurcations in business profitability: An agent-based simulation of homophily in self-financing groups

2021

Abstract Formal financial institutions inadequately distribute startup capital to business ventures of ethnic minorities, women, low-educated, and young people. Self-financing groups fill this gap because in these associations agents accumulate their savings into a fund that is later used to provide loans to the members. This study builds and simulates an agent-based model that compares the profitability of businesses started by members of self-financing groups against businesses financed by commercial loans. The results indicate that—besides the self-generation of debt capital—businesses of members of self-financing groups can have higher returns due to the consolidation of social capital …

Information and communication technology in retailing: A cross-industry comparison

2009

Abstract Information technology (IT) may represent a source of competitive advantage for businesses in general and for retailers in particular. However, there is debate in the literature over the usefulness of investing in technology. This paper aims at analyzing the relationship between consumers’ perception on the use of information and communication technology by the retailer and consumer satisfaction with retailer technologies. Results support the need to restrict the investment in IT to what is strictly necessary, although there are significant differences according to retailer activity.

A shift in perspective? The role of emotional branding in shaping born globals’ performance

2019

Abstract Branding strategies have been at the core of marketing and strategy literatures for decades. Global brands are known for their positive influence in increasing customer trust and confidence, thus reducing the risks associated with foreign operations from the firms’ standpoint. These positive effects of global brands have led to research exploring brand image while emphasizing its relevance in positioning, gaining competitive advantage, and facilitating firms’ international business. Born-global firms (BGs) can mostly benefit from harnessing brand image, mainly by reducing market-related uncertainties while establishing a brand-based reputation and thus enhance their international e…

Does model consistency in business model innovation matter? A contingency-based approach

2017

Successful business model innovation requires managers to come up not only with new, but also with viable business models. To this end, it has been argued that business model consistency plays a vital role, as the internal fit of business model elements can generate reinforcing effects, thereby influencing performance and competitive advantage. Little research has been conducted to measure consistency and confirm these effects, especially within business model innovation. We tackle this issue by developing and testing a measurement of business model consistency, and investigate its relationship with business model innovation and its performance. We find evidence supporting the positive effe…

Interrelations between competitiveness and responsibility at macro and micro level

2008

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to emphasize that the growing of competitiveness at any level may be possible through more responsibility (business ethics) on the one hand and less corruption (as lack of business ethics) on the other.Design/methodology/approachThe objective of the paper is to identify the double‐way relationships between competitiveness and the responsible (beyond ethics) behaviour. In order to do this, the authors used correlation indexes CORREL and R2 and the graphic representation able to illustrate the above‐mentioned interrelations.FindingsThe authors observed that there is a strong and direct correlation between GCI, RCI and CPI – at national level, and six possib…

Sustainable strategies for small companies competing 
against multinational giants

2012

Structural and Functional Analysis of BBA03, Borrelia burgdorferi Competitive Advantage Promoting Outer Surface Lipoprotein

2020

BBA03 is a Borrelia burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein encoded on one of the most conserved plasmids in Borrelia genome, linear plasmid 54 (lp54). Although many of its genes have been identified as contributing or essential for spirochete fitness in vivo, the majority of the proteins encoded on this plasmid have no known function and lack homologs in other organisms. In this paper, we report the solution NMR structure of the B. burgdorferi outer surface lipoprotein BBA03, which is known to provide a competitive advantage to the bacteria during the transmission from tick vector to mammalian host. BBA03 shows structural homology to other outer surface lipoproteins reflecting their genetic …

Which Competitive Strategy Fits Better to Different Family-Business Profiles?

2020

This chapter belongs to the vein of research that analyses family firms from a configurational approach. This survey explores which combination of competitive strategy, environmental turbulence, family complexity, and family firm management and governance arrangements are present when firm performance is present. This research follows Le Breton-Miller and Miller's call to gain a better understanding of the interaction between competitive strategy, environmental conditions, and family firm features. Literature reports controversial results with regard to family-business strategic preferences and firm performance, and recent research shows that this relationship needs considering both industr…