STRATEGIC POSITIONING AND THE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF ORGANIZATIONS: THE BREWING INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study investigated on strategic positioning and competitive advantage of brewing industry in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. It sought to determine the influence of leadership on multinational management in the brewing industry in the South Eastern Nigeria and to ascertain the effect of corporate culture on management of diversity in the brewing industry in South Eastern Nigeria. The population of the study was 750 staff of the brewing industry in the South Eastern Nigeria. The sample size of 750 was obtained using a census approach. Stratified sampling was used to select respondents in each of the brewing industry. Designed questionnaire and oral interview guide were used during the data gathering phases. A test retest was done using Cronbach's alpha, giving a coefficient of 0.82. It was found that Leadership had a positive influence on the multinational management in the brewing industry in South-East, Nigeria (r = 0.916, p < 0.05); and Corporate culture had a positive effect on the management diversity in the brewing industry in South-East, Nigeria. The study recommended that Management should continually and continuously design policies to enhance the strategic positioning of organisations. This will ensure that these organisations are equipped with the requisite knowledge in addition to current global best practices in brewing industries. Appropriate leadership styles that suit the uniqueness of the organization should be adopted, to ensure that effective multinational management is achieved. In addition, Brewing organisations in South Eastern Nigeria should be able to manage the diversities of culture, religion, values and personal practices presented by the different entities within the organization by ensuring the adoption of corporate culture that cut across the uniqueness of various staff of the organization. The study concludes that no organization can survive if it does not have any competitive advantage over the other. When an organization is strategically positioned, it is empowered to face the pressing demands on it by the industry to ensure its survival. Keywords Strategic position, Competitive Advantage, Organization and Experience