Testing The Applicability of Porter's Generic Strategies In The Digital Age: A Study of Korean Cyber Malls

Abstract

Although traditional strategic management theory evolved in the context ofbrick and mortar firms operating in a physical space, we propose that Porter's(1980) generic strategy framework is still applicable, albeit in need of somemodification, to competition in the digital age. This study tests that assertionin a sample of Korean online shopping malls. In particular, it explores the followingresearch question: Do Porter's (1980) generic strategies explain performancedifferences across business-to-consumer (B2C) firms?Our results suggest that Porter's generic strategies are applicable to e-businessand that they indeed explain performance differences across firms.Contrary to conventional wisdom, but consistent with the logic of business inthe digital realm, the cost leadership strategy exhibited the lowest performance.Firms pursuing a hybrid cost leadership/differentiation strategy exhibited thehighest performance. Interestingly, when a sub-sample of all firms pursuing thehybrid strategy was analyzed for performance differences by firm type (pureplays vs. clicks-and-bricks), pure plays exhibited superior performance. Ourfindings suggest that cost leadership and differentiation can be combined at thesame time, and must be combined to be successful in e-business.