Competitive Advantage Research Articles

A Study on Designing and Managing the Supply Chain Process and its Impact on Business Performance to Gain a Long-Term Competitive Advantage

Abstract: This study aims to understand factors that improve business performance and gain a competitive advantage. It compares the operations and supply chain procedures of automakers like General Motors, Toyota, and Ford to assess their management efficiency ratios. The research examines the cash conversion cycle, cash conversion cycle, receivables turnover, inventory turnover, and total asset turnover. General Motors leads in quickly turning sales into profits, with shorter collection periods and lower inventory holdings. The study also highlights the complex interplay between financial success, competitive advantage, and operational excellence in the automobile sector. By utilizing this information, companies can improve their supply chain operations and long-term competitiveness.

Data-driven strategies for business expansion: Utilizing predictive analytics for enhanced profitability and opportunity identification

In today's hyper-competitive business landscape, leveraging data-driven strategies is paramount for sustainable growth and profitability. This review presents an overview of the imperative role of predictive analytics in facilitating business expansion by enhancing profitability and identifying opportunities. Predictive analytics harnesses historical data and advanced modeling techniques to forecast future trends, enabling businesses to make informed decisions with precision. By understanding predictive analytics, businesses can effectively identify expansion opportunities by analyzing market trends, segmenting customer bases, and uncovering new markets and niches. Moreover, predictive analytics empowers organizations to enhance profitability through optimized pricing strategies, demand forecasting, and personalized marketing initiatives tailored to customer preferences and behaviors. Implementing data-driven strategies for business expansion requires building a robust data infrastructure, selecting appropriate tools and technologies, and fostering a data-driven culture within the organization. Real-world case studies illustrate the transformative impact of predictive analytics on business expansion, offering insights into best practices and lessons learned. Despite the undeniable benefits of predictive analytics, challenges such as data privacy concerns, ensuring data quality, and organizational resistance must be addressed. However, the rewards of embracing data-driven decision-making far outweigh the challenges, positioning businesses for sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the dynamic marketplace. In conclusion, this review emphasizes the critical role of predictive analytics in driving business expansion by enhancing profitability and opportunity identification. By harnessing the power of data, businesses can unlock new avenues for growth, mitigate risks, and stay ahead of the curve in today's data-driven economy.

Managing global supply chain teams: human resource strategies for effective collaboration and performance

This study examines the role of human resource (HR) strategies in enhancing collaboration and performance within global supply chains, an area of increasing importance in the context of globalized business operations. The primary objective is to identify and analyze current trends in HR practices that contribute to effective global supply chain management, focusing on adaptability, technological integration, sustainability, and ethical practices. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis as its methodology, the study draws on academic journals, conference proceedings, and industry reports from databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Key findings reveal that adaptability and flexible work arrangements, supported by digital HR technologies, are essential for operational resilience and employee engagement. The integration of sustainability and ethical considerations into HR practices is identified as crucial for maintaining competitive advantage and ensuring regulatory compliance. Furthermore, the development of cultural intelligence and inclusive leadership within global teams is highlighted as vital for fostering effective collaboration across diverse cultural landscapes. The study concludes that strategic HR management plays a pivotal role in navigating the challenges and leveraging the opportunities within global supply chains. Recommendations for practitioners emphasize the importance of continuous learning, embracing digital transformation, and integrating sustainability into HR practices. The study also outlines areas for further research, including the impact of emerging technologies on HR practices and the long-term effects of sustainable HR strategies on organizational performance. This research contributes valuable insights into optimizing HR strategies to enhance global supply chain collaboration and performance.

Digital procurement practices in SMES: comparative cases of advanced and emerging economies

About 99 percent of American firms are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and more than 88 percent of people are employed in SMEs. However, most SMEs are not using supplier interactions in digital platforms which is a flexible IT infrastructure (software, hardware, and network) and a well-developed information management capability. Organizations can use digital procurement platforms to foster managerial improvisation and can leverage, depending on the type of unexpected event. If we look at the emerging economy, the percentage of SMEs of total business is almost the same as advanced economies, but their digitalization is much less than the advanced economy. It is obvious that digital procurement is now one of the most significant prerequisites to tackle the supply chain crisis that leads to gaining competitive advantages in the financial and non-financial perspective of a business. It is also true that lacking the proper understanding of digital transformation and organizational capabilities, many small and medium enterprises are facing enormous hardships to sustain. This study aims to examine the challenges and opportunities of SMEs with digital procurement. Based on the literature review, we present a research model of digital transformation which defines key variables. We also use case study instruments to target SMEs in different sectors in advanced (USA) and emerging economies (Bangladesh) for empirical investigation.

A Novel GE-Mackinsey Market Approach: Investment Opportunity for the Biopolymer Packaging Materials

Sustainable development in agriculture seeks to implement a robust bioeconomy strategy by valorizing agricultural resources into value-added products. Compared to primary biomass use, using agriculture residues and wastes can achieve higher reductions in GHG emissions and lower feedstock costs. Bioeconomy has substantial potential for high-value products such as biopolymers, pharmaceuticals, and food and feed additives. Low-value applications like bioenergy, biofuels, and bulk chemicals have a weak potential for bioeconomy development. However, high value-added products, including biopolymers, require an equal focus as other products in the bioeconomy value pyramid that can lift the market to elevate sustainable bioeconomy development. A successful transition through radical innovations must be justifiable, with economic, environmental, and social benefits primarily promoted by stakeholders, businesses, or government organizations. One of the core options would be to know the market potential of the biopolymer products. Here, a methodology for decision-making to evaluate four existing biopolymer packaging materials (Cellulose, PHA, PLA, and starch) in the EU market has been developed using the GE-McKinsey Nine-Box Matrix, considering market attractiveness and product competitive advantage. Market innovations can be fostered by integrating the resource availability and technology advancement indicators to the methodology steps. The methodology considers sustainability advantages for the agriculture sector and promotes the strategic commercialization of biopolymer packaging materials. Product-specific indicators are used to evaluate the market attractiveness and product competitive advantage. The research findings show that PLA biopolymer packaging material has the highest potential for commercialization. The application of this methodology and its results provide a justifiable way of determining the investments in value-added products and allow investors to make the right decision-making choice for bioplastic packaging materials, ensuring their sustainability and profitability in the market.

The linkages among environmental dynamism, dynamic capability and competitive advantage: Significant implication for retail development

This study simultaneously examined the linkages among environmental dynamism, three dynamic capabilities, and the competitive advantages of retail businesses, which have not been identified before. Furthermore, this study fills the significant gaps in the literature and practical guidelines for retail development through improving retailer’s dynamic capabilities in response to environmental dynamism. The study used a quantitative approach by partial least squares SEM (PLS-SEM) to examine the hypotheses. Data were collected from 304 Vietnamese retail business managers. The results show that environmental dynamism plays a significant role in fostering the improvement of retailers’ dynamic capabilities. The findings also reveal positive linkages among the three dynamic capabilities before they significantly improve retailers’ competitive advantage. These are the valuable guidelines for retailers to nurture their dynamic capabilities, including service innovation capabilities, multi-channel integration, and brand orientation for sustaining their competitive advantages.

Designing nickel smelter industry investment competitiveness policy in Indonesia through system dynamics model

Purpose This research is intended to assess the nickel smelter industry’s investment competitiveness in Indonesia and identify ways to improve its competitive advantage for the nation. Design/methodology/approach This research uses a sequential mixed-methods approach, expanding on a first qualitative phase with a second quantitative phase. Interviews are used in the qualitative phase to identify the underlying causes of issues and potential solutions to increase the competitiveness of the nickel smelter industry, while a system dynamics (SD) model is used to conduct the quantitative phase. This study uses the idea of a country’s competitive advantage from Porter’s diamond model (PDM). The model was tested and validated using SD simulation resulting in a new policy scenario, which was evaluated in metallurgy expert conferences and high policymaker discussion forums. Findings The results reveal the complexity of the nickel smelter industry in Indonesia and conclude that the integrated export duty beneficence policy is the most effective way to boost competitiveness. This policy gives a significant improvement both in the number of smelters and state revenue compared to the current policy. The industry’s investment competitiveness is enhanced by the six factors of the diamond model, with the first three factors being integrated strategy, limited export of excess production and export duty beneficence, while the remaining factors are metal price fluctuation, domestic demand and mineral supply which are related to mining conditions uncertainty. Research limitations/implications The research creates a SD model to support Indonesia’s competitive advantage in the smelter industry. Despite limitations like interpretations and distorted semantic analysis, it provides a useful framework for exploring complex industry themes, excluding social factors due to limited data and knowledge requirements. Practical implications The findings of this research offer a framework for policymaking by the government to enhance the competitiveness of investments in Indonesia’s nickel smelter industry. Originality/value This study delves into Indonesia’s nickel industry competitiveness using PDM. Using a more detailed SD model with quantitative analysis, it goes beyond strategy development to provide a comprehensive approach to the nickel smelter industry.

Establishing Consumer Trust Through Data Protection Law as a Competitive Advantage in Indonesia and India

Data protection laws play a crucial role in enhancing consumer trust in the digital economy, especially with the rise of online cybersecurity threats due to firm expansion. Despite advances, personal data protection laws remain controversial globally, with challenges in implementation hindering progress in some regions. This research examines the competitive advantage of building consumer trust through the Personal Data Protection Law. This research uses juridical-normative research with a legislative approach and comparison with other countries. A comparison was made with India, one of the countries with higher awareness of the importance of personal data protection laws than other countries. The results show that Consumer trust in a company is measured by the extent to which they believe the company will protect their data. Public privacy policies and government regulations that enforce data security measures and increase transparency positively impact trust by reducing concerns about privacy risks. Although data protection laws have been introduced, obstacles such as lack of legal assistance and overlapping sectoral regulations still exist, hindering the smooth implementation of these laws. Nevertheless, implementing data protection laws, such as Indonesia's Private Data Protection Law No. 27 of 2022 and India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act of 2023, is crucial for boosting consumer confidence and regulating data processing. Data security is critical in establishing and maintaining consumer trust in companies as online cybersecurity threats increase with business expansion.

Nourish resilience in digital food supply chain in post COVID landscape: literature swill for past insights and future roadmap

PurposeThe paper aims to enhance the understanding of robust food supply chains (FSC) by exploring the capabilities of various digital technologies and examining their interactions.FindingsThis study finding shows that digital technology enhances the resilience of the FSC by improving visibility, traceability and adaptability. This resilience provides a competitive advantage, ultimately enhancing the overall business performance.Research limitations/implicationsIn developing countries, inadequate infrastructure, poor Internet connectivity and diverse stakeholder systems pose challenges to implementing advanced digital solutions in the FSC.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to investigate the impact of digital technology on FSC resilience, exploring visibility, flexibility and collaboration.

Circular Economy Awareness and Motivations in the Furniture Industry: İnegöl as a Microcosm of Global South Dynamics

This study examines the distinctive characteristics of circular economy (CE) transitions in the Global South, with the aim of elucidating the complex dynamics. The furniture cluster in İnegöl, Turkey, is employed as a case study. A circular economy awareness survey is employed to illustrate the current perspective of the industry. In total, 40 companies from the cluster have been reached, and the results have been analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Furthermore, to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers and motivations for potential CE transitions, a semi-structured interview was conducted with a key figure within the ecosystem. The key findings of the study reveal that, in comparison to the Global North, companies operating in the Global South have less awareness of the coverage of CE, with applications confined to waste reduction and energy efficiency. Additionally, new design and innovation efforts are not identified among the expected benefits related to implementing CE. This paper highlights the fact that exporting companies from the Global South may face challenges for sustaining their competitive advantage in EU markets, particularly after 2026, due to their limited understanding of CE.

Traditional and environmentally friendly attributes in products of highly design-oriented firms: an exploratory study in the perception of Italian entrepreneurs

Purpose The aim of this study was to empirically examine how much traditional attributes and green attributes characterize products within design-oriented firms. Further, we explored how these attributes relate to the perceived level of innovation of the firms.Design/methodology/approach An exploratory research was carried out in 86 Italian manufacturing companies that are members of the Industrial Design Association. Using the questionnaire method, the entrepreneurs’ perceptions have been analyzed. Data have been treated with hierarchical cluster analysis.Findings The analysis shows that environmental sustainability is the least important attribute of a design product and four clusters of highly design-oriented firms differ by design-product attributes. Further, the least green firms are also the least innovative in terms of incremental and general innovation.Research limitations/implications The small size of the sample and the provenance of firms from a single country imply limited generalizability, and further research on the topic is recommended.Practical implications Design-driven innovation based on traditional design attributes provides many competitive advantages to firms. However, given the growing concern about environmental challenges, investing in green attributes in design products allows for remaining competitive and more effective in innovation.Originality/value This study, for the first time, reveals the heterogeneity among design-oriented firms, particularly regarding the presence and assortment of traditional design attributes, as well as the incorporation of environmentally friendly attributes in their products. Moreover, the study uncovers the relationship between varying levels of green attributes in the offerings and the perception of the firm’s innovativeness.

Recent progress in MXenes-based lithium-sulfur batteries

Lithium-sulfur batteries (LSBs) are considered as the potent candidates for next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density. However, some inherent problems, including sulfur insulation, shuttle effect caused by lithium polysulfides, and lithium dendrites, hinder their practical application. Various materials have been studied to address the aforementioned issues. A class of two-dimensional inorganic compounds (MXenes), such as transition metal carbides, nitrides, and carbon nitrides, have recently emerged. In this review, we summarize the characteristics and commonly used preparation methods of MXenes and outline the latest development of MXenes and their composites in LSBs. When utilized as sulfur carriers, modified layers of separators, hosts for lithium metal anodes, and electrolyte additives in LSBs, the diversity of structure, excellent conductivity, and high mechanical strength of MXenes and their composites highlight the competitive advantages. This review provides some ideas for the future development of MXenes in LSBs.

Strategic Agility and Performance of Pay Television Industry in Kenya.

The Pay TV market in Kenya operates in a highly competitive business environment, which in turn calls for aggressiveness and more efficient ways of keeping the business afloat. Advancement in technology also comes with several options for Pay TV customers such as online streaming which poses more threat to the market. This research seeks to assess the influence of strategic agility on the performance of the Kenyan Pay TV industry using Multichoice Kenya Limited as the case study. The objectives of this study were to establish the influence of leadership agility, determine the influence cultural agility, assess the influence of business agility, and to determine the influence of career agility on organizational performance in the Kenyan Pay TV industry. The study is of great significance to the government of Kenya since the improved performance of the Pay TV companies can generate more revenue for the government in form of taxes and license fees. New and existing Pay TV companies may also benefit from this study by employing agile strategies for competitive advantage as well as getting more information on how to handle uncertain situations in the business environment. Additionally, academicians who may want to research more on strategic agility may benefit by accessing more information from this study. The concept of strategic agility has not been sufficiently researched especially on the variables such as leadership agility, cultural agility, business agility, career agility and how they influence organizational performance. This research was anchored on four theories namely; The Great Man Theory, Theory of Change, Theory of Constraints, and the Broaden and Build Theory. The reviewed literature on these theories indicates that there is a positive influence of strategic agility on organizational performance. This is a cross-sectional study which involves 60 employees with managerial roles. Descriptive design was used in this study adopting qualitative and quantitative methods. Data collection was done through closed and open-ended questionnaires, keeping a register of questionnaire distribution and feedback collection. A pilot study was carried out to determine the accuracy, clarity and relevance of the study questionnaire. Data analysis was carried using SPSS (V29) and multiple regression analysis. The study found that leadership agility, cultural agility business agility and career agility all have a significant effect on the performance of Pay TV firms in Kenya. The top leadership of firms in Pay TV industry should establish cross-cultural collaboration initiatives to encourage knowledge-sharing and teamwork among employees from different cultural backgrounds, foster a culture that encourages and rewards agile leadership behaviors, such as risk-taking and experimentation and encourage leaders to seek mentorship and coaching to enhance their agility capabilities, should invest in technology and infrastructure that support flexibility and adaptability in responding to market changes and also develop cross-functional teams that can quickly adapt to changing business requirements and address emerging challenges, implement career development plans and pathways that align with the organization's strategic objectives and employees' career aspiration and encourage a growth mindset among employees.

Exploration of Hospital Management and Organization Strategies: A Literature Review of Health Services

Background - Healthcare management strategy and organization encompasses the principles and practices used to operate healthcare facilities efficiently and effectively. It involves the planning, implementation, and coordination of various activities to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care while optimising resource utilisation. The literature review in healthcare provides valuable insights into various aspects of hospital management strategy and organization. Objective - This article aims to find out the importance of management and organizational strategies in service businesses (hospitals) and related factors, so as to create improved human resource performance related to achieving effective and efficient organizational goals to face business competition and can be an organizational strategy in creating job satisfaction, can perform well and can create a competitive advantage for organizations in health services. Research Methode - The method used is the identification of previous articles with a total of 29 articles in the time span of 2000-2023. Search data for literature review was conducted in international journals to support the theory and take the topic of Management and Organizational articles, found 234,347 articles, scope Innovation, 2000-2023, Business, management and accounting, article, organization and management, English found 1,239 articles, Qualitative - 363 articles, Strategic - 134 articles, Performance - 95 articles, Effectiveness - 52 articles, Leadership, Health - 35 articles. Furthermore, articles that do not fit the topic will be ignored. Researchers only use data bases from Scopus and Web of Science because researchers only look for quality articles and the results are more accurate and very credible sources, because the results can be used as references and policies. Results - The importance of the role of management and organization in hospitals and can have a major impact on healthcare organizations. As explained in previous research that Management has a big role to improve hospital performance in an organization. The importance of management and organizational performance as they relate to each other. Human resources (HR) provide special attention in personal development and impact on performance in creating a health service. Conclusion - Management and organization are important in the hospital business because human resources are the driving force of the service business. Good management and organization can create professional and talented human resources results that can improve performance and will have an impact on organizational goals, and services to patients can run well which has an impact on the main objectives of the hospital. Management can be seen from several things including training and development, management practices, organizational climate, and other things that have a relationship in creating effective and efficient management so as to provide optimal results for the organization. Managerial Implications - The healthcare management needs to pay more attention to the evaluation of healthcare operational activities and feedback provided by patient families, the hospital management needs to increase the frequency of its discussions with employees to maintain excellent service quality for patient families, and the hospital management leaders need to set an example and encourage their employees to maintain a good organizational culture in order to maintain their service image.

Implementation of Operational Management at the Manufacturing Company (Pt Nippon Indosari Corpindo, Tbk) Sari Roti

Operational management is very important for all types of industries, one of which is manufacturing. Manufacturing companies are concerned with production processes on a large scale that use equipment and machinery to manage raw materials into finished goods. PT Nippon Indosari Corpindo Tbk “SARI ROTI "is one of the leading bread manufacturing companies in Indonesia. This Journal discusses how SARI ROTI applies operations management concepts to achieve competitive advantage and meet growing market demand. Based on these objectives, researchers use qualitative research with qualitative analysis methods in which research is conducted by analyzing data using theoretical foundations as the basis of analysis. The data analyzed is secondary data, which is data that comes from existing sources and is not self-processed data The results showed that this company is a company that successfully runs the overall operations management concept, so that the company is able to produce quality products and ensure the cleanliness of all its products, as well as efficient in terms of the production process and distribution of products produced with a wide marketing area coverage.

The Way for Companies to Create Green and Sustainable Competitive Advantage

The Way for Companies to Create Green and Sustainable Competitive Advantage

Incremental versus Radical Innovation and Sustainable Competitive Advantage: A Moderated Mediation Model

Innovation is critical for organizations seeking to build and maintain a sustainable advantage in the competitive market. This study aims to construct a moderated mediation model to examine the effects of incremental and radical innovations on competitive advantage, which considers the mediating role of innovation speed and the moderating role of a supportive culture. Data from 201 Chinese firms were collected through questionnaires and the research hypotheses were tested using multiple regression analysis and bootstrapping techniques. The empirical results show that incremental and radical innovations have a significant positive effect on competitive advantage. Radical innovation has a greater impact on competitive advantage compared to incremental innovation. Innovation speed mediates the relationship between incremental and radical innovations and competitive advantage. Supportive culture positively moderates the relationship between incremental and radical innovations and innovation speed. Moreover, supportive culture positively moderates the conditional indirect effect of incremental and radical innovation on competitive advantage through innovation speed. Theoretical and practical implications are further discussed.

Entrepreneurial management, competitive advantage and SME performance: evidence from an emerging economy

Purpose There is a paucity of empirical studies on the impact of entrepreneurial management on small and medium enterprises (SME) performance. Against this backdrop and drawing upon the resource-based view, this study aims to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial management and SME performance and the mediating role of competitive advantage in an emerging economy. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a survey research design and a quantitative approach. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data from a conveniently selected sample of 174 manufacturing SMEs in Nigeria. This study performed mediation analysis to test the proposed hypotheses using Hayes’ PROCESS macro v4. Findings The findings indicate that entrepreneurial management positively impacts competitive advantage and SME performance. Furthermore, competitive advantage has a positive impact on SME performance and plays a significant mediating role in the relationship between entrepreneurial management and SME performance. Research limitations/implications This study only examines manufacturing SMEs in a single country, Nigeria; thus, the generalisability of its findings is limited. Practical implications The findings of this study offer practical implications for SMEs and SME owners or managers. The findings suggest that to gain a sustainable competitive advantage and achieve superior performance, SMEs should pursue opportunities regardless of the available resources, promote flat and flexible organisation structures, adopt fast growth orientation and strategies, reward employees based on the value they add to the organisation and foster an entrepreneurial culture. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to provide empirical evidence of the mediating effect of competitive advantage on the relationship between entrepreneurial management and SME performance in an emerging economy. This study demonstrates that implementing entrepreneurial management practices by SMEs can result in sustainable competitive advantage and superior performance.

Organizational factors, quality performance and competitive advantage of village-owned enterprise in Indonesia

PurposeThis research objective is to (1) examine the effect of organizational factors on quality performance, (2) examine the effect of quality performance on competitive advantage and (3) examine the mediating role of quality performance between organizational factors and competitive advantage.Design/methodology/approachThe research sample includes 140 employees in the Windusari village-owned enterprise, in Magelang, Indonesia. Data are collected using 5-Likert scale questionnaires which follow Ferdousi et al. (2019). The dependent variable is a competitive advantage. The Independent variable is organizational factors which are top management support, employee empowerment, employee involvement, reward and recognition, training and customer focus. The mediating variable is quality performance. Data analysis uses path analysis provided by structural equation modeling.FindingsBased on path analysis, organizational factors have a positive effect on quality performance, quality performance has a positive effect on competitive advantage and quality performance mediates the effect of organizational factors on competitive advantage. The results confirm the concept of quality management where continuous improvement of products and services can meet customer expectations and bring the organization to a better position in the industry to face other competitors.Originality/valueThis research extends the previous studies of the relationship between organizational factors and organizational outcomes by considering the effectiveness of the organizational process. This research also contributes to giving new evidence about the relationship between organizational factors, quality management and competitive advantage in the village-owned enterprise in Magelang, Indonesia. This research also contributes to updating the literature on the theory of quality management.

Competitive Strategy and Advantages

Companies continue their operations under rapidly changing conditions and significant uncertainties in today’s business environment. Faced with this ongoing change, businesses must constantly push themselves toward innovation and seek ways to cope with intense competition. Consequently, to sustain their existence, firms must anticipate environmental changes and strive for competitive advantage in a strong competitive environment. This situation appears to be contingent upon the ability to compete and achieve superiority. Today, achieving competitive advantage for businesses relies on making the right strategic choices. The strategy aims to control changes in a competitive economic environment by fostering innovation, progress, and alignment with the environment. Over the past 50 years, there has been increasing interest in strategy studies from a wide and diverse range of circles. Universities have opened numerous courses on strategy and related topics, with a growing number of academics and researchers conducting studies in this area. Managers and consultants are also increasingly inclined to adopt a more strategic perspective on managerial issues in the business world.