Competitive Advantage Research Articles

Key characteristics of perceived customer centricity in the passenger airline industry: A systematic literature review

The airline industry is operating in a highly competitive and saturated market and is considered to be one of the most dynamic service industries in the world. Maintaining a high level of passenger satisfaction and incorporating customer centricity into an airline's strategy can be the key competitive advantage. Despite the growing interest of scholars and managers in customer centricity, research on this topic in the airline industry has just started. However, it is key to understand how a firm's intentions to become customer-centric finally translate into customer perceptions. For this purpose, the authors developed a perceived customer centricity framework which is tailored to the environment of the passenger airline industry. A systematic literature review was conducted to review and analyze key characteristics and measures of perceived customer centricity in the airline industry. The authors identified 15 distinct key characteristics (measures) in literature and conclude that airlines need to focus on various aspects to truly be customer-centric. Investing in sustainable practices, employee training, modern in-flight experiences, competitive pricing, technological infrastructure, and positive brand associations all contribute to customer centricity. Understanding how these elements are interconnected allows airlines to customize their efforts, meeting current and future passenger needs, and ultimately creating a standout customer-centric culture in the competitive airline industry. By formulating concrete measures this paper establishes a foundation for future perceived customer centricity research, such as surveys, and presents alternative measures to the widely adopted net promoter score (NPS).

Digital-based business model design and firm performance: the mediating role of ambidextrous innovation

Purpose Business model design (BMD) is essential for firms to interact with stakeholders and gain competitive advantages in a changeable business environment. The advances in digital technologies create plenty of opportunities for the transformation of BMD. However, the effect of digital-based BMD on firm performance and the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Based on dynamic capability theory, this paper aims to introduce a framework elaborating on how digital-based novelty- and efficiency-centered BMD impact firm performance. Design/methodology/approach To examine the hypotheses, the authors collect data from 277 Chinese manufacturing firms and use hierarchical regression analysis to process the data. Findings The results indicate that ambidextrous innovation partially mediates the impacts of digital-based novelty- and efficiency-centered BMD on firm performance. Interorganizational learning only strengthens the impact of digital-based efficiency-centered BMD on ambidextrous innovation. Originality/value This study reveals the impacts of two distinct digital-based BMD on firm performance and uncovers the underlying mechanisms, which enrich the BMD literature and provide a deeper understanding of B2B marketing.

Marketing pioneering orientation as a mediator between operation management capability and firm’s innovation performance

Purpose This study aims to examine the impact of operation management capability on firm’s innovation performance through the mediation of marketing pioneering orientation. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a quantitative method with data collected from questionnaires filled out by 189 managers of Israeli companies that operate in international markets. Based on the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities theories, this study developed and analysed the research model using SmartPLS 4 software. Findings The main findings show that operation management capability affects marketing pioneering orientation and firm’s innovation performance. Additionally, the findings reveal that marketing pioneering orientation serves as a partial mediator in the relationship between operation management capability and firm’s innovation performance. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on operation management capability and marketing pioneering orientation as two organisational characteristics that increase firm’s innovation performance. However, other organisational characteristics also can affect firm’s innovation performance. Future research could examine the effect of these characteristics on firm’s innovation performance. Practical implications Managers should strengthen their organisational capabilities with regard to operations management and a marketing pioneering orientation to enhance the firm’s innovation performance. Such an approach should provide the company with a competitive advantage over its rivals. Social implications Today, more customers are aware of the environment and are looking for greener products, packaging, recycling and logistics. Therefore, marketing PO might identify innovative and sustainable ways to improve organisations’ environmental performance by exploring new sustainable processes, modifying procedures and pursuing green supply chains. Originality/value The uniqueness of this study is in this study’s research model, which combines two disciplines from the research literature (logistics and marketing) and examines their effect on firm’s innovation performance.

The Implementation of Competitive Strategy at SDN Cipondoh to Achieve Competitive Advantage

The aim of this research is to determine understanding of the implementation of competitive strategies at SDN in Cipondoh. This research was carried out at SD Negeri Cipondoh 1 Tangerang. . The method in this research is to use a descriptive qualitative method approach with study analysis of competitive strategies implemented at SD Negeri Cipondoh 1 Tangerang. The Technique of data collection uses interview which focus on school principals, teachers and student’s parents. The results of this research are SD N Cipondoh 1 has implemented a competitive strategy to achieve competitive advantage. This is proven by the strategic condition of the school, its vision and mission are clear, it has set goals correctly, formulated strategies well and precisely, and also implemented operational plans as a routine and planned evaluation and monitoring tool enabling rapid adaptation to environmental changes. An in-depth analysis of the implementation of competitive strategies at SD N Cipondoh 1 provides educators with useful information. In the midst of an increasingly competitive world of education, other schools can use this as a reference to improve their strategic operations. Therefore, it is important for this school and schools in Indonesia to maintain competitive advantage, the school must update strategies, manage resources well, and build superior and high-quality human resources. They must also build collaboration, a sense of mutual cooperation and create innovative or new learning environments.

Technological management capabilities as a pathway toward green production and green competitive advantage

Technological management capabilities as a pathway toward green production and green competitive advantage

Increasing prevalence of bacteriocin carriage in a six-year hospital cohort of E. faecium.

While enterococci are a normal inhabitant of the human gut, vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium are urgent public health threats responsible for hospital associated infections. Bacteriocins are ribosomally synthesized antimicrobial proteins and are commonly used by bacteria to provide a competitive advantage in polymicrobial environments. Bacteriocins have the potential be used by E. faecium to invade and dominate the human gut leading to a greater propensity for transmission. In this work, we explore bacteriocin content in a defined clinically derived population of E. faecium using both genetic and phenotypic studies. We show that one highly active bacteriocin is increasing in prevalence over time and demonstrates great potential relevance to E. faecium transmission.

Gα13 restricts nutrient driven proliferation in mucosal germinal centers.

Germinal centers (GCs) that form in mucosal sites are exposed to gut-derived factors that have the potential to influence homeostasis independent of antigen receptor-driven selective processes. The G-protein Gα13 confines B cells to the GC and limits the development of GC-derived lymphoma. We discovered that Gα13-deficiency fuels the GC reaction via increased mTORC1 signaling and Myc protein expression specifically in the mesenteric lymph node (mLN). The competitive advantage of Gα13-deficient GC B cells (GCBs) in mLN was not dependent on T cell help or gut microbiota. Instead, Gα13-deficient GCBs were selectively dependent on dietary nutrients likely due to greater access to gut lymphatics. Specifically, we found that diet-derived glutamine supported proliferation and Myc expression in Gα13-deficient GCBs in the mLN. Thus, GC confinement limits the effects of dietary glutamine on GC dynamics in mucosal tissues. Gα13 pathway mutations coopt these processes to promote the gut tropism of aggressive lymphoma.

Who Exactly Has China's Pilot Free Trade Zone Attracted？ —— Evidence from Quasi Natural Experiments Based on 282 Cities

The pilot free trade zone is an institutional attempt under China's opening-up pattern, and its policy effects have played an important role in the high-quality development of the Chinese economy. Based on the balanced panel data of 282 cities in China from 2008 to 2021, this article adopts a multi-stage difference method and takes the establishment of free trade zones as a quasi-natural experiment to explore the role of free trade experiments in attracting enterprises from different sources. The main conclusion of the study is that the establishment of the free trade zone has significantly increased the proportion of enterprises in Chinese Mainland in the city, but also significantly squeezed out foreign-funded enterprises and Chinese Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan funded enterprises. This conclusion has passed a series of robustness tests; The study also found that foreign-funded enterprises exhibit higher resilience when facing pressure than enterprises from Chinese Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan in China. Heterogeneity analysis found that the crowding out effect only works in cities in China's coastal provinces. The study suggests that in order to attract foreign-funded enterprises and more effectively promote the operation of enterprises from Chinese Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan in cities of Chinese Mainland, policy makers need to enhance the competitive advantages of foreign-funded enterprises and enterprises from Chinese Mainland, Macao and Taiwan compared with enterprises in mainland China, so as to diversify the source of enterprises in cities and expand the level of opening up.

How to Obtain a Sustainably Preferential Supplier Resource Allocation? A Model Based on the S-O-R Framework from a Supplier’s Perspective

As pivotal members of upstream channels, suppliers wield significant influence on supply chains’ competitive advantage through their abundant resources. Buyers often engage in supplier development to access scarce resources, yet the motivations guiding suppliers’ responses remain unclear. This study elucidates suppliers’ cognitive processes and the factors influencing their decisions to allocate resources. Utilizing the S-O-R framework, we construct a moderated mediation model to verify motivational drivers and explore interactions among mediators. A survey involving 246 Chinese manufacturing suppliers was conducted, employing path analysis with bootstrap validation. It aimed to confirm how supplier-perceived relationship value, trust, and switching costs mediate between supplier development and resource allocation decisions. Our study delves into how supplier development impacts resource allocation, emphasizing psychological motivation within the S-O-R framework. We analyze three dimensions of supplier value perception: relationship value, trust, and switching costs. These factors influence physical and innovation resource allocation differently. While all prompt the prioritization of physical resources, only relationship value encourages innovative resource sharing, with switching costs hindering this. Supplier-perceived trust acts as both a mediator and moderator, enhancing positive effects on physical allocation and mitigating negative impacts on innovation resource sharing. This study advances the S-O-R framework’s applicability, providing novel insights into supplier resource allocation.

Hemp-based psychoactive use and risk among young adults: Trend theory, policy, and regulation beyond legality

BackgroundHemp-based psychoactives comprise a burgeoning legal substance market with rising trends in use across the U.S. and Canada as well as parts of Europe. Currently, scant empirical research on the use of these Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) exists. By examining policy, market conditions, consumer uptake, and related risks, this research extends theory on drug trends by describing the regulatory environments that shape the emergence and popularity of psychoactive hemp-based products among young adults. MethodsRelying on ethnographic fieldwork of hemp-based markets across 3 U.S. state hemp and cannabis policy contexts as well as in-depth interviews with 40 young adult cannabis consumers recruited across 10 U.S. states, we examined how regulatory conditions shape hemp-based psychoactive markets, trends in their use, and associated risks. ResultsYoung adults are motivated to consume hemp-based psychoactives due to the regulatory and market environments that facilitate the production of highly potent products that are inexpensive and easily accessible. States that regulate hemp-based psychoactives as cannabis, do not provide hemp markets with a competitive advantage and as such see minimal uptake. In the absence of hemp specific policies, substantial variations in product potencies, insufficient dosing information, and unscrupulous product packaging practices may increase related risks. ConclusionTrend theory provides insight into the complex relationships that exist between drug policy, markets, and the proliferation of legal highs. Understanding the contextual significance that both market and regulatory conditions have on legal drug production, distribution, and consumption may better inform approaches to reduce the risks commonly associated with novel psychoactive substances like hemp-based psychoactives.

Influence of Customer Relations Capabilities on Competitive Advantage of Level 5 Public Hospitals in Kenya

The healthcare industry in Kenya is going through many challenges including reduced funding, shortage of staff, technological innovations and changing customer expectations which puts pressure on public hospitals to attain competitive advantage. The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of customer relations capabilities on competitive advantage of Level 5 public hospitals in Kenya. This study was anchored on dynamic capabilities theory. Positivism philosophy applied, where a descriptive correlational research design and a structured questionnaire were applied to gather quantitative data. The study focused on 33 Level 5 public hospitals in Kenya and the study population comprised of 495 CEOs, departmental heads and administrative heads of all the Level 5 public hospitals. Stratified random sampling was used to pick a sample of 222 respondents. The study’s data analyses involved descriptive statistics (frequencies, means and standard deviations) and inferential analysis (simple linear regression analysis). The findings revealed that customer relations capabilities had a statistically significant and positive effect on the competitive advantage of Level 5 public hospitals in Kenya (β = 0.629, p < 0.05). The study concluded that customer relations capabilities are instrumental towards attainment of competitive advantage of the Level 5 public hospitals in Kenya. Based on the conclusion of the study, it is recommended to the top management of level 5 public hospitals to adopt systems and processes in their hospitals that gathers information to investigate customer needs.

Knowledge Conversion Processes and Transient Competitive Advantage in International Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya

The current business and natural environment is characterized by turbulence resulting in an erosion of traditional competitive advantages. The resulting volatility has ushered in an era of temporary advantages collectively termed as transient competitive advantages. This study aimed to explore the relationship between knowledge conversion processes and transient competitive advantage among International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOS) in Kenya. The study was driven by positivism philosophy and used a descriptive correlational research design. The target population was 1784 programs, MEAL (monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning) and knowledge management managers in INGOs registered with the NGO Coordination Board, from which a sample of 392 respondents was obtained using simple random sampling. To gather data, a standardized questionnaire was administered online using google forms. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (means, percentages, frequencies and standard deviations) and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS – SEM). The findings from the study indicated that knowledge conversion processes have a significant and positive effect on transient competitive advantage among INGOs in Kenya (t = 13.088, p < 0.05). The recommendation from the study findings for INGOs to ensure that knowledge acquired is appropriately converted for use through putting in place measures that ensure it is continuously integrated with what is already known and it is validated by stakeholders involved in the operations of the organization.

The impact of business model innovation and knowledge management on firm performance: an emerging markets perspective

PurposeDespite the growing literature on business model innovation (BMI) and its implications for firm performance, the research on the antecedents of BMI is still at a budding stage. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to bridge this gap by examining the causal relationships between knowledge management, BMI, competitive advantage, and firm performance.Design/methodology/approachA purposive sample of 300 micro, small, and medium enterprises was collected with more than 500 employees and total revenue between 50 and 500 million Indian Rupees, according to the Development Act, 2005. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling through smart PLS 3.FindingsThe study’s findings show that knowledge management significantly influences BMI. This study also highlights the synergic impact of Knowledge management and BMI on firm performance. Furthermore, findings highlight the mediating role of competitive advantage in the relationship between knowledge management, BMI, and firm performance.Practical implicationsUnderstanding the impact of BMI and knowledge management is crucial for business owners, managers, and other stakeholders to plan for the continuous improvement of their businesses. Managers can secure a favorable position in the competitive market and improve organizational performance by paying attention to effectively managing their knowledge resources.Originality/valueThe study is one of the first few empirical efforts to investigate the causal relationships between knowledge management, BMI and firm performance. The study adds to the scant literature in this area by highlighting the mediating role of competitive advantage.

INNOVATIVE APPROACHES TO SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN THE ERA OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

Raya Karlibaeva E-mail: r.karlibaeva@tsue.uz Associate Professor,Tashkent State University of Economics Tashkent, Uzbekistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8492-9807 Rustam Yakhshiboyev E-mail: r.yaxshiboyev@tsue.uz Senior lecturer, Tashkent State University of Economics Tashkent, Uzbekistan https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2733-9085 Abstract: This article examines the process of digital transformation in business, highlighting key aspects such as strategy development, adoption of innovative solutions, and sustainable development. Success factors include adapting to rapid technological changes, investing in IT infrastructure, and developing employees' digital skills. Innovation is crucial for competitive advantage, enabling the creation of new products, improved processes, and enhanced efficiency through technologies like AI, big data, and IoT. Sustainable development, an integral part of digital transformation, involves economic efficiency, social responsibility, and environmental sustainability. This includes using eco-friendly technologies, reducing carbon footprints, and managing resources responsibly. The analysis emphasizes that successful digital transformation requires a comprehensive approach, including technological adaptation, robust IT infrastructure, employee skill development, and a culture of innovation. Sustainable practices also play a pivotal role, ensuring long-term success and contributing to a more sustainable and inclusive digital economy. Keywords: digital transformation, business strategies, innovation, sustainable development, technological changes, IT infrastructure, competitive advantages, digital skills. JEL classification: O3

Conceptualization, measurement and theorization of green innovation in hospitality and tourism: looking back to move forward

ABSTRACT Green innovation (GI) has become a popular topic in the literature as it contributes to environmental sustainability and competitive advantage. However, no consensus has been reached on its conceptualization, measurement and theorization among researchers in the field. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to develop seminal perspectives on the conceptualization, measurement and theorization of GI in the field of hospitality and tourism (H&T). In a way, this research attempts to theorize green innovation for the H&T field. This research provides conceptualization, measurement-related suggestions and theoretical perspectives for GI considering shortcomings. In short, this research offers new research opportunities, theoretical perspectives and directions for future research to contribute to the progress of GI in the field of H&T on solid foundations.

A Novel Mamba Architecture with a Semantic Transformer for Efficient Real-Time Remote Sensing Semantic Segmentation

Real-time remote sensing segmentation technology is crucial for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in battlefield surveillance, land characterization observation, earthquake disaster assessment, etc., and can significantly enhance the application value of UAVs in military and civilian fields. To realize this potential, it is essential to develop real-time semantic segmentation methods that can be applied to resource-limited platforms, such as edge devices. The majority of mainstream real-time semantic segmentation methods rely on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transformers. However, CNNs cannot effectively capture long-range dependencies, while transformers have high computational complexity. This paper proposes a novel remote sensing Mamba architecture for real-time segmentation tasks in remote sensing, named RTMamba. Specifically, the backbone utilizes a Visual State-Space (VSS) block to extract deep features and maintains linear computational complexity, thereby capturing long-range contextual information. Additionally, a novel Inverted Triangle Pyramid Pooling (ITP) module is incorporated into the decoder. The ITP module can effectively filter redundant feature information and enhance the perception of objects and their boundaries in remote sensing images. Extensive experiments were conducted on three challenging aerial remote sensing segmentation benchmarks, including Vaihingen, Potsdam, and LoveDA. The results show that RTMamba achieves competitive performance advantages in terms of segmentation accuracy and inference speed compared to state-of-the-art CNN and transformer methods. To further validate the deployment potential of the model on embedded devices with limited resources, such as UAVs, we conducted tests on the Jetson AGX Orin edge device. The experimental results demonstrate that RTMamba achieves impressive real-time segmentation performance.

Effect of Innovative Capabilities on Transient Competitive Advantage among Hospitals in Kenya

This paper examined the effect of innovative capabilities on transient competitive advantages of private hospitals in Kenya. The study addresses the competitive challenges faced by private hospitals in Kenya targeting 476 private hospitals’ top managers. The findings presented in this paper were drawn from 209 hospital managers. The study employed correlational research design, with innovative capabilities as the predictor variable and transient competitive advantages as the outcome variable. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. The Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) analysis demonstrated a statistically significant effect of innovative capabilities on transient competitive advantages, with a beta coefficient (β) of 0.412 and a p-value of 0.028. This suggests that innovative capabilities have a positive and meaningful effect on achieving transient competitive advantages of private hospitals in Kenya. The beta coefficient of 0.412 indicates a moderate strength of this effect. The p-value of 0.028, being less than 0.05, confirms that this result is statistically significant and not due to random chance. The study concludes that private hospitals with innovative capabilities are more likely to seize transient competitive advantages compared to private hospitals with low levels of innovative capabilities. Therefore, private hospitals need to prioritize innovation as a strategic priority. The study offers recommendations for private hospitals to allocate resources for research and development activities to enhance their innovative capabilities.

Why knowledge integration ability differs: team co-creation and sharing climate as a mediating variable

The richness of material life and the progress of digital technology have largely promoted the development of the knowledge economy, and the team's ability to integrate knowledge has increasingly become the key to the competitive advantage of enterprises, and the knowledge base theory also points out that knowledge is the core resource for enterprises to participate in the competition, especially the importance of tacit knowledge is more and more highlighted nowadays. Therefore, this study was conducted based on 528 valid questionnaires and tested the hierarchical regression model with the help of SPSS. The study reveals the mechanism of the positive effect of corporate structural flexibility on team knowledge integration ability and the realisation path of the positive effect of employees' career growth on team knowledge integration ability and finds for the first time that the use of digital technology weakens the positive effect of structural flexibility on team knowledge integration ability.

EVALUATING THE SUCCESS FACTORS FOR KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT IN THE FINANCIAL SECTOR: AN AHP- DEMATEL APPROACH

The objective of this article is to identify and understand the success factors of knowledge management within the financial sector. In the ever-evolving business environment, effective knowledge management (KM) is imperative to maintain a competitive advantage. Effective KM within financial institutions can build standardized processes, ensure speedy delivery, and foster better customer relationship management. An integrated approach of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL) methods was used to rank these critical success factors and understand their interrelationships. The findings identify organizational factors (cultural aspects, organizational structure, top management support), technological factors (technological adoption, infrastructure support, collaborative systems), and human resources factors (training & learning, agile workforce, knowledge sharing) as the critical success factors. Technological factors were identified as the most important factors. The article further complements the findings of the AHP by exploring the interrelationships between the identified factors to understand and prioritize possible intervention areas. This research has significant theoretical and practical implications. The findings can help financial institutions implement and manage knowledge management initiatives within the organization. This study also adds to the extant literature and addresses gaps in the research in the context of KM within the financial sector.

Acinetobacter nosocomialis utilizes a unique type VI secretion system to promote its survival in niches with prey bacteria.

Pathogenic bacteria of the Acinetobacter genus pose a severe threat to human health worldwide due to their strong adaptability, tolerance, and antibiotic resistance. Most isolates of these bacteria harbor a type VI secretion system (T6SS) that allows them to outcompete co-residing microorganisms, but whether this system is involved in acquiring nutrients from preys remains less studied. In this study, we found that Ab25, a clinical isolate of Acinetobacter nosocomialis, utilizes a T6SS to kill taxonomically diverse microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. The T6SS of Ab25 is constitutively expressed, and among the three predicted effectors, T6e1, a member of the RHS effector family, contributes the most for its antimicrobial activity. T6e1 undergoes self-cleavage, and a short carboxyl fragment with nuclease activity is sufficient to kill target cells via T6SS injection. Interestingly, strain Ab25 encodes an orphan VgrG protein, which when overexpressed blocks the firing of its T6SS. In niches such as dry plastic surfaces, the T6SS promotes prey microorganism-dependent survival of Ab25. These results reveal that A. nosocomialis employs T6SSs that are highly diverse in their regulation and effector composition to gain a competitive advantage in environments with scarce nutrient supply and competing microbes.IMPORTANCEThe type VI secretion system (T6SS) plays an important role in bacterial adaptation to environmental challenges. Members of the Acinetobacter genus, particularly A. baumannii and A. nosocomialis, are notorious for their multidrug resistance and their ability to survive in harsh environments. In contrast to A. baumannii, whose T6SS has been well-studied, few research works have focused on A. nosocomialis. In this study, we found that an A. nosocomialis strain utilizes a contitutively active T6SS to kill diverse microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi. Although T6SS structural proteins of A. nosocomialis are similar to those of A. baumannii, the effector repertoire differs greatly. Interestingly, the T6SS of the A. nosocomialis strain codes for an ophan VgrG protein, which blocks the firing of the system when overexpressed, suggesting the existence of a new regulatory mechanism for the T6SS. Importantly, although the T6SS does not provide an advantage when the bacterium is grown in nutrient-rich medium, it allows A. nosocomialis to survive better in dry surfaces that contain co-existing bacteria. Our results suggest that killing of co-residing microorganisms may increase the effectiveness of strategies designed to reduce the fitness of Acinetobacter bacteria by targeting their T6SS.