Competitive Environment Research Articles

TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RESTAURANT SERVICES MARKET: METHODS OF DETERMINATION AND CHARACTERISTICS

Methodical approaches to determining the current state and development trends of the restaurant services market which serve as a toolkit for forecasting future dynamic changes in the industry and planning measures for the adaptation of enterprises to the new conditions of the organization of their activities are considered in the article. The purpose of this article is the study of modern trends in the development of the restaurant services market and the formation of methodical approaches to their determination. In this study, based on the analysis of the external environment of restaurant establishments, the main methods for determining the current state of the catering services market are established, which include the methods of analyzing market stability, consumer preferences, competitive environment, and segmentation. With the help of the formed methodological toolkit, the following is carried out: survey of consumers; study of new popular dishes, recipes, technologies and trends in the industry; analysis of menus, concepts, price policy; forecasting future directions of industry development. The use of these methods allows: to determine the features of demand, supply and market equilibrium; evaluate and characterize changes in consumer needs; establish competitive advantages and disadvantages in the operation of the enterprise; determine the target audience according to established criteria. Based on the mentioned approaches and methods, the main trends affecting the development of the restaurant services market were identified and characterized. Thus, it was proven that the key directions of the development of the restaurant services market are the growing popularity of healthy food, the development of social media and information technologies, technological progress, and the development of gastronomic tourism. Certain methods are used as a tool for determining trends in the development of the industry, which provide the ability to adapt restaurant enterprises to dynamic changes in the service market. They include: marketing research methods, analysis of trends in the gastronomic industry, observation of competitors, cooperation with specialists and experts, analysis of changes in consumer demand. With the help of these methods, the main trends in the development of the restaurant business were determined, namely: economic, gastronomic, technological innovations, macroeconomic and demographic factors. These trends characterize the demand for restaurant services, the development of the restaurant business, digital development, changing consumption habits and the state of the consumer market.

Does teachers’ self-reported growth mindset ensure growth mindset-oriented feedback practices in the classroom?

This study examined the congruence/incongruence between teachers’ self-reported mindset beliefs and their actual teaching practices within the framework of implicit theories of intelligence. A total of 226 middle school teachers (65.90% female, average age = 31.70 years, SD = 5.03; average education year = 16.23, SD = 1.49; average teaching experience = 6.52 years, SD = 4.17) from Shanghai City, mainland China, completed the growth mindset inventory (GMI) for measuring self-reported growth mindset beliefs and underwent classroom observations, which recorded the frequency of their growth mindset-oriented feedback practices while teaching. Subsequently, the 20 teachers with the most extreme GMI scores (i.e., the 10 teachers with the highest scores and the 10 teachers with the lowest scores from this initial pool) were invited to take part in semi-structured interviews to understand the reasons behind the possible congruence/incongruence. Interesting results were found. First, the results of the spearman correlation and multiple regression analyses suggested incongruence between teachers’ self-reported mindset beliefs and their actual feedback practices in real classroom settings for those with growth and neutral mindsets but congruence for those with fixed mindsets. Second, the results of the semi-structured interviews further illustrated that whether teachers demonstrated congruence/incongruence in their growth mindset beliefs and actual growth mindset-oriented feedback practices in the classroom was influenced by contextual factors such as institutional policies, cultural orientations, community expectations, and the general educational competition environment. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the factors influencing the alignment between mindset beliefs and teaching practices, which highlight the need for addressing these discrepancies in teacher development programs.

A Qualitative Study on the Applications of Artificial Neural Networks in the Banking Sector

Banks are institutions that play a significant role in the economy through the diverse financial products and services they offer. Given that they operate in a competitive environment, they are constantly striving to employ the best methods to withstand competition. Among the latest techniques widely adopted by banks today are various applications of artificial intelligence, with artificial neural networks being at the forefront. This paper explores the various uses of these neural networks in banks and the benefits these uses bring to the banking sector as a whole. Therefore, this study is presented as a qualitative study, relying on the descriptive approach to draw valuable conclusions on the subject by reviewing relevant previous literature closely related to the study topic. The research concluded that artificial neural networks are highly beneficial for banks as they contribute significantly to predicting various risks facing the bank, as well as providing many other advantages, which will be discovered in this paper.

A Comparative Study of the Development Trends and Competitive landscape of the Electric Vehicle Market in China and the United States

This paper will perform a comparison of the Electric Vehicle (EV) markets in China and the United States, focusing on the patterns of development and the competitive environment. It examines issues such as legislation updates, infrastructure investments, market expansion, and the strategies of leading car makers. China has shown electric vehicle adoption through aggressive public investments in charging infrastructure, large subsidies, and strong support for its local manufacturers like BYD and NIO, via their centralized government-led strategy. Without a doubt, it is China that holds the key to the current worldwide electric vehicle market. In contrast, the U.S. proposes a decentralized structure, with a mixture of federal tax encouragement, state-level programs, and private-sector advances as illustrated by Tesla's leadership in electric vehicle technology. Despite the considerable federal funding for charging infrastructure, the U.S. still trails China, as far as both EV sales and the scale of infrastructure, are concerned. This paper showcases the electric vehicle technological development patterns observed in both countries with their impacts on the energy transition globally.

Beefing IT up for your Investor? Engagement with Open Source Communities, Innovation and Startup Funding: Evidence from GitHub

We study the engagement of nascent firms with open source communities and its implications for innovation and attracting funding. To do so, we link data on 160,065 U.S. startups from Crunchbase to their activities on the open source software development platform GitHub. In a matched sample of firms with and without GitHub activities, difference-in-differences models reveal a substantial increase in the likelihood of being funded after early-stage startups engage with open source communities on GitHub. This relationship is weaker for firms that employ GitHub for internal development only. Startups developing novel technologies tend to benefit more from engaging with open source communities, unlike those in highly competitive environments. This heterogeneity highlights a potential trade-off between engaging with open source communities and appropriability. To provide insight regarding mechanisms, we classify startups' technology use-cases on GitHub using machine learning and exploit data on product launches. Our results from these additional analyses support the notion that one important channel potentially driving our findings is the access to external knowledge for technology development provided by open source communities. Engaging with these communities may thereby aid startups in innovating and creating a (minimum) viable product.

Ex-Ante Regulation: An Evolving Need in Digital Markets

This study explores the global discourse surrounding ex-ante regulations, particularly their impact on digital markets. While proponents tout their benefits, concerns are raised about potential negative effects on incentives for major internet platforms and innovation. The paper delves into the challenges of striking a balance between fostering a competitive environment and avoiding overly restrictive laws that could stifle emerging companies in India’s digital marketplaces. It highlights changes in various countries, including the European Union, Germany, Australia, South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Emphasizing the importance of precise ex-ante laws, the study urges regulators to develop a strategic approach that simultaneously promotes innovation, competition, and consumer welfare, ensuring a robust digital market. The paper recommends that India proactively create a tailored framework that encourages healthy competition while advancing its goal of building a strong digital economy.

A Proposed Framework for the Role of Inter-Cost Management Techniques in Reducing the Costs of Industrial Cluster Enterprises to Support their Business Environment Competitiveness: A Field Study in the Saudi Arabia

The research aims to demonstrate the role of intra-cost management in reducing the costs of industrial clusters in small and medium enterprises to support their competitiveness. In addition building a comprehensive proposal framework for inter-cost management tools that are compatible with the characteristics of industrial clusters in small and medium enterprises in the modern business environment. And the extent of the contribution of the dimensions of this proposed framework in reducing the costs of the industrial cluster in the Saudi industrial enterprises. The research reached the building of a comprehensive proposed framework for inter-cost management tools that are compatible with the characteristics of industrial clusters, and the development of the mechanism of action of this framework. In the field study, the contribution of the dimensions of the proposed framework was also reached in reducing the costs of industrial clusters to support their competitiveness in the Saudi business environment. This was done by achieving several advantages for the industrial cluster enterprises, including: Reducing the total costs along the supply chain to the lowest possible level. Improving the quality levels of products. Improving the indicators of profitability within all the industrial cluster parties. Generating innovative designs that meet the needs and desires of all customers. And the speed to the change in the tastes and requests of customers within the industrial cluster. And in terms of the relative importance of each of the dimensions of the proposed framework. In the first order, in terms of relative importance, came the contribution of inter-cost management tools associated with suppliers. In the second order, the contribution of inter-cost management tools in the pre-industrial .And in the third order, the contribution of inter-cost management methods in the manufacturing. Finally, the contribution of inter-cost management methods associated with customers t came in the fourth and final order in reducing costs and increasing the competitiveness of the industrial cluster facilities in the Saudi business environment.

A Perspective on Teaching Business Ethics to Students of Higher Hospitality and Tourism Education

ABSTRACT This paper explores business ethics education in the higher hospitality and tourism (H&T) education sector, focusing on curricular integration, content, and teaching methods. The H&T industry faces unique ethical challenges due to its guest-centric nature and competitive environment. Over the past four decades, H&T higher education has balanced vocational training with academic rigor to develop ethical leaders. Despite the recognized importance of ethics education, debates persist on teaching methods and content, with concerns about curriculum imbalances, disconnects between classroom scenarios and real-life situations, and insufficient support and training for H&T educators. This review underscores the need for closer collaboration between educators, academics, professionals, and organizations to improve the quality of business ethics education in H&T.

Influences of emotional intelligence on resilience in the South African entrepreneurial sector: a systematic literature review

The South African entrepreneurial sector is essential to the country's economic growth, job creation, and innovation. South African entrepreneurs encounter competitive business environment, limited resources, and socioeconomic gaps. Building resilience is critical for them to overcome challenges, adapt to change, and sustain their businesses in the face of adversity. This paper aims to explore the connection between resilience and emotional intelligence in the context of South African entrepreneurship. A systematic literature review and text analysis was carried out. This systematic literature analysis analysed 37 peer-reviewed sources that explored the impact of emotional intelligence on resilience in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Textual analysis was used to discover themes, patterns, and implications for increasing entrepreneurial resilience. Inclusion criteria included English-language research published during the last decade that focused on emotional intelligence and resilience in entrepreneurship. Non-peer-reviewed papers, grey literature, and those that did not directly address the South African context were excluded. Key findings show that emotionally intelligent leaders are better able to manage stress, build trusted relationships, and adjust to changing circumstances, which improves corporate results and ensures sustainability in a changing economic climate. This paper concludes that emotional intelligence is critical in determining the resilience and success of entrepreneurs in the South African entrepreneurial sector. Recommendations stemming from the results encompass integrating emotional intelligence training courses into entrepreneurial curricula, cultivating a nurturing and emotionally astute workplace, and encouraging self-awareness and emotional regulation proficiencies among prospective and established entrepreneurs in South Africa.

Reshaping the Irish Economy: The Impact of International Mergers and Acquisitions on the Irish Technology Sector (2021-2023)

Purpose: This dissertation examines the impact of international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on the Irish technology sector between 2021 and 2023. It aims to assess how M&A activities have reshaped corporate strategies, influenced organizational culture, and contributed to the broader economic landscape, while identifying challenges and opportunities for involved firms. Methodology: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating quantitative survey data from technology sector professionals and qualitative insights from structured interviews with senior executives of companies engaged in M&A. The survey captured organizational perspectives on strategic realignment, cultural integration, employee morale, and economic implications. The interviews offered deeper context on leadership decisions, cultural adaptation, and strategic shifts post-acquisition. Findings: The research reveals that successful post-M&A outcomes were strongly linked to strategic realignment toward global expansion, product innovation, and operational efficiency. Firms leveraging M&A synergies experienced improved market positioning, faster innovation cycles, and streamlined operations. However, challenges such as cultural integration and maintaining employee morale were significant hurdles. Ireland's regulatory environment emerged as a facilitator, ensuring smooth transitions and compliance, although increased global competition posed both challenges and growth opportunities for local firms. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy, and Practice: This study advances academic discourse by highlighting the interplay between strategic realignment, cultural integration, and regulatory frameworks in post-M&A success. It provides actionable recommendations for technology firms to optimize integration strategies and for policymakers to maintain a supportive yet competitive regulatory environment. The findings also lay the groundwork for future longitudinal studies and cross-industry comparisons to deepen understanding of M&A dynamics.

The Moderating Effect of the School’s Policies on School’s Characteristics and University’s Brand Equity in Viet Nam

Higher education is a cornerstone of sustainable development in any nation. In Vietnam, educational policies are constantly evolving to keep pace with societal progress. The rise of private higher education and the implementation of tuition policies have contributed to improved educational quality, prompting the government to establish regulations promoting university autonomy. This study aims to determine the moderating effect of university policies on the relationship between school characteristics and brand equity. Using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), data from 699 respondents in Vietnam were analyzed to identify key factors linking policy to university brand equity. The findings reveal that brand equity is significantly shaped by the interaction between school policies and school characteristics, highlighting that policy, particularly those related to services, play a critical role in enhancing a university’s brand. These results suggest that universities should prioritize the clarity and strategic alignment of their service policies to strengthen brand equity. By doing so, higher education institutions can enhance their competitive advantage and better serve their stakeholders in an increasingly competitive environment.

Effects of competition and ownership on the simultaneous relationship between bank risk and capital: Evidence from an emerging economy of Bangladesh.

This study aims to investigate the simultaneous relationship between bank risk and capital, specifically examining how competition and ownership jointly influence this relationship. We employed the two-step system generalized method of moments to address concerns regarding endogeneity and unobserved heteroscedasticity. Based on data from 44 commercial banks in Bangladesh from 2010 to 2021, our findings reveal several key insights: (I) There is a significant non-linear bidirectional relationship between bank risk and capital: capital exhibits a U-shaped effect on risk, while risk has a non-linear negative impact on capital; (II) in highly contested markets, banks hold higher levels of capital, and heightened competition reduces the risk appetite of commercial banks; while less competition has the opposite effect; (III) private and Islamic commercial banks are more risk-averse than state-owned and conventional ones, and (IV) Private and Islamic banks with strong capital positions in a competitive market can better manage risks than state-owned and conventional banks. However, maintaining higher capital ratios in competitive environments is more challenging for state-owned and Islamic banks than private-owned and conventional commercial banks. These results align with the moral hazard hypothesis, competition fragility hypothesis, and the political view of state ownership. Significant insights from the study will fuel the regulators in shaping policies and regulations surrounding emerging countries like Bangladesh, particularly regarding risk, capital, competition, and ownership policies.

Transformational leadership, ESG performance, corporate reputation and competitive advantage: a serial mediation model

PurposeGiven the competitiveness of the business environment globally, environmental, social and governance (ESG), which represents a sustainable development framework that integrates environmental, social and corporate governance factors, has become an increasingly recognized concept in emerging markets. In the case of Ghana, its implementation is influenced by several factors, including leadership.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the resource-based view theory, higher-order theory and stakeholder theory, we developed and evaluated a serial mediation model to explain how ESG performance and corporate reputation can connect transformational leadership to enhance competitive advantage. Utilizing the Process Macro model 6 in SPSS, data were collected from 340 senior managers/executives and middle-level managers from European multinational firms operating in Ghana.FindingsThe results indicate that transformational leadership positively affects ESG performance. Enhanced ESG performance, in turn, leads to improved corporate reputation, which subsequently results in a stronger competitive advantage.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to European multinational firms operating in Ghana, which may restrict the generalizability of the findings to other contexts or regions.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest that organizations aiming to strengthen their competitive advantage should prioritize transformational leadership practices that foster ESG initiatives, as these are critical drivers of corporate reputation and market positioning.Originality/valueThis study provides new insights into the interwovenness between ESG performance and leadership in enhancing corporate reputation and competitive advantage within the context of emerging markets.

Factors Influencing Selection of Dairy Products by Retailers with Special Reference to Amul - A Study in Raipur

This report summarizes the comprehensive analysis of the behavior of retailers, product range, and promotion strategies by the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies in the dairy products industry. The study was done during a two-month internship at Amul, with an objective to get practical knowledge about the distribution, marketing, and sales activities of FMCG companies through General Trade, Modern Trade, and Horeca channels. These considerations include profit margins, available products, reliable supply chain, and brand equity to arrive at a conclusion. Thereby, findings suggest the preference of retailers for trusted brands by the consumers having quality assurance and consistent supplies because of the perishability aspect related with dairy products such as milk, curd, and paneer. In addition, kiosk events, wall paintings, and shutter advertisements have proven to have a positive effect on the visibility of the brand and engagement of the consumers with the brand, thus affecting the decision of retailers to stock. Shelf space allocation was also observed to depend on consumer demand, brand promotions, and product differentiation in competitive retail environments. Through market visits and retailer feedback, the study provided actionable recommendations to strengthen Amul's brand presence and optimize product turnover. This internship emphasized the importance of close relationships and support mechanisms from strong retailers in fostering brand loyalty and market growth in the FMCG industry. Keywords: Distribution Efficiency, Brand Loyalty in Dairy, Retailer Relationship Management.

Subject Olympiads as an effective tool of management personnel training in universities in modern conditions

The present article studies the issue of using subject Olympiads in higher education institutions for effective training of managerial personnel on the example of the intra-university Olympiad in English language, held in November 2023 at the State University of Management. The quantitative and qualitative composition of participants by training areas and educational programs has been studied, sociological and didactic and methodological aspects of the Olympiad have been highlighted, individual tasks descriptions have been given, demonstrating their high practice-orientedness and relevance. The article concludes that participation in subject university Olympiads stimulates the interest of students of management specialties to the subject of study and increases their competence level. The competitive nature of the Olympiads contributes to a more successful subsequent adaptation of students to a highly competitive professional environment, creating conditions of healthy competition. Conducting subject competitions in universities solves the problems facing the system of higher education in terms of forming a creative educational environment that meets the challenges of the time, and training management specialists capable of effectively solving professional problems against the background of constantly changing economic and political situation in a tough external and internal environment.

A IMPORTÂNCIA DOS MICROCOMPROMISSOS NA OTIMIZAÇÃO DO FUNIL DE VENDAS B2B

Leading the customer through the sales funnel is one of the main challenges for companies that seek to increase their revenues and grow in an increasingly competitive environment. Therefore, this project aimed to analyze the importance of micro-commitments in optimizing the sales funnel between sellers and customers of companies in the business-tobusiness market. This is a quantitative survey, using the 5-point LIKERT scale with the purpose of highlighting the importance of micro-commitment throughout the stages of the B2B sales process. Using “Google Forms™” as a tool in professionals in the B2B sales market. On the 117 questionnaires analyzed in this study, 51 (44%) were female and 66 (56%) were male. Among the evaluated items, we had more than 87,28% of salespeople who agreed with the importance of micro-commitment to close deals. About 12,72% of the total disagreed and were indifferent about three main points: the negative impact of asking the customer to commit to excessive responsibility at the beginning of the sale, the commitment's relationship with the sales cycle and the ease of buying, and the relationship between convincing the customer and the decision to change, providing a greater chance of being rejected in the sales process due to lack or low trust between customer and seller. The follow-up of micro-commitments by the sales team enabled a stronger and preferential relationship with the customer and greater chances of closing the sale.

Study on the Impact of Diversified Service Strategy: Case of Haidilao

In today's competitive market environment, it has become a trend for enterprises to seek diversified development. The diversification strategy aims to have a positive impact by expanding business areas and services to reduce corporate risks and improve market competitiveness. This paper takes Haidilao as an example to study the effect of the implementation of diversified service strategy from 2017 to 2023. Besides, the research shows that diversified service strategy has improved the financial performance of Haidilao enterprises. However, through comprehensive analysis by SWOT method, it can be seen that the implementation of diversification strategy is not smooth sailing, and many enterprises are faced with various challenges in the practice process, such as increased management difficulty, dispersed resources, and difficult to guarantee service quality. The study provides relevant theoretical reference and decision-making information for the catering industry. Through the implementation of diversified service strategy, Haidilao has achieved results in improving financial performance and market competitiveness, but it also faces problems such as cost increase, core business may be neglected, and service quality is difficult to control uniformly. Therefore, the optimization scheme of optimize staff allocation, strengthen staff training)and optimize resource allocation is proposed in this paper. This successful experience has important guiding significance and reference value for the whole catering industry in the aspects of business development, brand building, customer management and strategic planning.

Critical edge: shaping the future of skills management for organizational success

Purpose Organizations face increasing pressure to optimize their human capital management strategies in today’s competitive business environment. As the nature of work evolves, the ability to identify, develop and leverage critical thinking skills has become paramount for organizational success. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the Critical Edge Skills Framework (CESF), a novel approach to skills management that focuses on the cognitive demands of various roles within an organization. Design/methodology/approach The CESF provides a structured method for categorizing skills based on the level of critical thinking required and the nature of the work involved. By adopting this framework, organizations can better align their talent acquisition, development and succession planning strategies with the cognitive demands of different roles, ultimately driving strategy execution, innovation and competitive advantage. Findings The CESF represents a significant advancement in how organizations approach talent acquisition, development and succession planning. By adopting this framework, organizations can better understand the cognitive demands of various roles, align talent with the appropriate level of critical thinking and ensure that employees are well-suited to the nature of their work, whether it involves designing or executing tasks. Originality/value This paper’s skills taxonomy: provides a clear progression of cognitive abilities, from foundational skills to leadership and transformational thinking, allowing organizations to better understand critical thinking development; helps organizations identify the cognitive abilities required for different job roles, enabling more targeted and cost-effective talent acquisition, training and development; emphasizes the importance of higher-order thinking skills, which are crucial for driving innovation and organizational success; aligns with common educational frameworks, ensuring that graduates possess the critical thinking skills required by the modern workforce; and clarifies skill requirements, making it more manageable to determine the most suitable production resource for specific tasks. This optimizes the use of organizational resources and enhances productivity.

The Mediating Roles of Customer Trust and Satisfaction in E-Service Quality and the Repurchase Intention Relationship

The rapid growth of information technology and the internet has changed how the company runs its business. In an increasingly competitive business environment, gaining and increasing market share is a priority for companies in the E-Commerce industry. The study aims to determine the impact of E-Service Quality on Repurchase Intention, mediated by Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction on E-Commerce users. The data is processed using a quantitative approach using the SEM-PLS method. The validity and reliability tests are first performed to determine the validity of the data, followed by the analysis of Structural Equation Modelling to determine the direct and indirect effect between research variables. Research results show that E-Service Quality significantly affects Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction. In addition, Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction significantly affect Repurchase Intention. Furthermore, E-Service Quality does not directly have a significant effect on Repurchase Intention. However, E-Service Quality indirectly affects Repurchase Intention through Customer Trust and Customer Satisfaction. Based on the research results, E-Commerce users make online repurchases not only based on the quality of the service received but also on the consumer's trust and satisfaction generated by the product or brand offered, which can significantly increase consumer repurchasing.

Continuous improvement: Kaizen in the materials processing industry

Podlesny S. V. Continuous improvement: Kaizen in the materials processing industry The study examines current issues related to the implementation of the Kaizen concept in the materials processing industry, based on continuous improvement. Theoretical and practical issues of using the Kaizen concept are considered in order to improve all aspects of the functioning of materials processing enterprises, solve many production issues and problems, improve the quality of products and services, increase competitiveness, efficient use of resources, increase efficiency and effectiveness, reduce costs and achieve gradual improvements in various aspects of production. Kaizen has become a universal method aimed at continuous improvement in accordance with the requirements of the modern competitive environment. Three sets of Kaizen principles and the benefits that its use provides in the materials processing industry are discussed. The application of Kaizen principles solves the problems of optimizing production processes, standardization, establishing standard operating procedures and best practices, and involving all employees of the enterprise in improvement processes. It is recommended to implement changes using Kaizen using the PDCA approach. A list of principles of the Kaizen philosophy is given that should guide the implementation of changes. The Kaizen philosophy emphasizes the importance of the participation of all employees in the process of continuous improvement. Kaizen methodology, as a systematic approach to continuous improvement, actively uses standardization, data to make decisions and identify areas for improvement. Examples of the possible use of Kaizen to improve individual elements of production are given. It has been shown that Kaizen can be successfully combined with other approaches and technologies, such as 5S, Kanban, Value Stream Mapping, Six Sigma, DMAIC, and digital technologies.