Competitiveness Of Firms Research Articles

Digital Evolution in Nigerian Heavy-Engineering Projects: A Comprehensive Analysis of Technology Adoption for Competitive Edge

The fourth industrial revolution has introduced a range of digital technologies (DTs) that possess the potential to significantly enhance the operations and competitiveness of heavy-construction firms. Grounded in the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) Framework, the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory (DOI), this study investigates the relationship between the adoption of digital technologies and the competitive edge (CE) of heavy-engineering firms. Specifically, this research seeks to assess how the adoption of DTs impacts four critical competitive-edge metrics: efficient resource management (CE1), real-time monitoring and control (CE2), data-driven decision-making (CE3) and improved collaboration and communication (CE4). A quantitative research approach was employed, using a structured questionnaire distributed to construction professionals in Lagos State, Nigeria. The principal results of the study revealed that firms adopting artificial intelligence (AI), cloud-based technology and the Internet of Things (IoT) exhibited significantly higher competitive-edge metrics compared to their counterparts. Notably, AI and cloud-based technology were found to have a particularly strong association with improved resource management, real-time monitoring, and decision-making processes. A major contribution of this research is the development of a DT-adoption model which can serve as a benchmarking tool for firms to assess their current adoption levels and identify areas for improvement. This model can also guide policymakers and regulators in developing strategies to encourage the integration of digital technologies within the heavy-construction industry. The originality of this study lies in its holistic approach, examining a broad spectrum of digital technologies and their collective impact on enhancing the competitive edge of construction firms.

From Social Responsibility to Market Leadership: The Role of Targeted Poverty Alleviation in Enhancing Firm Competitiveness

From Social Responsibility to Market Leadership: The Role of Targeted Poverty Alleviation in Enhancing Firm Competitiveness

Multiple equilibria in mean-field game models of firm competition with strategic complementarities

We consider continuous-time mean-field stochastic games with strategic complementarities. The interaction between the representative productive firm and the population of rivals comes through the price at which the produced good is sold. Existence of minimal and maximal equilibria is shown via lattice-theoretical arguments, and sufficient conditions for deriving comparative statics of the equilibria are presented. A detailed numerical study, based on iterative schemes converging to the maximal and minimal equilibria, allows us to analyze in relevant financial examples of how the emergence of multiple equilibria is related to the intensity of strategic interactions.

Logistics Financing Strategies and Economic Growth in Kenya: A conceptual Framework

Logistics financing is a critical component of economic growth, particularly in Kenya, where the sector faces numerous challenges, including poor credit management, limited financial resources, and high operational costs. This paper explores innovative logistics financing strategies and their potential to improve the financial performance and competitiveness of logistics firms in Kenya, especially in Mombasa County. The research highlights the importance of effective credit management, the role of machine learning models in mitigating credit risks, and innovative financing mechanisms such as third-party logistics and digital credit. Additionally, it discusses the broader economic implications of logistics on key sectors like agriculture, floriculture, and tourism. By reviewing empirical studies and theoretical frameworks, this paper proposes a conceptual model illustrating the relationship between logistics financing strategies and economic growth. The findings suggest that innovative financial solutions, including value innovation and working capital management, are essential for fostering an efficient logistics sector that contributes to Kenya’s economic development.

Logistics impact on business management and firm competitiveness – 15 years of experience

Logistics plays a very significant role in contemporary management. The aim of the article is to present the results of the research regarding the impact of logistics on business management and the overall firm competitiveness. The research started in 2009 and was conducted in the Chair of Logistics and Strategic Management at University of Opole, Poland, EU. The most important research findings show that logistics concept, logistics capacities (i.e. logistics resources, logistics capabilities, logistics competences) and logistics strategies have significant impact on business management and the overall firm competitiveness. The most distinctive characteristic of firm competitiveness is its competitive advantage. The pillars of the firm competitive advantage creation as well as the overall firm competitiveness building and strengthening are the market outcomes as well as economic outcomes achieved by the firm. Thanks to these outcomes firms are able to reach the desired financial performance and market position compared to the competitors. The research results were presented based on two projects named: (1) Logistics Determinants of Business Management, carried out in the Chair of Logistics and Strategic Management in years 2009-2011, and (2) Logistics Competences Affecting Business Competitive Advantage Creation, carried out in this chair in years 2012-2014. Several detailed issues, in particular the impact of logistics resources as well as logistics capabilities on business management as well as the overall firm competitiveness, have been the topic of the further, in-depth research carried out in the abovementioned chair in the next years.

Optimizing Planning Management in Jordan's Construction Industry: Overcoming Challenges for Enhanced Performance

The construction industry in Jordan plays a critical role in the nation’s economic development. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, especially in terms of extended planning that lead to delays, cost overruns, and damage to the reputation of construction firms. This study focuses on the impact of the planning dimension on project performance within Jordan’s construction sector. Using the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, the research emphasizes the strategic importance of internal resources, particularly skilled project managers and effective planning processes. The findings suggest that while detailed planning is essential for project success, external factors such as economic conditions and regulatory hurdles can undermine these efforts. The study highlights the need for comprehensive planning frameworks tailored to Jordan’s unique context. Recommendations include adopting robust planning strategies, investing in project management training, and enhancing stakeholder engagement to improve project outcomes and the competitiveness of Jordanian construction firms.

METHODS OF DETERMINING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF CONSTRUCTION ENTERPRISES

This article analyzes the competitiveness potential of construction companies and methods for its assessment. Defining competitiveness is crucial for ensuring the resilience and success of construction companies in the global market. Competitiveness is characterized by a company’s ability to sustain advantages over rivals in producing goods and services that satisfy market demands, emphasizing quality, cost efficiency, and timely delivery. For construction enterprises, competitiveness involves delivering high-quality products and services on schedule and at competitive prices. The competitive capacity of construction companies is complex, depending on various factors like product quality, resource management, process innovation, and adaptability to change. In a highly competitive construction market, assessing a company’s potential to attain competitive advantages becomes a core element of strategic planning and business stability. The study considers the influence of external factors, such as market conditions, regulatory policies, and technological advancements, on the competitiveness of construction firms, alongside internal factors like resource management and production quality. Prior research indicates that the construction market undergoes constant environmental shifts, fluctuating consumer demand, and rising risks, requiring companies to uphold economic security and financial stability - especially critical during wartime. Managing competitiveness and potential enables companies to maintain and strengthen market positions amid unpredictability. The article also examines several methods for evaluating competitiveness, recognizing that the unique characteristics of the construction sector require a combined approach. These methods include SWOT analysis, benchmarking, Porter’s Five Forces model, product life cycle analysis, and financial efficiency evaluation. SWOT analysis is valuable for an initial assessment of competitiveness, identifying critical internal and external factors. Benchmarking provides comparisons in specific areas like innovation and financial performance, offering insights into improvements. Porter’s model helps understand market dynamics, essential for strategic planning. Product life cycle analysis can benefit long-term project assessment but is limited in evaluating overall company activity. Financial efficiency evaluation is important for measuring financial stability, particularly during large projects, though it does not capture intangible assets and innovation metrics.For construction firms, competitiveness is achieved through project-based strategies aimed at productivity, cost reduction, quality, and innovation. Adapting global best practices and technologies to local conditions is vital for competitiveness in modern construction. Comprehensive assessment requires analyzing market conditions and internal capabilities for sustainable growth. Competitiveness factors include quality, cost, innovation, and service, each crucial for influencing market position. High quality, achieved by meeting client expectations, impacts all operational areas, from design to project completion, fostering client satisfaction and loyalty. Additionally, factors like marketing, resource management, and strategic planning are essential to business success. Construction companies that integrate these aspects are better positioned for sustainable development in a competitive environment.

Innovating with impact: CEO attributes and their influence on firm innovation in Australia

PurposeThis study examines the influence of CEO characteristics on firm innovation within the Australian market, using R&D expenditure as a proxy for innovation. The aim is to analyze how factors such as CEO gender, educational background and dual roles (CEO-chairman) impact firms' R&D investment across various industries.Design/methodology/approachPanel and Tobit regression models are employed to assess the relationship between CEO characteristics and R&D expenditure. The study controls for endogeneity and applies firm-level control variables to ensure robustness, examining CEO traits like gender, educational qualifications and CEO-chairman duality.FindingsThe study reveals that CEO gender and educational level significantly impact firm innovation, particularly R&D expenditure, compared to other characteristics like CEO-chairman duality. Female CEOs and those with PhD degrees are associated with higher R&D spending, with variations across industries such as basic materials and healthcare.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited by its focus on Australian firms and the time span of 2006–2016. Additionally, mixed results for CEO-chairman duality and CEO location may reduce the generalizability of the findings across all industries on the ASX.Practical implicationsThe findings highlight the importance of gender diversity and CEO education in driving firm innovation. Companies aiming to enhance competitiveness and performance through R&D activities, especially in industry-specific contexts, should consider these CEO characteristics.Originality/valueThis study provides novel insights by analyzing the impact of CEO characteristics, such as gender and education level, on firm innovation in the underexplored Australian market. By using R&D expenditure as a proxy for innovation and employing both panel and Tobit regression models, it highlights the significance of CEO traits, particularly in specific industries. The findings emphasize the stronger influence of CEO gender and educational level compared to CEO-chairman duality and location, offering valuable implications for gender diversity and industry-specific innovation strategies in enhancing firm competitiveness.

Impact of informal competition on intellectual property strategies: evidence from developing economies

ABSTRACT The relationship between informal competition and Intellectual Property strategies of formal firms in developing countries is an important, yet underexplored topic. By integrating the Resource-Based View (RBV) and the Attention-Based View (ABV) of the firm, I hypothesize that as informal competition increases, firms undertake a diversified IP strategy by applying for multiple types of IP rights rather than a single type of IP or no IP at all. I further hypothesize that the relationship between informal competition and IP strategies of firms is not homogeneous. As informal competition increases, incumbents are more likely to undertake a diversified IP strategy than new ventures. I use data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys and follow-up innovation surveys across South Asia (2013–14) and conduct multinomial logit regression to test the hypotheses. The research advances the understanding of strategic IP management in developing economies, while extending RBV and ABV theories to this context.

The impacts of China's ETS on firm competitiveness: Evidence from the power and heat production sector

The impacts of China's ETS on firm competitiveness: Evidence from the power and heat production sector

Application of Risk-Based Audit Approach by Sole Practitioners and Local Audit Firms: Towards Fully-Compliant Financial Reports

The study examined the factors influencing the implementation of the Risk-Based Audit Approach (RBAA). Key variables identified were auditor capability, availability of audit professionals, integration of information technology, job pressure on auditors, competitiveness of audit firms, and audit fees. The respondents included sole practitioners and employed auditors in local audit firms. The research used a quantitative method, employing structured questionnaires to capture respondents’ perceptions. The findings revealed that auditor capability is the most critical factor in applying RBAA. For effective implementation, auditors need industry-specific experience, sufficient training hours, balanced staffing leverage, investment in IT and productivity tools, compliance with firm regulations, and a good ratio of audit hours to risk areas and audit phases. Skilled auditors are more adept at identifying and addressing potential issues. Future research could explore factors affecting auditor capability and the availability of audit professionals.

Are We Competitive? A Firm Competitiveness Fit Scale

Are We Competitive? A Firm Competitiveness Fit Scale

A systematic review and conceptual framework of supply chain agility as a strategic enabler of firm competitiveness

Purpose: This study aims to explore supply chain agility as a strategic facilitator of firm competitiveness by critically analyzing existing literature and proposing a research agenda based on a conceptual framework. Methodology: A systematic literature review and co-citation analysis were conducted, examining 22 research papers from 1999 to 2024 sourced from reputable academic journals. Results: The study identifies key dimensions of supply chain agility, including responsiveness, flexibility, visibility, competency, resilience, and adaptability. It categorizes existing literature into modeling enablers, adoption, implementation, and agility measurement for enhancing competitiveness. A contemporary structure and framework for supply chain agility is presented. Theoretical contribution: The paper provides a comprehensive review of fundamental concepts related to supply chain agility and competitiveness, offering a conceptual framework that enhances the understanding of agile capabilities in both public and private sectors. Practical implications: The findings offer insights for supply chain managers on maintaining competitiveness in volatile markets, providing knowledge on adopting, implementing, and measuring agility throughout the supply chain. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

Endogenous Firm Competition and the Cyclicality of Markups

Abstract We show that the cyclicality of output growth is a sufficient predictor for the cyclicality of markups in models that micro-found variable markups through dynamic trade-offs. We use data on markups from the U.S. as well as survey data on firms’ expectations from New Zealand to test the predictions of these models and find evidence in favor of their mechanisms. Finally, we study the implications of these mechanisms for cyclicality of markups in a calibrated general equilibrium model. In particular, we find that the degree of hump-shaped response in output is crucial for the direction of aggregate markup cyclicality.

Is more always better? Investor-firm interactions, market competition and innovation performance of firms

With the rapid development of the Internet, the way of investors communicating to firms has evolved from the traditional offline approach to the online mode. Based on the number and quality of investor-firm interactions on the online interactive platforms constructed by China, this study investigates the impact of investor-firm interactions on innovation performance of firms of A-share listed firms over the period of 2010–2020. Our findings support an inverted U-shaped relationship between investor-firm interactions and firms' innovation performance. We further delve into the moderating role of market competition. Results reveal that industrial competition amplifies this inverted U-shaped relationship, while a firm's market power weakens it. Our empirical insights provide valuable insights for policymakers seeking to refine the voice of individual investors and for managers considering incorporating online interactions into their innovation strategies.

Innovation, risk management, and proactive behavior: An insight into the aspects of entrepreneurial marketing in SMEs

Innovation, risk management, and proactive behaviour are the primary rudiments of entrepreneurial marketing that drive success and augment the competitiveness of business firms. Hence, exploring the interlinkage of these entrepreneurial marketing strategies in detail and looking forward to their underlying influence on the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is a useful approach to getting an overview of the current standing of small and emerging businesses in this regard. Therefore, the current study intends to contribute to this paradigm by sampling a total of 400 respondents from 47 SMEs in Kuwait. Data was collected via a questionnaire, and the responses were analyzed using SPSS v23. The outcomes depicted that all three dimensions of entrepreneurial marketing strategies have a positive and strong correlation with each other and a pronounced impact on driving competitiveness in SMEs. It has been noted that the aspiration towards bringing innovation, taking and managing risk for the anticipated good of the firm, and a proactive mindset are among the cardinal aspects that are imperative for the success and overall competitiveness of a firm to evolve and thrive in a diverse corporate sector and adopt change for the better of the organizations as well as the involved stakeholders.

Exploring digital green convergence for firm competitiveness

Promoting digital green convergence is critical toward high-quality development. Sampling with 17,814 digital green patents of listed firms in China from 2009 to 2021, we find that digital green convergence significantly improves firm competitiveness. The dependability and relevance of our findings are further confirmed by several robustness tests. Our mechanism analysis shows that digital green convergence enhances firm competitiveness by reducing agency costs and increasing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) performance. This paper provides theoretical and practical implications for uncovering the value of digital green convergence to improve firm competitiveness.

Influence of Organizational Market Culture on Change Management in Kenyan Social Enterprises

Firms ought to continuously adapt and modify their operations to fit the changing circumstances in the fiercely competitive and dynamic business environment. This suggests that businesses must incur substantial costs to carry out a variety of changes that will enable them to operate in the changing environment. Adjustments play an important part in defining firm competitiveness in the modern economic environment; however, many firms struggle to properly manage innovations, ensure long-term development, and motivate employees to accept change. This study explored the influence of organizational market culture on change management in social enterprises in Kenya. The study employed the Competing Values Culture theory to assess the company's culture. Using a descriptive design, the study targeted all 129 employees of Kidogo Early Years Company Limited, from top management to departmental level. Data collection involved questionnaire surveys for primary data. Analysis of quantitative data was by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 29. The regression analysis findings revealed that organizational market culture (β = 0.310, p = 0.012) had significant positive influence on change management. The study concludes that organizations that are goal-oriented and market-driven are more adaptable to external pressures and are better positioned to manage change effectively. In view of the findings, the study recommends that for organizations with a market culture, it is crucial to embed a results-oriented approach that aligns change management with organizational goals and objectives. Practices such as setting clear performance targets, encouraging a competitive spirit, and focusing on market-driven strategies should be incorporated into daily operations. Keywords: Organizational Market Culture, Change Management, Social Enterprises, Organizational Culture Influence, Kenya

Exploring the impact of legitimacy on the competitiveness of international firms

Objective and interest of the work: The legitimacy of international firms is an important and complex issue that requires further academic development. International firms must enhance their legitimacy as a generator of competitive advantages to achieve their business objectives, both economic-financial and relational. However, there is a gap in the literature on the relationship between relationship marketing and legitimacy that needs to be filled. Methodology design: Through an empirical study of Shein’s buyers, the model is validated using the PLS-SEM methodology. Results: The implications of this research represent a breakthrough in the academic field by relating both theories applied to the internationalisation of companies. In addition, this research proposes implications for management by establishing strategies for international firms to achieve legitimacy, not only to enter international markets but also to create stable and long-lasting relationships with consumers. Practical implications: This research advances the theory of legitimacy for international firms. International companies must legitimise themselves and build customer loyalty in their host countries if they are to survive and generate economic benefits.

Innovation capabilities and international competitiveness of agro-processing firms in Uganda

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the understanding of the relationship between the different innovation capabilities and the international competitiveness of agro-processing firms in Uganda. Design/methodology/approach This study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 125 firms exporting agro-processed products that are members of the Uganda Export Promotions Board (UEPB). Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). Findings The study established that product innovation capabilities and organizational innovation capabilities are positively related to the international competitiveness of agro-processing firms in Uganda while process innovation capabilities and marketing innovation capabilities are not. Research limitations/implications A structured questionnaire was used to solicit responses and no follow-up interviews were conducted to inform the reasons behind the respondents’ responses. Nevertheless, the study reveals that agro-processing firms in Uganda should concentrate on building product and organizational innovation capabilities if they are to compete effectively in international markets. Originality/value To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between the four forms of innovation capabilities (product, process, marketing and organizational) and international competitiveness particularly among agro-processing firms from an African country.