Competitive Forces Research Articles

Factors affecting the growth of small privately‐owned financial planning businesses

AbstractOver the past 10 years, there have been many financial scandals in the financial advice industry, which has caused substantial losses for investors. Large wealth institutions controlled by major Australian banks have significantly contributed to investor losses by promoting their products which were not always in the best interests of clients. The aim of this study was to explore the factors affecting the current and future growth of small privately‐owned financial planning businesses as a competitive marketplace provides better consumer outcomes. The study undertook a qualitative approach using an exploratory research design which involved the recruitment of 51 privately‐owned financial planning practice owners who were personally interviewed with semi‐structured interview questions. Using a theoretical framework based on Michael Porter's five competitive forces model, the study found that the main factors enhancing growth were differentiation of service, technology enhancement, target marketing and business and client referral arrangements. Factors that negatively affected growth included the affordability of providing advice due to regulatory changes and the negative public perception associated with various industry scandals. The results provide existing and new entrant adviser practices with valuable knowledge to make informed decisions in the areas of practice management and direction. Additionally, the study provides policymakers and regulators with further knowledge to better support the privately‐owned financial planning sector, thus enabling consumers to benefit from a more competitive marketplace.

Growth and cooperation of Latin American Countries: The role of industrial knowledge

A direct comparison of the welfare implications of pure competition between the states of Latin America and the outcome of a cooperative set of actions of these states is not possible. Laboratory experiments in the social sciences are impossible; societies experience just one run through history. Nevertheless, a concise study of the performance of a specific tool of cooperation, namely the Industrial Knowledge Bank (IKB), can be performed. If over time, such a tool attracts more and more countries, which formerly relied on competitive forces only, then an indirect proof of the superiority of cooperation can be assumed. The industrial knowledge is exchanged via specified projects, which form a network in the IKB data-bank. Then, the evolution of the structure of this network mimics the growth of the actual cooperative industrial projects. This paper provides a brief history and description of this institutional attempt to increase cooperation. It also shows the most relevant bottlenecks met by this project. Further, a clear picture of the state of industrial cooperation across South America is studied in detail through the development of the nodes of this network. We then use two indices typical for welfare increase to compare Latin American countries being part of the cooperation with those not taking part. The visible correlation can be interpreted as a hint of the advantages of cooperation. In conclusion, we provide some possible future scenarios for further industrial development in Latin America based on the study of this Industrial Knowledge Bank.

What Constitutes a Competitive Environment? A Case Study of the FQHCs Industry In California

Objective: This study aims to identify competitive forces in the FQHCs environment using Porter’s Five Force model. Data Sources: The study utilized various secondary data sources. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) requires FQHCs to submit a performance report using the measures defined in the Uniform Data System (UDS). The UDS provides data such as the scope and volume of services provided by FQHCs, staffing, number of delivery sites, and finances. The UDS consider being a census of aggregate level health center data for FQHCs. Secondly, the American Hospital Association Annual Survey (AHA), which provides organizational details regarding hospitals. The third dataset is the Area Health Resources File (AHRF). It includes county-level data about health services volume, demographics, and health professional supply. The fourth dataset is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Form 990, which was used was used to calculate FQHCs’ total margin. The fifth dataset is the California Health and Human Services Open Data Portal (CHHS), which includes county-level data such as the number of Medicaid eligible populations and the number of primary care clinics. Finally, the study used the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) United States Postal Service Zip Code Crosswalk Files. The Crosswalk Files was used to allocate both FQHC’s and FQHC’s sites Zip-Codes to counties. Method: this was a descriptive study. Descriptive statistics included frequencies and percentages to describe categorical variables. In addition, means (standard deviations, SD) will describe continuous variables. The study utilized bivariate analysis, including the chi-square test and ANOVA test, to find differences regarding the competitive forces variables among counties that had a new established FQHCs and counties that did not have newly established FQHCs in California for the years 2014 and 2015. Result: the study found that the number of FQHCs sites and primary care clinics in a county is statistically different between counties that had a newly established FQHC compared to counties that did not have a newly established FQHC. Counties that had newly established FQHCs had on an average a lower number of FQHCs sites and primary care clinics. Competition for FQHCs might arise when more FQHCs exist in a market. More research can be conducted to understand how FQHCs behave in a competitive environment.

Supplier Switching, Buyer-Specific Behavioral Uncertainty, and Value Appropriation

Our study combines theoretical insights from competitive strategy and transaction cost economics to examine how the price of an exchange changes when a buyer switches its exchange contract to a new supplier. Developing a bargaining power perspective, we posit that transaction costs linked to behavioral uncertainty affect a buyer’s ability to leverage supply-side market competition to appropriate higher exchange value. In the context of US audit services, we first test theoretically derived hypotheses for price of the initial audit engagement following supplier switching. We then perform a battery of analyses that examine both the intertemporal dimensions of the buyer-auditor relationship and market segmentation effects across two major auditor groups. Our empirical findings provide correlational evidence consistent with the proposition that supply-side competition bestows a buyer with a bargaining advantage when negotiating exchange price with a new supplier. However, buyer-specific behavioral uncertainty is associated with a reduction in the buyer’s advantage, allowing the supplier to charge a higher price. We also offer evidence of intertemporal and market segmentation effects that allow us to quantify the dynamism in price-bargaining as competitive conditions and behavioral uncertainty evolve over time. Together, our results provide insights into how transaction costs associated with behavioral uncertainty interact with competitive forces to influence relative bargaining power, and in turn, exchange price.

Do MNEs Benefit More from Foreign or Local Competition for their Emerging Market Innovation?

How do the innovation-related benefits of competition vary across foreign and local competition? Inspired by a blend of perspectives and arguments from the competition, innovation and strategic change literature, we explore which type of competition benefits advanced economy MNEs (AEMNEs) emerging market (EM) innovation performance most, when and in what pace and rhythm. We predict that local competition contributes more to AEMNEs EM innovation performance and this positive effect is strengthened by increased competition from foreign peers and at a faster pace. We also expect that competition irregularity reinforces the innovation performance-enhancing effect of local competition but diminishes that of foreign competition. We test these predictions using a sample of AEMNEs operating in the Chinese high-tech industries. Results from our multi-level analysis provide strong support for our arguments. Our findings have important implications for research on AEMNE EM innovation performance variations resulting from the heterogeneity in the sources of competitive forces and their temporal structure.

Voluntary Disclosure and Personalized Pricing

AbstractFirms have ever-increasing access to consumer data, which they use to personalize their advertising and to price discriminate. This raises privacy concerns. Policymakers have argued in response that consumers should be given control over their data, able to choose what to share and when. Since firms learn about a consumer’s preferences both from what they do and do not disclose, the equilibrium implications of consumer control are unclear. We study whether such measures improve consumer welfare in monopolistic and in competitive markets. We find that consumer control can improve consumer welfare relative to both perfect price discrimination and uniform pricing. First, consumers can use disclosure to amplify competitive forces. Second, consumers can disclose information to induce even a monopolist to lower prices. Whether consumer control improves welfare depends on the disclosure technology and market competitiveness. Simple disclosure technologies suffice in competitive markets. When facing a monopolist, a consumer needs partial disclosure possibilities to obtain any welfare gains.

Rhetoric vs reality: The disconnect between policy and practice for teachers implementing Aboriginal education in their schools

In Australia, pervasive deficit representations and positioning of Aboriginal peoples continue to impact on teachers’ capacity to meaningfully embed Aboriginal curriculum and pedagogies into their teaching. This sits within a policy context driven by standardization, competition and market forces focused on closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal student outcomes to address the statistical dissonance caused by Aboriginal underachievement. Our analysis is informed by Bacchi’s (2009) ‘What’s the ‘problem’ represented to be?’ analytical tool. We reveal discourses that position Aboriginal peoples as the ‘problem’ and the effects of these on teacher practice. Using the 2019 Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration, which represents a national partisan vision of Australian education, we demonstrate how discourses of community engagement, Reconciliation and data-driven solutions continue to position Aboriginal peoples as incapable, and government as savior. This flags the silencing of Aboriginal peoples’ key concerns of racism, social justice, truth-telling, sovereignty, and treaty, all of which are central to the ongoing fight for voice, reparative justice and recognition. Until these concerns are heard and accounted for in policies, the gap will remain, teachers will continue to struggle to meaningfully engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policies and curriculum content and consequently fail Aboriginal aspirations.

Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off

Tony Hawk: Until the Wheels Fall Off

Impact of Green Intellectual Capital on Sustainable Green Banking: Moderating Role of Competitive Pressure

Purpose: Adoption of an environmentalist perspective in banking operational base through social, economic, and environmentally sustainable activities becomes debatable for firm performance. The study aims to examine the impact of green intellectual capital on sustainable green banking and the moderating role of competitive pressure between them.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The study surveyed by using self-administrative questionnaires from the bank employees of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The data was collected from a sample size of 351 by using a random sampling technique. The measures of Green Intellectual Capital (GIC) are encompassed three elements as Green human capital (GHC), Green Structural Capital (GSC), and Green Relational Capital (GRC) comprising 18 items (Yusof, Omar, Zaman, & Samad, 2019) and moderator competitive pressure comprising of 7 items was adopted (Sophonthummapharn, 2009).
 Findings: The result of the study shows that green intellectual capital positively contributes toward achieving sustainable green banking. Competitive pressure moderates the said relationship in the context of the Pakistani banking sector. The finding of the study implies that banks in Pakistan implement green activities because of the competitive force of the external environment and achieve both sustainability in terms of environmental protection and less amount of carbon print. Therefore, banks have more focus on the use of green intellectual capital containing green human capital, green structural capital, and green relational capital than the banks achieve sustainable green banking.
 Implications/Originality/Value: The study provides a practical implementation for banks to move towards sustainable green banking.

In-process testing—A framework for the effective production modernization at Lebedinsky GOK

As practice shows, the standard flowsheets in use in processing of strongly magnetic easy ores at large mining-and-processing integrated works, with little modifications, ensure high production performance. At the same time, the present-day call for the eco-friendly and green production and reduced carbon footprint, as well as the tough competition forces seeking and introduction of novel and effective solutions toward satisfaction of ever-increasing needs, wants and demands of the market. The article reviews briefly the evolution of reconcentration of iron ore concentrate at Lebedinsky GOK. One of the key factors in the reconcentration flowsheet improvement is the comprehensive analysis of material constitution of the concentrate. The analysis of occurrence forms of iron minerals and their associations with barren rocks enables a reasoned selection of the optimal processing technology to obtain the highest-quality end product. The investigation of Lebedinsky GOK’s concentrate using the modern process mineralogy techniques and the lab-scale magnetic separation and flotation tests provided important information on mineralogy and processing behavior of the material for improving the processing flowsheet. The data prove the expediency of using flotation processes as they produce a marketable concentrate of high quality at a comparatively low loss of iron in the reconcentration circuit. The irretrievable loss of iron because of specific mineralogy of the concentrate is allowable, particularly in the conditions of price rise on metal markets and in view of increased demand for high quality concentrates.

The Competitiveness of Regional Urban System in Hubei Province of China

Urban competitiveness is an indispensable topic for urban management. The purpose of this work was to study the status quo of urban system competitiveness in any region and explore the internal factors that affect urban competitiveness. In this study, 30 indicators were selected from six dimensions: population, economic strength, infrastructure, technology and culture, open exchange, and quality of life, and a two-level evaluation index system was constructed. The entropy weight method was used to calculate the weight, and 12 prefecture-level cities in Hubei Province were taken as the evaluation object. This study found that in Hubei province, (1) science, technology, and culture are the first driving forces of urban competitiveness; (2) the impact of the quality of life on urban competitiveness is deepening and obvious, especially the impact of residents’ consumption; and (3) Wuhan, the provincial capital city, is far ahead in terms of its competition and its position is unshakable, followed by Yichang and Xiangyang. Overall, the competitiveness gap between cities in the region is gradually narrowing.

Linking environmental forces, absorptive capacity, information sharing and innovation performance

PurposeThis study seeks to understand how regulatory and competitive forces impact firms' actions and innovation performance. The study investigates how firms strategize internally and externally to address regulatory and competitive forces, and how such actions influence firms' innovation performance.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected via a survey of 217 managers of business organizations in Nigeria.FindingsRegulatory forces have a positive relationship with both absorptive capacity (AC) and information sharing (IS). Competitive forces, on the other hand, only have a negative relationship with IS but not with AC. AC has a positive relationship with innovation performance, while IS, surprisingly, does not have a positive relationship with innovation performance.Originality/valueThe study contributes to knowledge by empirically validating the relationships between environmental forces and innovation performance; more importantly, the study uncovers the underlying factors, i.e. IS and AC that link environmental forces and firms' innovation performance.

Project DOMO: predicaments of a woman entrepreneur with disability

Subject area This case can facilitate students to develop a deeper understanding of the social mission-based business enterprises, startups, solopreneurship, one-man companies, women-led businesses, benefits and challenges associated with service innovation and design thinking, along with the competitive forces and funding problems in scaling up a social enterprise. It can be used for the BBA, MBA or Executive MBA programs for courses on entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, design thinking, business strategy and service innovation. Applicability/study level This case is suitable for both the undergraduate or graduate-level programs in the area of entrepreneurship, innovation and startup management. Case overview Dr Anita Sharma was a solopreneur who started a car driving school in Amritsar, Punjab, deploying specially designed, retrofitted cars to train People with Disabilities (PwDs). She demonstrated exceptional prowess in defying the social taboos and popular stigmas associated with PwDs by establishing “Drive On My Own” (DOMO) as an innovative project, a first-of-its-kind car-driving training school in India to provide an accessible car-drive learning experience to PwDs. She ignored the extreme sensitivity displayed in the social behavior of people around her, who were either were too sensitive for the PwDs by treating them as Person with Special Abilities (PwSAs) or were completely insensitive toward them or their problems thinking that their disabilities are their misfortunes. This continuum of insensitive to overprotective societal attitudes and lack of infrastructure concerning travel for PwSAs made this service innovation possible by design thinking. This entrepreneurial initiative enabled solo as well as group travel and tours possible for PwDs, by bringing in new inclusive modes of communication and solutions for self-mobility. It has also paved a path for social inclusiveness and livelihood sustainability by bringing positive change in the lives of PwDs and their family members. Moreover, a new design implementation is in her plans, as she wants to redesign these cars further to be accessible for people using wheelchairs too. The potential growth of this solopreneur’s social enterprise calls for scaling up the business, but it may also attract competition as the existing big tech-travel automobile companies may enter this domain soon with their driver-less or self-drive cars. Considering all these factors, Dr Anita Sharma faced multiple dilemmas: Can she formalize her project? What can be the type of business she can proceed with? How can she sustain and scale up her women-led project, better qualifying as a PwD-led social enterprise? How can she resolve the challenges related to the design implementation, funding the project and facing competition while scaling up DOMO as her social and service innovation? Expected learning outcomes Thus, this case study enables the application of concepts and theories of business enterprise, business funding, service innovation and design thinking. It also helps recognize and understand the challenges related to social entrepreneurship. Subject code CSS: 3 Entrepreneurship.

MANAGEMENT SUMMARY EXECUTIVE PENJUALAN BERBASIS APLIKASI DIGITAL DIMASA PANDEMI

The development of social media and marketplaces as part of information technology has a very big contribution in developing business. Current developments have also changed the pattern and map of competitive forces in running a business to become more competitive. Therefore, reliability in the use of social media and marketplaces is an important and strategic thing that is needed by business people. But this is in stark contrast to business people who are still in the pioneering stage or just starting their business, such as Lagsana Ummy Hunny. Capitalized on knowledge and insight that is still new to social media and marketplaces, it is quite influential in developing managed businesses. Therefore, this community service activity aims to increase the insight and knowledge of the Lagsana MSME owner, Ummy Hunny, located in the Bojong Gede area, Bogor Regency, in the use of social media and marketplaces for the benefit of developing business. The method that will be used to support the implementation of community service activities such as providing training and assistance to increase knowledge and insight. Knowledge and insight applied to this activity is how to utilize an information technology. Information technology is used to develop the marketing reach of the general public through social media. This activity has been going well and has contributed to increasing sales through the Dogital Application. The use of Digital Applications is very helpful in increasing sales because of the information from the menu variants sold through social media.

Application of cloud IT infrastructure in banking

Problem. Competition forces banking organizations to test technological innovations in order to keep up with more progressive start-ups and be able to compete for customers in the market. At the same time, the cost of cloud technology is lower than in-house infrastructure, especial

Sanctuary innovative safety equipment: converting adversity into opportunity

Study level/applicability Post-graduation. Subject area Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. Case overview By July 2021, the curve of COVID-19 second wave started flattening. Hetika Shah, the founder of Sanctuary Innovative Safety Equipment, was unsure whether her business would survive in the long run. The company manufactured 4S Shield N99 masks. The business was doing well when the COVID curve was at its peak; however, the sales wobbled with the flattening of the curve. As the company had manufactured the product, especially for doctors who need protection from COVID, the demand showed a sudden fall after the second wave. She was certain that the business would not survive only on 4S shield mask. Diversification of this business seemed to be a suitable idea, where she could manufacture other safety equipment for the manufacturing industry. At that time, she had neither done market research nor had any prototype for such equipment. This variety of products required a huge investment of funds and time. But, as per the market demand of the existing product, it was crucial to make quick decisions for business survival. She had options in front of her, but the uncertainty of the market deterred the decision-making. She was at a junction with three possible choices: One option was to stay in the business of masks and expand it in medical devices market under health-care industry. The masks could be used by doctors engaged in the treatment of other diseases. She planned to distribute masks to doctors treating tuberculosis and cancer. Another option was to shift her attention to diversification of the business and enter the market of safety equipment under manufacturing industry that demanded more investment and a lot of market research. The main idea was to come up with innovative safety equipment. Though, this opportunity came with its array of risks. The last option was to shift towards her underdeveloped chiller prototype for industrial use. By that time, the prototype was 75% complete. Still, it required a lot more time and attention to be brought at the commercializing stage. Expected learning outcomes The case study can be used in the Entrepreneurship and Strategic Management course. It would be suitable for students at the post-graduation level. Discussion would be on the appropriate teaching method. Though there is no prerequisite, it would be better if students had a basic understanding of entrepreneurship and strategic management. It discusses the entrepreneurial dilemma of starting a business. Furthermore, the case explains the decision dilemma of the entrepreneur about the continuance of existing business, expansion and diversification. Students will be able to understand the following concepts: business plan, business development, strategic decision-making in business, entrepreneurial opportunities, sustainability of an enterprise and challenges faced by entrepreneurs. After this case study, students will be able to understand the following models and theories: uncertainty-bearing theory of entrepreneurship, porter’s generic strategy, porter’s five competitive forces, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, scenario planning, Ansoff’s growth model and social role theory. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Social implications Women entrepreneurship. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Is there a relationship between parental age and offspring sex ratios in meadow voles?

Abstract Deviations from a 50:50 sex ratio by producing either more sons or daughters can provide fitness benefits for the parents. This is especially true for species where one sex has skewed reproductive success, in most cases males. The factors responsible for these shifts are not fully understood, but some relationships have been uncovered such as parental age. We looked for a potential relationship between the parental age of meadow voles and offspring sex ratios using a captive population. A trending linear relationship was found with paternal age and a significant quadratic relationship was found with maternal age. For males, older fathers tended to sire more sons compared to younger fathers which may be the result of selective forces of competition because of skewed reproductive success. For females, middle-aged mothers sired more sons compared to younger or older mothers. Middle age for a female could represent an optimal point for producing sons that are able to survive and compete with other males for reproductively available females.

TOOLS FOR MARKETING MANAGEMENT OF THE INNOVATION AND INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

The paper examines the processes of managing innovation and investment activity of enterprises with the complex use of marketing management tools. It is clarified that modern competitive challenges force enterprises to strengthen innovation and investment activity, which is no longer considered as one of the possible goals, but as a critical and vital condition for the enterprise operation. Theoretical provisions and conceptual-and-categorical apparatus of the research of marketing management tools for the marketing management of innovation and investment activity of enterprises are generalized. It is established that innovation and investment activity of the enterprise can be defined as the processes of directing and regulating relations aimed to create and implement innovations and investments into the objects of business and other types of activities in order to make a profit or get some other effects. The necessity of reorientation of traditional management of innovation and investment activity as management built on the principles of marketing and comprehensive application of its tools is substantiated. It is proposed to divide the tools of marketing management of innovation and investment activity into two groups, in particular tools of marketing management and tools used for its implementation. Marketing tools for managing the innovation and investment activity of enterprises include marketing research and marketing information system, while marketing tools for the implementation of management include marketing product, price, distribution and communication policies of the enterprise. Possible levels of marketing management of innovation and investment activity of enterprises based on marketing approaches and the use of marketing management tools are identified due to the application of Harrington’s desirability function. It is substantiated that the priorities in the management of innovation and investment activity of the enterprise should involve interpretation of consumer demands, direct response and feedback of innovations and related investments with the opportunities, needs and values of consumers, demand development, diffusion of innovations and long-term orientation through the use of appropriate marketing management tools.

The Role of Managerial and Technological Innovations in the Tourism Industry: A Review of the Empirical Literature

The constant changes typically present in the market along with intense competition force companies to be flexible and adaptable. Firms that operate in the tourism industry need to be well prepared and ready to face challenges that arise on different levels. Managerial and technological innovations can play a significant role in the profitability, sustainable development and longevity of a company. In this respect, this paper aims to analyze the role of innovation, as well as the key elements that affect the capability of a firm to manage innovation (as corporate strategy, organizational structure, management style, employee management, innovation process and knowledge management). To this end, it highlights the importance of the way that a firm is directed in order to enhance its performance and maintain its competitive advantage in the market. Some of the results show that the proper style of management, appropriate personnel and a pleasant working environment characterized by collaboration among employees and managers enhance the possibilities of a firm to increase innovation. Moreover, some managerial implications are also proposed to assist managers of firms in the tourist industry to create appropriate strategies. Since managers are positive and support innovation in all aspects of the firm, this may also enhance the use of technology, which will give tourism firms increased opportunity to enlarge their market share. In addition, our study accentuates the roles of ICT, social media, mobile phones and smartphones, websites, as well as multimedia, virtual and augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and several other technological advances in the tourism industry, which have helped to develop operations and transform the process of travelling to a much more pleasant and efficient experience. Within this framework of the essential role of managerial and technological innovations in tourism, our study aims to provide an extensive review of the empirical studies that have been conducted to investigate these issues.

Adoption of LGBT-Inclusive Policies: Social Construction, Coercion, or Competition?

Abstract Companies evaluate LGBT policy adoption in an environment with competing and often contradictory societal institutions and ethical frames. This makes the adoption process more difficult to understand when compared to new practice diffusion in less contested settings, providing an opportunity to examine diffusion in an uncertain and varying institutional environment. Herein, we develop a policy adoption model that examines both competing and reinforcing forces. Utilizing a longitudinal dataset of LGBT policy adoption by 283 firms across 1980 firm-years between 2002 and 2014 as measured by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), we find that firms respond to coercive, social constructivist, and competitive forces for and against LGBT-inclusive work policy adoption. We find that coercive forces exercised by shareholder resolutions and competitive forces driven by industry-level policy adoption lead to firm-level policy adoption. However, other forces, such as state-level anti-marriage equality constitutional amendments, are associated with LGBT-exclusive policies. We also disaggregate the overall HRC policy data into equal employment opportunity (EEO) policy, benefits, and inclusion dimensions and find similarities and differences among our hypothesized relationships.