Product Market Research Articles

Founder’s international market knowledge and SMEs resource orchestration ability: a moderated-mediated analysis

Purpose This study aims to examine the relationship between a founder’s knowledge of international markets and the firm’s ability to acquire and orchestrate resources for its international operations. Design/methodology/approach This investigation uses an empirical methodology using data obtained from SMEs engaged in exporting activities in the Middle East. The data collection used a random sampling approach, reaching 284 samples from SMEs that are privately held and engaged in international ventures within the past five years, deriving more than 35% of export sales directly. The relationships within the data were scrutinized through partial least squares-structural equation modeling. Findings The examination recognizes a positive and direct correlation between founders’ knowledge of international markets and SMEs resource orchestration ability. The results find support for both of mediated and moderated paths and uncover the mediated role of SMEs resource acquisition ability in relationship between founders’ knowledge and SMEs resources orchestration ability. Level of SME internationalization and degree of innovation initiatives positively moderate this relationship as well. Research limitations/implications The study’s results contribute to the theory and practice of international entrepreneurship and cognitive psychology, but there are a few limitations to be conscious of. For example, the relationship between founders’ knowledge, resource acquisition and resource orchestration is strengthened by SMEs’ levels of internationalization and their degree of innovativeness. However, to anticipate resource acquisition, future studies might model a direct link between SMEs level of internationalization and degree of innovativeness. Practical implications This research offers practical recommendations for owner–managers of SMEs in the field of international entrepreneurship in emerging market environments, particularly regarding the use of founders’ knowledge in resource orchestration and when it is most useful. To be more precise, entrepreneurs should prioritize the transfer of their knowledge of international markets as a knowledge base to obtain resources for their international operations. This includes both the acquisition of resources and the orchestration of these resources concerning the utilization of product–market opportunities to create economic value. Originality/value This research provides unique perspectives on the interaction between founders’ knowledge of international markets and firms’ resource orchestration ability. The findings have significant implications for the advancement of theory and managerial implications in the fields of cognitive psychology, international business and entrepreneurship.

Analisis Inovasi Produk, Orientasi Pasar dan Strategi Bersaing dalam Meningkatkan Kinerja Bisnis Coffee Shop Survei pada Coffee Shop di Kota Sukabumi

The growth of Coffee shops in Sukabumi City can be said to be high for a small city, there are already 54 Coffee shops which previously only had 37 Coffee shops. This indicates the high growth of Coffee shops in Sukabumi City. However, it also indicates the tight competition of Coffee shops in Sukabumi City. This researcher aims to determine how much influence product innovation, market orientation and competitive strategy have in improving business performance in coffee shops. This researcher uses descriptive and associative methods with a quantitative approach. The population in this study was coffee shops in Sukabumi City as many as 54 coffee shops. The data analysis techniques used in this study are the classical assumption test, multiple correlation coefficient, determination coefficient, multiple linear regression, and simultaneous hypothesis testing (F Test) and partially (T Test). The results of this study indicate that product innovation, market orientation and competitive strategy have a significant effect on business performance, this is evidenced by the calculated F 80.307> F table 2.790 which means the calculated F value is greater than the F table. Partially, product innovation has a significant effect on business performance, this is evidenced by the T count of 8.485> T table 1.674, which means that T count is greater than T table. Market orientation has a significant effect on business performance, this is evidenced by the T count of 2.604> T table 1.674, which means that T count is greater than T table. Then the competitive strategy does not have a significant effect, this is evidenced by the T count of 0.220> T table 1.674, which means that T count is smaller than T table with an error level of 0.05.

Improving prediction accuracy in agricultural markets through the CIMA-AttGRU model.

In the Chinese futures market, agricultural product futures play a crucial role. While previous studies have primarily relied on historical price data and fundamental financial indicators of agricultural product futures, there is a growing recognition of the value that lies within the vast amounts of textual data generated in the financial domain. Our study specifically focuses on the limitations of existing methods in capturing the complex relationships and rich semantic information embedded in these textual sources. This article designs a CIMA AttGRU (CIMA-AttGRU) model for soybean futures, which is a forecasting method for the agricultural product market. This model uniquely integrates Collective Intrinsic Mode Analysis (CIMA) with an Attention-Gated Recurrent Unit (AttGRU), leveraging the strengths of both techniques to enhance predictive accuracy and adaptability. The rationale behind employing the CIMA-AttGRU model lies in its ability to effectively tackle the inherent challenges of financial market analysis. By incorporating CIMA, the model adeptly filters out market noise, directly addressing the challenge of high volatility. Additionally, with its attention mechanism, the CIMA-AttGRU targets the issue of non-linear patterns by allowing dynamic adjustment to temporal dependencies, offering differential learning capabilities crucial for capturing the nuanced fluctuations in futures prices. Complementing the CIMA and AttGRU, the integration of Class-wise Adversarial Domain Adaptation (CADA) further refines the model's robustness, addressing the critical challenge of domain adaptivity. This aspect is particularly vital for edamame futures, where price determinants can vary significantly over time and across regions. Our empirical results demonstrate a significant improvement in forecasting precision, with the CIMA-AttGRU model achieving a Mean Absolute Error (MAE) reduction of 15% and a Mean Squared Error (MSE) reduction of 20% compared to conventional models. This superior performance, especially in terms of prediction accuracy and handling market fluctuations, highlights the improve of the model compared to existing methods and has made significant explorations in agricultural market forecasting.

The gender gap in executive promotions

This paper examines whether there is a gender promotion gap among executives. Using a comprehensive dataset of executives, I find that women’s promotion probability is 16% lower than men’s after controlling for educational and employment background, age, function, rank, and firm characteristics. The gap occurs partially because women are clustered in positions that support the business rather than positions with profit-and-loss responsibilities. Additionally, my analysis shows that product market competition, public attention on gender diversity, a respectful corporate culture, and board gender diversity alleviate the gender promotion gap. These findings support the notion that demand-side factors continue to hinder women’s advancement to leadership positions.

Does low-carbon pilot policy promote corporate green total factor productivity?

This study investigates the impact of China’s low-carbon pilot policy on corporate green total factor productivity. Exploiting the staggered rollout of the policy across cities, we employ a difference-in-differences approach and find that the policy significantly increases the green total factor productivity of heavily polluting firms. This effect is driven by improvements in both green technological progress and efficiency. The positive impact is more pronounced for firms facing financial constraints, lower product market competition, and lower capital intensity. Textual analysis of annual reports reveals that the policy promotes corporate green total factor productivity by enhancing executives’ environmental awareness and facilitating firms’ green transformation. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of the low-carbon pilot policy in advancing China’s green development agenda and provide policy implications for other economies pursuing sustainable growth.

Performance of Improved Bell Pepper Cultivars in Southern Georgia for Mature Green Fresh Market Production

Three research trials were performed over two spring seasons to assess the performance of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum) cultivars in southern Georgia, USA. Studies were conducted in commercial production fields in Echols and Lowndes counties, which are major bell pepper production areas in Georgia, USA. Eleven cultivars were evaluated, and 10 newer bell pepper cultivars with improved disease resistances for bacterial leaf spot races 1 to 10, tomato spotted wilt virus, and/or phytophthora were compared with ‘Aristotle’, which historically was the most widely grown bell pepper hybrid in the southeastern United States. Our goal was to determine how the new and improved cultivars compared with ‘Aristotle’ for total yield, fruit size distribution, and unmarketable defects in the absence of disease pressure. There were significant differences in fruit size, marketable fruit, and culls between cultivars contrasting their adaptability for production in southern Georgia. The top performers for yield and preferred fruit size for fresh market bell pepper spring production in southern Georgia were ‘Autry’, ‘Standout’, and ‘Antebellum’. Yields and fruit size distribution of these cultivars were similar to ‘Aristotle’ but may be preferred in certain situations due to additional disease resistance. The cultivar, SV 3255 also had higher yields and low defects but had smaller average fruit sizes.

CLASSIFICAÇÃO DE OVOS: ANÁLISE DE MÉTODOS E PADRÕES NA INDÚSTRIA AVÍCOLA

Egg grading is a fundamental process in the poultry industry that ensures quality and food safety. This article explores the most commonly used classification methods, their implications for product quality and consumer expectations. Through a systematic review of the literature, three main classification criteria were identified: weight, size and shell quality. The results show that standardization in sorting practices improves production efficiency and market acceptance. It is concluded that the adoption of modern technologies and the harmonization of global standards are essential for the sustainable development of the poultry industry. Egg grading is crucial to ensuring that consumers receive high-quality products, as well as facilitating marketing. For producers, this practice allows for better management of stock and product distribution, in addition to meeting regulatory requirements aimed at ensuring food safety. The chicken egg is made up of a clear shell and yolk. The shell protects the inside of the egg and allows gas exchange. The egg white is rich in proteins and water, functioning as protection and a source of nutrients for the embryo. The yolk contains lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals, being the main source of energy for the development of the embryo. The egg also has internal membranes, an air chamber and chalazions that hold the yolk in place.

Empowerment of Kelingan Hamlet Home Tofu Industry through Improving Production Quality and Utilizing Digital Technology

This study examines efforts to improve the quality and production of tofu in the home industry, as well as the use of technology for marketing of MSMEs. This study uses field observation, interview, and literature analysis methods to identify challenges and solutions in small-scale tofu production. The results of the study indicate that improving water quality, standardizing production processes, and utilizing digital technology for marketing can significantly improve product quality and market reach. In conclusion, the integration of appropriate technology and digital marketing strategies can be a catalyst for the development of the home tofu industry and MSMEs in general.

Advanced green chemistry, HPLC method development and validation: Integrating stability indicating, quality by design (QbD), in ferulic acid and its application in NLCs-based nanoformulation

The biopharmaceutical class IV classification of ferulic acid (FA) restricts its use. FA-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were developed to overcome these issues. It is difficult to quantify the lowest concentration of the drug by another method. The proposed method can determine the lowest concentration in nanoformulation and biological fluids including urine, plasma, blood, and tissues. The proposed method utilizes a novel QbD-based approach, which reduces trial-and-error production costs and market recalls and maintains a risk-benefit ratio, due to the use of optimized inputs and outputs. The use of a green chemistry approach (Acetonitrile: water) can detect even small degradants. The degradant found under stress conditions ensures the safety, efficacy, quality, and stability of the formulations. The optimized method showed linearity with r2 0.9988 in a range of 10-60 µg/ml at a retention time of 3.690±0.01 at a run time of 8 minutes. The recovery rate of FA was found in a range of 95.28±0.54% to 97.98±0.48%. The obtained %RSD precision was (0.01-0.21%) for intra-day, whereas inter-day precision was (0.09-0.51%). The lowest concentrations to be detected and quantified were 2.4 and 7.3µg/ml. The AQbD approach built an optimized method providing significant output. The found stress degradation recovery was (6.2±0.98% to 33.46±0.22%), thus from the recovered degradant concentrations, further work for safety, efficacy, quality, and stability can proceed. Thus RP-HPLC adheres to ICH guidelines and is found to be straightforward, precise, and sensitive for routine quality control analysis of FA in bulk and nanoformulations, plasma, tissues, and other biological fluids.

Gap Analysis of Good Manufacturing Practices for The Household Industry (CPPB-IRT) Implementation at MN Sambal MSMEs, Bogor

Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the food sector play a crucial role in supporting food security and local economic growth. A common challenge faced by these businesses is the lack of implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices for Household Industry (CPPB-IRT) that This hinders their ability to obtain the SPP-IRT (Household Industry Food Production Certificate), which is essential for ensuring food safety and quality. MN Sambal, an MSME producing chili sauce as a food product susceptible to spoilage and poses a significant risk to consumers if not handled properly. To assess MN Sambal's compliance with CPPB-IRT standards, research data was collected through observation, interviews, checklists, and literature review. The gap analysis based on BPOM regulation No. HK.03.1.23.04.12.2206 2012 revealed that MN Sambal achieved a high level of compliance are 83.8% conformity aspect and 16.2% non-conformity aspect. These non-conformities were identified in six aspects: Hygiene and Sanitation Facilities and Activities, Process Control, Food Labelling, Supervision by Responsible Parties, and Employee Training. Based on these nonconformities, it is recommended that MN Sambal undertake corrective actions to enhance CPPB-IRT implementation and increase its chances of obtaining the SPP-IRT certification, which will ultimately lead to increased product value and market expansion.

Internal Control Quality and Boardroom Backscratching.

In modern firms, conflicts may arise between the chief executive officer and board of directors due to the separation of ownership and operations. Such conflicts may weaken listed companies' performance in the short term or affect their development in the long term. Using data on Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2022, this study empirically examines the impact of internal control quality on boardroom backscratching. We find that internal control quality significantly mitigates boardroom backscratching by reducing agency costs and increasing analyst attention. This effect is more significant in firms where the management holds less power and the product market is highly competitive. Furthermore, the mitigating effects of internal control quality on boardroom backscratching effectively reduce the risk of the company's share price collapsing. Overall, this study enriches the literature on boardroom backscratching and internal control quality, and provides valuable references for stakeholders, including listed companies, to improve firm governance efficiency and, thus, maintain the stability of capital markets.

CEO trustworthiness and investment efficiency: evidence from China

Purpose This study aims to investigate the influence of chief executive officer (CEO) trustworthiness on firm investment efficiency and explores how this relationship varies in different contexts, including product market competition (PMC), institutional investors, media coverage, analyst monitoring and ownership structure. Design/methodology/approach The authors examined a sample of A-Share non-financial firms listed on the Shanghai and Shenzhen Stock Exchanges from 2005–2018 by using panel date regression techniques. The robustness of the findings is affirmed through alternative measures of investment efficiency and various econometric techniques. Further, various endogeneity tests are conducted to confirm that the findings are not affected by potential bias. Findings The authors find a significant positive effect of CEO trustworthiness on firms’ investment efficiency and exhibit that CEO trustworthiness mitigates the issue of underinvestment rather than overinvestment. Further, PMC strengthens the association between CEO trustworthiness and investment efficiency. The influence is more pronounced when institutional investors, media and analyst monitoring are low and in non state-owned firms. Likewise, financial reporting quality is found to be an underlying mechanism for the positive association between CEO trustworthiness and investment efficiency. Research limitations/implications The reliance on a location-specific index of CEO trustworthiness may obscure its true nature, and caution is warranted when generalizing these results to other regions. Practical implications This study suggests that elevating a trustworthy CEO to the firm upper echelon can improve investment efficiency. Policymakers and investors should recognize and leverage the effect of CEO trustworthiness in firms, especially those with weaker governance structures. Originality/value This study enriches the literature about investment efficiency by introducing a novel determinant, CEO trustworthiness and establishes that it acts as an informal social institution that improves firms’ resource utilization in emerging economies with weak governing structures.

Climate policy and corporate green transformation: Empirical evidence from carbon emission trading

The implementation of climate policies in the financial sector is a global consensus among countries committed to sustainable development. Therefore, the impact of carbon trading policy (CTP) on firms’ green transformation (GT) is examined by manually compiling a directory of emission control enterprises in China’s carbon market from 2008 to 2022, using a difference-in-differences model. This topic must be urgently explored through theoretical and empirical studies. This study found that CTP can promote corporate green transformation; however has no industry and regional spillover effects. Mechanism analyses indicate that CTP can promote a firm’s green transformation by enhancing green innovation and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the effect of CTP on GT is effective when firms have higher “greenwash” scores, lower financialization, weaker product market competition, and higher levels of environmental regulation. This study reveals the microeconomic effects of CTP, and the findings provide empirical evidence that China can realize Porter’s hypothesis.

Product perceptual design optimization model based on BP neural network

BackgroundUser reviews of online shopping platforms can truly reflect users’ feelings about the use of products. They have the advantages of large sample size, wide range and uniform distribution, and can help optimize the perceptual model of product design.MethodsThe web crawler crawls user comments, and TFIDF-SP quantifies them. The principal component analysis method selects the perceptual evaluation index, the morphological analysis method disassembles the product into several main structures, and the BP neural network constructs the perceptual optimization model.ResultsTaking the paint tray as an example, according to the trained BP neural network, the shape factor combination with the highest perceptual evaluation value is predicted. The experimental results verify the accuracy of the model.ConclusionThe model based on BP neural network has the ability to quickly and accurately combine the best form factors, improves the design efficiency of product design perceptual optimization, improves the rationality of product design, and provides a new idea for consumer demand market-oriented product design.

An Examination of Management Tone in the MD&A in the Context of Fraud Pentagon

ABSTRACT We examine the association between management tone in management discussion and analysis (MD&A) and five elements of the fraud pentagon model of incentives, opportunity, rationalization, capability, and arrogance. Management tone is measured using a biased tone, and several proxies for fraud are constructed. Using a sample of 586 public companies listed on the Teheran Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2022, we find (1) auditor’s opinion, current ratio, capital expenditure, earnings management, and tax evasion as proxies for fraud incentives; (2) internal control weakness as a proxy for fraud opportunity; (3) CEO tenure and ability as proxies for fraud capability; (4) competition in the product market, industry tax evasion, and lack of political communication as proxies for fraud rationalization; and (5) narcissism and overconfidence as proxies for fraud arrogance are associated with management abnormal tone. We contribute to literature by examining relationships between fraud elements and the abnormal tone in MD&A. Data Availability: Data used in this paper are available from the public sources identified in the text and upon request from authors. JEL Classifications: M41; M42; M48.

Expanding metaverse market: New opportunities and challenges for the content industry

<p>The metaverse is expanding from a simple technology or service into a platform-centric industrial ecosystem. Initially discussed in the context of infrastructure networks, such as computer communication networks, it has since broadened to include content and services related to virtual reality, such as games and films. Recently, the scope of this expanded ecosystem has further widened, linking various types of content through content-based platforms. In this metaverse market, the content market plays a crucial role. This paper aims to examine the current state of the content market within the metaverse market and explore its future development directions. We will analyze various aspects of the content sector utilizing the metaverse both domestically and internationally, investigating how the use of the metaverse is evolving from mere entertainment to a productive market with applicable business models.</p>

Structural Challenges and a Role Innew Health Policy Management in Future India

Objectives: This paper aims to investigate the evolution of supply chain management (SCM) in the globalization era, which is typified by the focus on global supplier relationship systems and the growth of supply chains across national borders and continents. Methods: The introduction of the mathematical models, which include a broad range of linear, integer, and non-linear programming models, is the first section of this paper. Location modeling and transportation planning are two common applications for heuristic models. Although mathematical and heuristic models are best suited for analytical problem solving, complex real-world issues frequently call for basic assumptions. In simulation models, the intricacies of the problem and the relationships between different variables are represented by equations, and then an attempt is made to discuss a comparative analysis of the results. Results: Once put into place, the system always has a lifespan that is determined by the previously mentioned factors and problems. It would be more accurate to say that all developed systems should be reviewed on a regular basis and any necessary adjustments made to maintain their functionality and effectiveness. Conclusion: According to this paper, the fiercely competitive food production market is largely driven by time-based competition, and a producer's or farmer's ability to offer a customer a flexible and responsive supply determines its competitive edge. These businesses understand that providing creative products and outstanding customer service is essential to retaining clients and opening up new revenue streams.

Does vertical integration reduce the cost of equity?

Faced with the increasing risk of supply chain disruption, more firms are using mergers and acquisitions or investments to expand their core business's upstream and downstream supply chain and improve their vertical integration. In this vertical integration trend, the cost of capital for core firms is crucial to coordinating the entire supply chain. We manually collected input-output matrix data of segmented departments and supply chain value-added data to explore how vertical integration impacts the cost of equity. Using A-share listed firms from 2008 to 2021 as our sample, the results of our regression analyses show that vertical integration plays a significant role in reducing the cost of equity. These results remain consistent throughout a series of robustness tests. The channel tests indicate that vertical integration can reduce the cost of equity by reducing operating risk and mitigating information asymmetry. Additional analyses show that vertical integration's impact on the cost of equity is more pronounced for firms with more intense industry competition, lower product market positions, lower supply chain concentration, weaker corporate governance, and more aggressive strategies, as well as firms in regions with lower marketization processes and weaker trust environment. Our findings contribute to the literature on the economic consequences of vertical integration from the perspective of corporate financing behavior and extend the literature on cost of equity determinants to the field of supply chains.

Climate resilience and profitability thresholds in Chesapeake Bay oyster aquaculture

Shellfish aquaculture producers in coastal systems are facing uncertain future growing conditions as climate change alters weather patterns and raises sea level. We examined expected mid-century (2059–2068) changes in aquaculture profitability from recent conditions by integrating models of climate change, estuarine hydrodynamics and biogeochemistry, oyster growth, oyster mortality, and economics, using the Chesapeake Bay, USA as a case study. We developed an economic stochastic dynamic programming (SDP) approach that generates optimal grower behavior to maximize profits under uncertainty by dynamically choosing planting density, replanting and mitigation use, in response to changing oyster stock status and water quality conditions. Separate models were developed for bottom culture largely serving the cannery market, and container culture largely serving the half-shell market, to reflect different production costs, market prices, and oyster growth and survival. The coupled hydrodynamic-biogeochemical and oyster ecology models projected high spatial variability in oyster growth and mortality with the most favorable growing conditions in the lower north and upper mid bay, where mortality is lowest, and the upper south bay, where growth is highest. Climate change by late mid-century generated modest water quality changes and virtually no mortality rate changes. Nonetheless, our modeling revealed that even if growers made optimal management choices under uncertainty, the majority of modeled sites would see a decline in profitability under climate change, primarily due to potential reductions in food availability. Bottom culture was more resilient to the future climate at most sites, being less sensitive to small changes in growth than container culture. Information on how aquaculture conditions currently vary in space was more important for profitability than future climate forecasts. Our stochastic dynamic programming approach tailored grower behavior to each site and unfolding annual conditions, including highly targeted and cost-effective mitigation adjustments to boost oyster survival or growth.

Business Suitability Analysis and Development Strategy Paddy Rice Fields in Bantul Regency, Yogyakarta Special Region Province

The limitations of agriculture and aquaculture areas impact the reduction of food availability and farmers' welfare. To fulfill rice and fish consumption demand can be approached through paddy rice field development. This research aims to analyze the financial suitability of both internal and external factors and arrange the strategy for developing paddy rice fields in Bantul Regency. The data collection method was from the interview and direct observation. The development strategy arrangement is based on the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analysis and QSPM (Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix). The paddy rice fields business's resulting net present value is IDR 362.694.656, R/C Ratio= 2.02, and payback period = 5,33 months, which shows the paddy rice fields are worthy and more prospective than a conventional system. The prior internal factors on the paddy rice fields are more profitable; most workers are sharecroppers and require higher capital than the traditional system. The external factors include the stability of the sales price and product market, incentive mentoring from the instructor, the infrastructure assistance policy of paddy rice fields, and the strategic location. The development strategy is strengthening the farmer's behavior from conventional planting rice to paddy rice fields system, increasing the farmer motivation, repairing fence design to minimize pest attack, utilizing mediator as a negotiate media from sharecropper to rice fields owner, developing the paddy rice fields area as ecotourism, and establishing cooperation both with region financial institution and Marine and Fisheries Business Capital Management Institute (LPMUKP) for extensive capital