Relative Competitive Advantage Research Articles

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE OF THE TURKISH MINING SECTOR: A WORLDWIDE AND BRICS COUNTRIES COMPARISON

It is irrefutable that the mining sector, which has played an essential role in the development of civilizations throughout history and has been one of the vital elements of the Industrial Revolution, made outstanding contributions to shaping humanity in the last two centuries. The demand for mining assets, which have particular importance due to the inputs they provide to the manufacturing industry, is increasing day by day, and this increases their value even more. In addition to its high added value and employment creation capacity, the mining sector significantly contributes to the national economy as a unique sector that accelerates regional development. Due to the importance of the mining sector in the Turkish economy, its employment creation, and its export share, the competitive dynamics and performance persistence have received considerable scholarly attention. The study's main aim is to investigate the competitiveness of the Turkish and BRICS countries' mining industries in international markets. Accordingly, using the annual import and export data between 2017 and 2022, indices of the Disclosed Comparative Advantage Index (RCA), Relative Export Advantage Index (RXA), Relative Import Advantage Index (RMA), Relative Trade Advantage Index (RTA), Export Specialization Index (ES), Export Similarity Index (XS), Relative Competitive Advantage Index (RC) and Grubel-Lloyd Index (GLI) were calculated, and the sector competitiveness was evaluated. The results reveal a consistent low competitive advantage globally and specifically compared to BRICS countries. While there have been occasional improvements, Turkish mining sector faces disadvantages in exports, imports, and overall trade compared to both the world and BRICS countries.

Public–Private Partnership Strategy in Increasing Competitiveness Advantage of Malaysia’s Halal Cosmetic and Personal Care Industry

The Halal Industry Master Plan reflects the commitment and effort of the Malaysian government to encourage private business enterprises in the halal cosmetic and personal care industry to be more competitive. The private business enterprises need a more competitive advantage to compete with international non-certificate halal cosmetic products and more capacity to export halal cosmetic and personal care products. This empirical study was conducted to test the relationship between government support programmes and the competitive advantage of private business enterprises and examine the effect of the mediating variable of business opportunity on the relationship between government and public business enterprises. Data were collected from 84 participants from the top management in private business enterprises in cosmetic and personal care products. Data were analysed by using PLS-SEM. A significant positive relationship between contractual programmes and competitive advantage was found. However, this relationship could have been more significant when business opportunity was included as a mediating variable. Meanwhile, the study found a negative relationship between relational programmes and competitive advantage. Surprisingly, the relationship between relational programmes and competitive advantage became positive when business opportunity was added to the model. This study focused only on Malaysia’s halal cosmetic and personal care industry. Future studies may be conducted in other halal sectors and other regions.

The Entrepreneurial Leadership, Innovative Behaviour, and Competitive Advantage Relationship in Manufacturing Companies: A Key to Manufactural Development and Sustainable Business

The ability of management to influence employee attitudes and behaviours towards organizational goals is pivotal for an organization’s competitiveness, development, and survival. The study’s objective was to investigate the link between entrepreneurial leadership, competitive advantage, and manufacturing development, mediated by employees’ innovative behaviour, via the lens of resource-based view theory. Convenience sampling was used to collect quantitative data from the 378 manufacturing sector employees through the use of a cross-sectional design. There is a lack of research on the underlying mechanisms by which leaders influence organizational processes, such as innovation stimulation. This study explores the psychological mechanisms influencing entrepreneurial leadership and employee innovative behaviour, revealing that entrepreneurial leadership reduces work uncertainty, encourages innovation, and significantly impacts a firm’s competitive advantage in the market. The findings of the study revealed that entrepreneurial leadership fosters an encouraging and supportive environment in the workplace, which in turn leads to a sustainable competitive advantage. Additionally, the findings showed that innovative behaviour significantly mediates the relationship between entrepreneurial leadership and competitive advantage. By expanding the applicability of resource-based view theory, the results of this research also contribute to the comprehension of the interplay between innovative attitudes, manufactural development, competitive advantage, and leadership, specifically in the context of manufacturing sector organizations.

The impact of institutional pressures on corporate social responsibility and green marketing adoption: an empirical approach in Vietnam banking industry

PurposeInstitutional pressure and corporate social responsibility (CSR) are gaining increasing recognition in scholarly works; however, there is an apparent and unsettled relationship between these concepts and the concept of green marketing adoption (GMA) that influences efforts to gain a relative competitive advantage (RCA). This study is aimed at examining the roles of institutional pressure and CSR on GMA and RCA and proposes recommendations for promoting green marketing management and CSC in the banking industry in Vietnam.Design/methodology/approachIn this study, partial least squares structural equation modeling is utilized to investigate the evolution of the structural model, while the hypotheses are evaluated using structural equation modeling (SEM). The data are scrutinized from 288 banking employees through an online survey.FindingsThe results show that the components of institutional pressure exert a significant impact on GMA and RCA, but the level and type of this impact differ. Additionally, the mediating role of the CSR variable in this relationship is revealed. Under the influence of institutional pressure, companies tend to increase their implementation of CSR activities, thereby promoting their GMA and RCA.Originality/valueThis study offers both theoretical and practical implications. Theoretically, this study adds to the extant evidence concerning the significance of CSR integration and institutional pressure to the advancement of GMA. In addition, maintaining a focus on fostering holistic GMA practices has enabled the banking industry in Vietnam to achieve an RCA.

Discussion on the Current Application of Artificial Intelligence in the Digital Economy

In the era of the digital economy, data, algorithms, and computing capabilities constitute vital elements that drive economic development. The three elements of artificial intelligence are -computing power, algorithm, and data. As for the difference and progress, machines imitate and enhance human physical strength, but artificial intelligence imitates and improves human intelligence. This work first mentions the status quo of how artificial intelligence boosts the digital economy. Then, it comes to several aspects of artificial intelligence’s development, prospect, and application. Eventually, this paper mentioned how to apply artificial intelligence technology to various industries to form new industries, thus promoting the development of the digital economy.In conclusion, digital technology promotes the comprehensive efficiency upgrade of various national economy departments. Its formation is that the digital economy improves the efficiency of various departments through digital technology. Efficiency upgrade means cost reduction, relative competitive advantage in the industry, adjustment and transformation of the original industrial structure and product structure, and the use of digital technology for existing products and technologies to reduce the production costs of manufacturing enterprises and achieve product upgrades. Improvements in quality, structural changes, and management efficiency have improved the core competitiveness of enterprises and achieved a comparative advantage in competition.

How big data analytics can create competitive advantage in high-stake decision forecasting? The mediating role of organizational innovation

The present study is the first to examine the mediating effect of Organizational Innovation in explaining the mechanism of achieving Competitive Advantage by utilization of Big Data. This study aims to address the research gap in investigating the moderating role of Technological Proactive Climate and Data-Driven Culture in ensuring the impact of Big Data Utilization on gaining Competitive Advantage via assessing Organizational Innovation in the Healthcare Industry in emerging economies like India. The primary data from 240 front-line healthcare firm employees from northern India was collected in three waves utilizing convenience sampling. Structural equation modeling and Process Macro were used for data analysis and testing the hypothesized model. The study found that Organizational Innovation mediates the constructive association between Big Data Utilization and Competitive Advantage. Technological Proactive Climate and Data Driven Culture emerged as significant moderators for Big Data Utilization and Competitive Advantage relationship. The results suggest some practical implications for organizations wherein firms can maintain their focus on constant innovation at the organizational level by fostering a technologically proactive environment and a data-driven culture, which will help the business acquire a sustainable Competitive Advantage over its rivals.

Collaboration with Business Partners and Business Performance: The Role of Relational Competitive Advantage

Collaboration with Business Partners and Business Performance: The Role of Relational Competitive Advantage

Bioeconomic evaluation of an agroforestry system and the potential to recover degraded areas and capitalize producers in the state of Pará, Brazilian Amazon

The state of Pará has the largest deforested and degraded area in the Amazon, a result from the expansion of extensive livestock, the projects of rural settlement in the Agrarian Reform, mining, timber extraction, hydroelectric power plants and the pressure from large urban centers for food. Reversing the deforestation and soil degradation can thrive with the adoption of appropriate technologies in systems of higher productivity and bioeconomic efficiency, higher social inclusion, and less impact on the environment. The Agroforestry System, formed by the combination of acai, cocoa and black pepper crops, and African mahogany as a forest species, can be one of the alternatives to recover degraded areas and meet the objectives of sustainable development. According to the bioeconomic criteria of viability, this agroforestry system presented a competitive advantage in relation to monocultures of acai, cocoa, and black pepper; due having a higher net present value of US$ 6,508.94/ha; internal rate of return 13.93%; cost-benefit ratio of 1.104; uniform present value of US$ 764.54/ha; occupy more labor and mitigate the emission of greenhouse gases; reduce erosion, recovers water quality and interaction with biodiversity. The inclusion of the opportunity cost of natural assets such as land, water, and forest, and of the benefits with the green certification in the price of products, contributes to the use of good practices in the production, commercialization and preservation of natural resources.

Analisis Daya Saing Crude Palm Oil (CPO) Indonesia Di Pasar Internasional`

This study aims to evaluate Indonesia's competitiveness and assess the dynamics of Indonesia's CPO performance in the international market. Comparative CPO in Indonesia is carried out using the "Revealed Comparative Advantage" (RCA) technique, while the "Constant Market Share" (CMS) method is used to understand the dynamics of Indonesia's export performance. The results showed that Indonesia's CPO has a relative competitive advantage index (RCA) value of 4, indicating that Indonesia has a strong competitive advantage and an RCA greater than 1. According to CMS data, Indonesian CPO is not limited to one country's market and has a higher standard growth rate than the world's CPO exports, also has a positive impact on market distribution and product composition.

Charting China’s Export Trajectories: Energy Factors and the Evolution of Competitive Advantage in Relation to the U.S.

Accompanied with energy price fluctuating frequently, energy-saving technology updating rapidly, energy factor plays an important role in China’s export trade to US via energy relative price and energy consumption technology differentiation. According to industry energy consumption density, the paper classifies industries into high and low energy consumption industry, combining Costinot et al. productivity method with forward linkages increase export value added, calculates Chinese high and low energy consumption industries export comparative advantage index to US during 2000-2014, as well as using Kernel density method to evaluate the transition of them, finds that comparative advantage of China’s high/low energy consumption industry to U.S. has a trend of weaken/strength which shows extreme phenomena. furtherly, utilizing Probit method to estimate the factors which affects the comparative advantage, the results turn out that the gap of energy consumption technology between two countries is the main reason which contributes to China’s comparative advantage of both high and low energy consumption industry to U.S. The energy relative price just has significant impact on high energy consumption industry, which will affect the achievement of China’s carbon emission reduction targets in ‘Responding to Climate Change: China’s Policies and Actions’.

Relasion Capability and Product Innovation in Increasing Competitive Advantage the Covid-19 Pandemic (PT. Hanan Boga Rasa)

At this time, the COVID-19 pandemic is currently sweeping the world, especially our own country, namely Indonesia itself, which has had various impacts, including the economy. The impact of the Corona virus on the economy in Indonesia results in a potential economic growth of 0.4%, which is a bad scenario. With the existence of COVID-19, many were affected, which resulted in many companies terminating their jobs (PHK, Sumarni, and Panday, 2020). Research was conducted to find out whether relational capability and product innovation had an influence on competitive advantage during the COVID-19 period. 19. The method used by researchers using quantitative methods with a sample size of 35 fashion creative industries in the city of Bandung. Researchers used multiple linear regression analysis techniques and hypothesis testing (F and T tests). This study used the SPSS version 25 program. From the results This study shows that there is a significant and positive influence between relational capabilities and competitive advantage, but not between product innovation and competitive advantage during the COVID-19 period.
 

A correção do desalinhamento da taxa de câmbio real pode ajudar os países a escapar da armadilha da renda média? Uma análise de uma economia baseada em recursos naturais: Chile

ABSTRACT Chile is classified as a high-income country but suffers from the same weaknesses affecting middle-income countries. The same policies that have encouraged the dependency on natural resources and restricted the expansion of the productive and export base, have prevented the use of exchange rate policy as an instrument of economic and social development. The performance of the economy is greatly determined by the evolution of the terms-of-trade which is negatively correlated with the real exchange rate. Also, the nominal exchange rate has been used mainly as an instrument for price stability purposes rather than for economic development. Building on the exchange rate misalignment concepts developed by the New Developmentalism, the analysis shows that, at the macroeconomic level, the real exchange rate has appreciated over time. However, the evidence also shows that the industrial/manufacturing sector has an external price competitive advantage in relation to the rest of the economy. This raises the broader question as to what extent is price competitiveness a powerful enough incentive for a broad-based structural change towards innovation and more knowledge intensive production which is needed to escape the middle-income trap.

Social Media Use and Business Performance in SMEs: The Mediating Roles of Relational Social Commerce Capability and Competitive Advantage

Social media (SM) enables micro, small, and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) to improve brand awareness and to engage their audience, which can lead to referrals, repeat business, and increased sales. However, the existing literature offers limited insights into how the ability to leverage SM for commercial activities that are beyond transactions (relational social commerce capability) can affect performance outcomes for SMEs. Drawing on the existing literature and insights from in-depth interviews with six SME managers/owners, we developed a conceptual research model and examined it empirically by using a dataset collected from Slovenian SMEs. This study identifies relational social commerce capability and competitive advantage as important mediators when exploring the impact of SM use on business performance. More specifically, the findings reveal the mediating role of relational social commerce capability between SM use and competitive advantage, while SM use was not found to have a direct impact on competitive advantage. Furthermore, the findings illustrate business performance as a result of the competitive advantage derived from relational s-commerce capability.

Managerial networking and competitive advantage: the moderating influence of competitive intensity

Because economic action is embedded in networks of inter-personal relations, many scholars have highlighted the importance of social ties in resource exchange for competitive advantage. Thus, through their networking activities and personal interactions, firm executives build social ties not only with business players but also with political entities. Conversely, at the centre of every industry’s environment is the concept of competitive intensity defined by Barnett (1997) as the “effect that an organization has on other’s survival, regardless of tactics involved”. Taking into consideration that managerial networking is widely viewed as far more common, relevant and effective in emerging markets such as Kenya, and further noting that market turbulences in Kenya are generally attributed to competitive pressure brought about by trade liberalization, this study sought to first establish the influence of managerial networking on competitive advantage in medium and large garment companies in Kenya. Subsequently, the study sought to determine the moderating influence of competitive intensity on the managerial networking-competitive advantage relationship in the forestated companies. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted with a sample of 83 firms being drawn from a population of 170 firms. Data was collected through questionnaires where a response rate of 86.7% was attained. Descriptive analysis was undertaken to establish the characteristics of the industry in relation to levels of managerial networking, competitive intensity and competitive advantage. Inferential analysis thereafter, aided in establishing relationships between the variables. The study had hypothesised that competitive intensity negatively moderates the managerial networking - competitive advantage relationship. The findings, however showed that competitive intensity positively moderated the relationship. Consequently, this study recommends that under intense competitive pressure, firms need to identify redundant networks to abandon and strategic networks to retain and join. Further, organizations need to focus on utilizing network resources more effectively for greater ability to adapt and thrive.

An ambidextrous approach on the business analytics-competitive advantage relationship: Exploring the moderating role of business analytics strategy

This study aims to develop a theoretical framework to understand how the Business Analytics (BA) strategy moderates the relationship between BA and competitive advantage through innovative ambidexterity. Theorizing from the Dynamic Capability (DC) perspective, we develop a model to investigate how different BA (descriptive, predictive, prescriptive) influence innovative ambidexterity (exploration and exploitation) and competitive advantage. Besides, we propose the construct of “BA strategy” (innovator, conservative, undefined) to differentiate between firms in the way they adopt, use, and implement BA. Based on the PLS analysis of the 181 firm-level survey data, we assess the proposed model. The results show that innovative ambidexterity fully mediates the BA – competitive advantage relationship. We also find that BA innovator and conservative strategy moderate the BA-exploration and BA-exploitation links while such moderation is not observed for BA undefined strategy. This study enriches BA literature in various ways. First, it extends our understanding of the link from different BA categories to innovative ambidexterity, explorative innovation, and exploitative innovation. Second, this study provides empirical support of how BA strategy moderates BA – innovative ambidexterity – competitive advantage relationship and shows that to what degree BA innovator strategy leads firms to greater competitive advantage than BA conservative strategy.

Does green innovation mediate the relationship between green relational view and competitive advantage?

AbstractThis study examines how a green relational view sustains competitive advantage via respective green exploratory and exploitative innovation. To clarify the conditions that support green relational view and which type of green innovation is overlooked, we differentiate between two types of green relational view (i.e., green relationship learning [GRL] and green relational capital [GRC]) to analyze how two types of green innovation (i.e., green exploratory innovation and green exploitative innovation) mediate the relationship between green relational view and competitive advantage (CA) in two distinct pathways. To analyze the proposal theoretical model, Taiwanese integrated circuit industry firms were sampled using hierarchical regression methodology. Our results show that both GRL and GRC support CA. Furthermore, the findings indicate that GRL more strongly influences green exploratory innovation, whereas GRC more strongly influences green exploitative innovation. Further analysis finds that green exploratory innovation partially mediates the linkage of GRL‐CA and green exploitative innovation fully mediates the linkage of GRC‐CA. These findings are valuable for both researchers and practitioners. We discuss implications and directions for future research.

Adoption of contactless technologies for remote work in Ghana post-Covid-19: Insights from technology-organisation-environment framework

The Covid-19 outbreak in early 2020 has changed people's way of life, work and access to information. This has led to the growth of contactless digital technologies for customers' and organisations' benefit. In this context, one specific area of interest is the remote work environment, especially the introduction of remote work systems (RWS) in organisations. Notwithstanding its growing importance, RWS implementation in developing countries has experienced several challenges. Thus, the purpose of this study is to empirically investigate the antecedents of RWS adoption in organisations among different industries in a developing country context. Using the technology, organisation and environment (TOE) framework, the study unearths the RWS antecedents through a quantitative method design (353 participants) in Ghana. Relative advantage, complexity, organisational readiness and competitive advantage had a significant impact on contactless digital technologies adoption while compatibility, top management support, competence and regulatory support were insignificant antecedents in a developing country context. Our study highlights the important role of RWS adoption factors in propelling users' interest in future innovations and new technologies. A successful convergence of the validated TOE factors would advance organisation's services, change traditional business models and transform business operations and social lives.

INVESTMENT COMPONENT OF UKRAINIAN EXPORT DIVERSIFICATION


 This article is devoted to the structural analysis of goods and services export from Ukraine, identification of major barriers to the quality development of export enterprises and illustration of proposals concerning structural and geographical diversification of the national export basket.
 Firstly, the article identifies theoretical approaches to the diversification of foreign trade and factors influencing the level of country’s export concentration. Methodological aspect of assessment of economy complexity with the help of several indices was also considered, which makes it possible to determine the relative competitive advantages of the domestic household in international markets and diversification level of country's export basket.
 Secondly, the dynamics and structure of Ukrainian exports of goods were analyzed, as a result of which its raw material orientation was revealed. The main share of exported products is agricultural goods and mineral resources, which negatively affects the prospects for stable innovative development of domestic processing industries. Indices of export concentration and complexity of Ukraine's economy, which indicate a low level of diversification of domestic export basket, are studied. ABC-analysis Ukrainian services’ exports abroad was performed. As a result of the assessment of export activity structure, the main relative trade advantages of national economy and factors hindering the expansion of exported products range were identified.
 The last section of the article formulates the place of investment capital in the process of technological level increasing of domestic export basket. Ways of venture financing intensifying of innovative Ukrainian startups are identified. Reorientation institutional mechanisms and directions of geographical diversification of Ukraine's export activity are also proposed.

Supply Chain Management: A Study on Competitive Advantage Relationship and Operational Performance during Pandemic Covid 19 in Indonesia

This research was conducted to reveal the relationship between supply chain management, competitive advantage, and operational performance in coffee shops in Indonesia.  The Data collection was obtained by distributing questionnaires online. The population in this study were business actors in the coffee sector, especially in the coffee shops in Indonesia. Determination of the sample in this study using non-probability because the population size cannot be identified. The sample of this study was 177 respondents. The research data were analyzed using path analysis techniques with analysis tools using Partial Least Square (PLS). The result found that SCM, competitive advantage has a significant positive effect on operational performance, SCM has a significant positive effect on competitive advantage, and competitive advantage is the perfect mediator for the effect of SCM has a significant positive effect on operational performance at a coffee shop in Indonesia.

Supply Chain Management: A Study on Competitive Advantage Relationship and Operational Performance during Pandemic Covid 19 in Indonesia

This research was conducted to reveal the relationship between supply chain management, competitive advantage, and operational performance in coffee shops in Indonesia.  The Data collection was obtained by distributing questionnaires online. The population in this study were business actors in the coffee sector, especially in the coffee shops in Indonesia. Determination of the sample in this study using non-probability because the population size cannot be identified. The sample of this study was 177 respondents. The research data were analyzed using path analysis techniques with analysis tools using Partial Least Square (PLS). The result found that SCM, competitive advantage has a significant positive effect on operational performance, SCM has a significant positive effect on competitive advantage, and competitive advantage is the perfect mediator for the effect of SCM has a significant positive effect on operational performance at a coffee shop in Indonesia.