Source Of Competitive Advantage Research Articles

Outward investment of Portuguese small and medium enterprises in the Central and Eastern European countries: motivations and challenges.

This paper identifies the determinant factors of Portuguese investment in Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. We assume that investment abroad is motivated by business opportunities, and the quality-price ratio of the workforce. To this end, we used a qualitative methodology composed of 6 case studies, based on interviews and surveys with the managers of the Portuguese firms investing in those three economies. Despite the business opportunities, Portuguese investment directed towards these economies is negligible, due, in part, to the geographic and cultural distance. However, the economic and political stability, combined with market size and growth potential are undeniable attraction factors for Portuguese investors. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), due to their flexible conditions that allow changes in the activity, and the strong trend towards outsourcing, to the detriment of the manufacturing industry, are the primary focus of international investment. This trend, although common to several sectors, has shown greater dynamism in the banking and financial sector. The results suggest market-oriented investments aiming at growth and expansion. The vast Polish market is the one that most attracted Portuguese investors. The hybrid feature of some strategies can align with the cautious attitude towards the investment translated into cooperation agreements with financial institutions for funding, the market learning process, and the training of the personnel. The anticipation of the installation over potential competitors, the experience in production and international markets, the price-quality ratio, the capacity of product adaptation and the design were considered important sources of competitive advantage that motivated the investment. The greatest difficulties during this process were language and the complexity of legislation.

Industrial engineer and Industry 4.0? Empirical evidence from the Brazilian context considering the relation between competences and technologies

PurposeManufacturing systems have undergone radical changes because of the implementation of physical and digital innovating technologies with high levels of connectivity, interoperability and autonomy. In this regard, the objective of this study was to investigate whether industrial engineers graduated in recent years in Brazil are prepared or not to work in companies and industries within the scope of Industry 4.0 technologies in a way that they positively contribute to the implementation and management of such technologies.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve these objectives, a literature review and a survey on managers of the industrial sector acting in Brazil were carried out as the research strategies. The data collected were analyzed through a quantitative approach by means of the structural equations modeling method.FindingsThe hypothesis that the competencies of industrial engineers currently graduating in Brazil have a positive impact on the implementation and management of Industry 4.0 technologies has been confirmed. Predicting the evolution of production scenarios, understanding the interaction between organizations and their impacts on competitiveness and keeping abreast of technological advancements, organizing them and putting them to the service of business and societal demands were the competencies that obtained the highest factor loadings in the construct of industrial engineer competencies. In addition, cloud manufacturing, automation and robotization were the competencies that obtained the highest factor loadings in the industry 4.0 construct.Originality/valueThe analysis of skills development stands out as a source of competitive advantage for companies that intend to transition to a production system aligned with the principles of Industry 4.0, considering the training of professionals in an emerging economy context.

Enhancing capital market efficiency: The role of data assets disclosure in reducing stock price synchronicity

In the burgeoning digital economy, data have emerged as a pivotal factor of production, embodying a critical source of competitive advantage and core assets for companies. This study investigates the influence of data assets disclosure on the efficiency of capital market pricing, particularly through the lens of stock price synchronicity among Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2021. The analysis reveals that transparent data assets information significantly diminishes stock price synchronicity. The reduction is more pronounced when the disclosed data assets information is highly verifiable and comprehensible. Mechanistic exploration suggests that this effect primarily arises from diminished information asymmetry, enhanced long-term investments by institutional investors, and eased financing constraints. Notably, the impact is more substantial in non-high-tech companies and those with superior information disclosure ratings. After rigorous robustness checks and endogeneity considerations, our findings persist, highlighting the critical function of data assets disclosure in reducing stock price synchronicity and offering actionable insights for refining corporate information disclosure and governance practices.

Circular Economy Principles and Their Integration into Global Supply Chain Strategies

The concept of circular economy has gained significant traction in recent years as a holistic approach to sustainable development and resource management. This review explores the principles of circular economy and their integration into global supply chain strategies. The transition from a linear 'take-make-dispose' model to a circular model focused on resource recovery, reuse, and regeneration is driving a paradigm shift in how businesses operate and manage their supply chains. Key principles of circular economy, including designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems, are examined in the context of supply chain management. Strategies for implementing circular economy principles across various stages of the supply chain, from product design and manufacturing to distribution, consumption, and end-of-life management, are discussed. The review highlights the benefits of adopting circular economy principles in supply chain strategies, including reduced resource consumption, waste reduction, cost savings, and enhanced resilience to external shocks. Case studies and examples from diverse industries illustrate successful implementation of circular economy principles in supply chain management, demonstrating tangible environmental, social, and economic benefits. Challenges and barriers to the adoption of circular economy principles in global supply chains are also addressed, including regulatory hurdles, technological limitations, and cultural barriers. Strategies for overcoming these challenges and promoting a circular mindset among stakeholders are explored, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and cross-sector partnerships. The integration of circular economy principles into global supply chain strategies offers significant opportunities for sustainable growth, resilience, and value creation. By embracing the principles of circularity, businesses can unlock new sources of competitive advantage while contributing to the transition towards a more sustainable and regenerative economy. Keywords: Circular Economy, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Integration, Challenges, Opportunities.

Maximizing CSR impact: Leveraging artificial intelligence and process optimization for sustainability performance management

AbstractThis study, which is anchored to Resource‐Based View (RBV) theory, explores the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI), process optimization, organizational flexibility, and sustainability performance in organizational settings. Leveraging the RBV framework's focus on internal resources as sources of competitive advantage, this research seeks to clarify how AI adoption, process optimization, and organizational flexibility foster sustainable growth. SPSS PROCESS Macro was used to analyze the data from 288 organizations. The findings derived from the empirical data, this study verify the positive relationships between AI and process optimization as well as AI and sustainability performance, revealing the strategic nature of AI as a resource to improve operational effectiveness and environmental responsibility. Further, our results indicate the mediating role of process optimization and the moderating effect of organizational flexibility in determining the link between AI and sustainability outcomes. Moreover, results confirmed the indirect effects of AI on sustainability performance via process optimization under the boundary conditions of the organizational flexibility. These findings add to the developing literature of sustainable operational practices and provide practical suggestions that might be useful for the practitioners aiming at using AI driven by organizational capabilities to deliver sustainability performance.

Factors that determine design similarity

AbstractIn recent years, the importance of design has been pointed out as a source of competitive advantage. However, creating a great design also increases the risk of copy products being created. In this study, we used an approach based on visual information and conducted an international comparative judgment survey of elements considered to be similar within products.

Listen to the other side: impact of supply chain integration practices on value chain performance of pineapple firms in Ghana

Improving the value chain of firms is major source of competitive advantage. Traditionally, firms use their knowledge of customer preferences to propose value to products. Often, these products do not meet customer expectations. While customers are part of a firm's value chain, other actors could provide solutions to existing product issues or launch a new product. Hence, narrowing down on the role of multiple actors can help managerial interventions improve value chain performance. This study explored the impact of supply chain integration practices (internal integration, supplier integration, consumer integration) on value chain performance with the boundary condition of information sharing. A sample of 271 actors in the value chain from pineapple firms in Ghana was used to test hypotheses. As predicted, supply chain integration practices related positively to value chain performance but the effect size differs. These positive relations are amplified by information sharing. The results imply that firms can reconceive products and markets with actors linked to productivity in the value chain. This study is among the earliest to investigate how supply chain integration practices improve value addition to products in the context of pineapple production, processing and consumption.

A Comparative Study of Private Sector Banks Listed In BSE with Reference to Corporate Governance

A Comparative Study of Private Sector Banks Listed In BSE with Reference to Corporate Governance

The Impact of Information and Communication Technologies on Hotel Competitiveness

This study aims to analyze the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) as a competitiveness factor by hotel companies located in Inhambane and Macaneta, Mozambique. This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach. For data collection, a semi-structured interview script was used, which was applied to ten hotel managers from Inhambane and Macaneta (five participants in each case). The data was analyzed using categorical content analysis. The results showed that the interviewees recognize the importance of technology for the hotel's competitiveness, but do not use software, limiting themselves to simpler programs. It was found that Wi-Fi services and the use of social networks are perceived as sources of competitive advantage in the context investigated. The research points to practical contributions that shed light on the need to make resources available for the application of ICT in the hotel sector.

Unraveling formal and informal business ties in shaping foreign subsidiary capabilities

PurposeDrawing upon the resource-based view this study aims to examine the connections between formal and informal business relationships and resource-bridging and adaptive capabilities within the context of foreign subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs) operating in Thailand. Based on prior literature emphasizing business network ties as sources of competitive advantage in emerging markets, this study extends the discourse by investigating the moderating effects of technological turbulence, power distance and assertiveness.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a quantitative research approach, using data obtained from a self-administered survey conducted among 168 foreign subsidiaries spanning diverse industries in Thailand. The data were analyzed by using multiple-group structural equation modeling to test the hypothesized relationships.FindingsCultivating different types of business ties enables foreign subsidiaries to improve different types of capabilities. While interpersonal relationships (i.e. informal businessties) enable them to develop their abilities to combine various resources (i.e. resource-bridging capability), rigid contractual-based relationships (i.e. formal businessties) help them to be more adaptive (i.e. adaptive capability). These relationships are also contingent upon the levels of technological turbulence, host-country power distance and host-country assertiveness.Originality/valueThis research builds upon prior research on network ties and capability building by delineating the specific nature of capabilities. Contradicting to the previous findings, demonstrating a negative relationship between formal business ties and capabilities, this study found that each type of business tie enables foreign subsidiaries to enhance different types of capabilities under different circumstances. Moreover, this study adopts a lens of host-country national culture rather than home-country culture in investigating the moderating effects of power distance and assertiveness.

Prioritizing Critical Success Factors for Reverse Logistics as a Source of Competitive Advantage

Reverse logistics has received a lot of attention due to the negative impact it has on the environment and the growing demand for green products. This especially occurred in the fast-moving consumer goods retail sector due to recalls and waste management. This sector significantly contributes to the gross domestic product growth of all countries. This has therefore led to the growing significance of reverse logistics since the fast-moving consumer goods retail sector cannot avoid reverse logistics. The primary objective of this study was for fast-moving consumer goods retailers to prioritize critical success factors for reverse logistics as a source of competitive advantage in the fast-moving consumer goods retailers’ sector. This is because it is essential for the fast-moving consumer goods retail sector to implement critical success factors in reverse logistics that can lead to firm competitiveness. The study employed a positivist research philosophy, where data were collected from 418 fast-moving consumer goods retailers and consumers via SurveyMonkey using two close-ended questionnaires. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences and the Analysis of Moment Structures software version 27 were employed to analyze the data. The results offer insight into the critical success factors in reverse logistics that should be carried out to achieve firm competitiveness. Through the implementation of critical success factors, this sector will achieve several goals, such as meeting environmental protocols, decreasing operational costs, cultivating the cumulative value of the brand, and improving customer satisfaction. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-08-02-018 Full Text: PDF

Energy Marketing and Fiscal Regulation of a Competitive Energy Efficiency System

Introduction. Developing and implementing the principles of the energy-saving approach concept actualizes the need to define energy marketing tasks and fiscal regulation tools for energy conservation to increase the efficiency of using resources in the energy sector.
 Aim and tasks. The aim of this study is to form and substantiate the expediency of implementing directions for energy marketing development and fiscal regulation of implementing energy-saving measures to achieve the goals of national economic recovery and large-scale energy modernization.
 The results. The main tasks of energy marketing in monitoring the current world environment based on information and communication technologies have been defined and substantiated, and that should become a source of competitive advantage in the electric energy market and obtain significant income for market participants. It has been proven that using oligopoly models to determine the equilibrium condition of the electric energy market will make it possible to form a corrective managerial influence on the development of a competitive energy industry. With a 3-fold increase in the demand parameter, it has been established that the electricity market reaches equilibrium under the equilibrium model of supply functions with larger electricity production volumes and lower prices than in other models. It has been proposed to introduce tools for fiscal regulation by introducing energy-saving technologies into a single system of solutions to increase energy efficiency and energy saving.
 Conclusions. Analysing and generalizing the features of energy market participants’ interaction using a wide range of oligopoly models made it possible to develop recommendations for implementing strategic security-related tasks. If these tasks are not realized, the risks of losing energy independence will increase, and the economic potential necessary for the restoration and further development of the national economy will continue to be lost based on the principles of sustainable development and a systematic approach to setting and achieving the goal of the national energy-saving policy. The feasibility of introducing tools for budget regulation is also justified, which will create a robust creative basis for implementing an effective strategy for managing the demand for energy resources.

Complex problem solving as a source of competitive advantage

This study explores the role of complex problem solving in securing sustainable competitive advantage for organizations. It investigates whether the ability to resolve complex, multidimensional problems contributes to a firm's strategic positioning and operational efficiency. The research employs a qualitative methodology, utilizing interviews with professionals in the consultancy sector to gather insights on the impact of problem-solving skills on organizational performance. Findings indicate that while solving complex problems is valued and contributes to competitive parity, it is not sufficiently rare or inimitable to ensure a sustainable competitive advantage on its own. However, effectively leveraging problem-solving capabilities within organizational strategy and innovation processes can enhance competitiveness. The study contributes to the dynamic capabilities and competitive advantage literature by highlighting the importance of problem-solving skills and suggesting avenues for organizations to harness these capabilities more effectively.

NORMATIVE BODY IMAGE: FUNCTIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

The article uses in-depth interviews to determine the perceptions of subjects, whose activities are related to body construction, about the functional characteristics of the normative body, which is understood as socially approved and formed in the process of social ties and relations model. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2023, the object of the study were representatives of the beauty industry (n=2), medical workers (n=3), fitness trainers (n=2), and a practicing psychologist (n=1). In the course of the research the following tasks were put forward: to define the image of a normative body and to reveal the main characteristics of the body as corresponding to modern normative models. The survey materials showed that in the informants' assessments the modern normative body image is a body, first of all, a healthy body. Informants identified the pandemic as a factor that influenced the change in the vector of body standardization: from aesthetics to functionality. The professional community has defined the functional properties of the body, identifying the following normative models: "the body as a tool for expressing oneself in activities ", "the body as a source of competitive advantage", "the body as a demonstration of status", "the body as a tool for everyday mobility", "the body as a condition for longevity", "the body as a result of personal development", "the body as a process of evolutionary development", "the body as a basis for the realization of reproductive function", "the body as a source of comfort". The diversity of images of the normative body raises the question of creating conditions at the level of institutional structures for the formation of such a body, which, in accordance with the ideas of different sex and age groups, would be in demand both in the social system and by the individual.

The event‐driven social responsibility in small and medium‐sized enterprises

AbstractSince the survival and growth of small firms depend largely on their ability to acquire legitimacy within the institutional environment, social responsibility plays an important role in their lives. The aim of this study was to investigate how a disruption in the normal course of business can lead to an evolution and change in the social responsibility activities of small and medium‐sized enterprises. Such disruptions, called critical incidents, interrupt the normal functioning of the business. The case‐based exploratory study found that such critical events can have a positive impact. In particular, they can initiate the integration of socially responsible business practices. This is a journey from philanthropic donations to fully integrated socially responsible practices, often driven by internal triggering events such as organisational growth, unanticipated changes in management, or generational change, which allow new values to be brought on board. When such an internal event is followed by a highly critical but external event, such as the COVID‐19 pandemic, the transformation gains momentum. The findings also suggest that social responsibility can be a new source of competitive advantage.

Роль ресурсного подхода к стратегическому управлению организацией в условиях межорганизационного взаимодействия

With the development of integration approaches in business, including international, there is a need for a reasonable choice of approach to strategic management of an organization in the context of inter-organizational interaction, analysis of their role in ensuring and increasing the competitiveness of its participants. The relevance of the study of the role and significance of the resource approach is determined by the fact that, firstly, the current conditions for the intensification of crisis phenomena in the economy generate the need to develop partnerships between economic entities, as well as the use of various models of their business cooperation; secondly, the limited availability of resources necessary for normal functioning activates and directs the search for opportunities to obtain complementary resources and achieve balance of business interests of several organizations in the distribution of rights and responsibilities of joint activities. The complexity of applying a resource approach to the strategic management of an organization in the context of using the potential of inter-firm partnership is due not only to the possibility of obtaining unique complementary resources, but also to the need to apply (form, transform, develop) relevant professional competencies that represent a key organizational value. The role and features of the resource approach to strategic management of the organization in the conditions of interorganizational interaction are determined. To determine its advantages and disadvantages, the reasons for choosing and rejecting it, the factors and principles of successful application allowed general scientific (methods of theoretical cognition and empirical research, general logical research techniques) and special methods, as well as methods of systemic, dialectical and dialogical approaches. The study of the strategic potential of the organization – the totality of the available resources and capabilities of the organization (as sources of competitive advantages) – for the development and implementation of the strategy through the prism of inter-organizational partnership with the help of the methods outlined above solves one of the central problems of management, contributes to the substantiation of the significance of the analysis of the role of the resource approach and the development of the resource portfolio.

You Can Check Out Any Time You Like, but Can You Ever Leave? A Theory of Firm Value Capture from Alumni

In modern organizations, key sources of competitive advantage are embedded in employees. Management theory has traditionally viewed employee exit as the end of firms’ relationships with employees and, consequently, the end of access to human capital and other resources embedded in departing individuals. However, recent research suggests that firms can benefit from the continuation of relationships with alumni employees. We argue that how organizations create and maintain connections to alumni is critical, as it shapes the nature of potentially valuable organization-level alumni resources. We develop a theory of firm value capture from alumni that explains how firms’ norms and policies before, during, and after employee exit affect firms’ alumni relations climate—a shared perception among a firm’s current and former employees that the firm values alumni. We further theorize that the alumni relations climate will lead to creation of firm-level alumni resources, with the configuration of these resources shaped by alumni identification. That is, the extent to which firms’ alumni identify with the firm versus with members of the firm’s remaining workforce (or balanced between the two) will have implications for the configuration of alumni resources that are potentially accessible to the firm. Our theory describes how these different alumni resource configurations come with inherent benefits and costs when it comes to the value that firms are able to capture from their alumni resources. We illustrate the value of this theoretical perspective by identifying meaningful practical implications and avenues for future research.

Abusive supervision, dehumanization, knowledge hiding behavior and psychological capital – a daily diary method study

PurposeKnowledge is the source of competitive advantage, but when shared at all levels. Unfortunately, there is a universal unruly present in the form of knowledge hiding at employees’ level, but the causes and remedies are still vague as past studies have rarely investigated the causes of daily knowledge hiding behavior. Against this backdrop, this study aims to entail a daily diary method investigation of the role of daily abusive supervision in daily employees’ knowledge hiding through the mediation of dehumanization and moderation of psychological capital.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this study is collected using a daily diary method approach, which estimates the daily workplace events and their continuous influence on employees’ feelings (i.e. dehumanization) and actions (knowledge hiding). The daily responses of 279 respondents were considered useful for analysis purposes.FindingsThe findings of the study revealed that the daily events of abusive supervision have both direct and indirect (through dehumanization) influence on employees’ daily knowledge hiding behavior. Moreover, psychosocial capital has a significant conditional influence in the relationships of negative workplace treatments (abusive supervision and dehumanization) and their outcomes (i.e. knowledge hiding).Research limitations/implicationsThe study provides some theoretical and practical insights by providing the explanatory and coping mechanism between continuous abusive supervision and daily knowledge hiding behavior.Originality/valueThere is a dearth of literature that has focused on daily episodes of abusive supervision, dehumanization and knowledge hiding behavior. Furthermore, the moderating role of psychological capital has also been rarely investigated.

EMPLOYEES’ RESISTANCE TO CHANGE DURING POST-MERGER INTEGRATION IN SERVICES ORGANISATIONS

Mergers and acquisitions are an important strategic option for a corporation to drive higher growth and profitability. Despite significant investments being made in mergers and acquisitions, past experiences indicate that many mergers and acquisitions fail. The failure is often attributed to employees’ resistance to change. Factors, such as organisation change, culture, leadership, trust, and communication, among others, lead to employees’ resistance to change. This issue has a significant impact on service organisations since human capital is their key source of competitive advantage. The purpose of this study is to determine factors influencing employees’ resistance to change during the post-merger integration. This paper synthesises findings from a systemised literature review of ‘peer-reviewed’ research papers, published from November 2020 to November 2023, in ProQuest and EBSCOhost databases with keywords ‘employees’ resistance to change’ and ‘post-merger integration’. The findings establish strategies managers could adopt such as creating a continuous learning environment, recognition of the existence of subcultures within a culture, greater involvement of middle managers in the integration phase, devising an appropriate reward plan for early adopters, and focusing on the pace of changes. The study outcomes will help organisations in designing effective post-merger integration programmes leading to efficient use of capital.

Sustainable Management Practices: Green Marketing as A Source for Organizational Competitive Advantage

Objective: The objective of this research was to analyze the contributions of green marketing as a source of competitive advantage for organizations. Methodology: The research adopted the systematic review methodology, following the PRISMA guidelines, to analyze articles on sustainable management practices, green marketing and competitive advantage. Search platforms such as Google Acadêmico and Scielo were used, with inclusion criteria for scientific articles in Portuguese published between 2018 and 2023. Exclusion criteria were applied to discard non-pertinent works, resulting in the selection of 7 articles. Results and data analysis: As a result, it was possible to see that the systematic review highlighted green marketing as a source of competitive advantage for organizations, by integrating environmental concerns into market strategies. This enables differentiation, operational efficiency, and more sustainable production processes. In addition, the adoption of sustainable practices attracts consumers engaged with sustainability, increasing the profitability of production models. Certifications such as ISO 14001 demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, giving competitive advantage. Thus, green marketing favors the company's image and, at the same time, engages consumers in sustainable practices, contributing to the positioning of the organization in the market as a socio-environmentally responsible company. Conclusion: It is concluded, therefore, that green marketing not only improves the competitiveness of companies, but also fosters a culture of sustainability and preservation of natural resources, representing a significant contribution to organization, society and the environment.