Search results
1 – 10 of over 38000Maria Bengtsson and Agneta Marell
During the 1980’s and 1990’s deregulation had become the “recipe” for many countries’ economies to obtain increased efficiency and lower prices. Yet many empirical and theoretical…
Abstract
During the 1980’s and 1990’s deregulation had become the “recipe” for many countries’ economies to obtain increased efficiency and lower prices. Yet many empirical and theoretical studies of deregulation show that expectations rarely became fulfilled. The purpose of this paper is to develop the model of competition by introducing static and dynamic competition, which has different consequences for market performance. We claim that the development of static and/or dynamic competition post deregulation can be explained by structural conditions, both regarding entry barriers and customer influence. Four different competitive conducts are identified based on an explorative study of four deregulated industries: static, dynamic, hyper, and unheated competition.
Details
Keywords
Murat Hakan Altıntaş, Tuncer Tokol and Talha Harcar
Purpose – As a key crucial point, this study aims to examine the relationship between export barriers and the perceived export performance of Turkish SME's. …
Abstract
Purpose – As a key crucial point, this study aims to examine the relationship between export barriers and the perceived export performance of Turkish SME's. Design/methodology/approach – Major export barriers perceived by SMEs in Turkey are identified and, subsequently, the relationship between export barriers and export performance are examined. A web‐based questionnaire method was conducted among 2,000 SMEs that listed export associations with 7.25 percent response rate. The empirical analysis was conducted in two phases. The first step was to perform an exploratory factor analysis to 20 export barriers. The second step was to run a structural equation model to determine which barrier groups have a greater effect on perceived export performance. Findings – The findings suggest that procedural barriers and competition in foreign markets have the most effective impact on export performance. Both structures have negative effects as expected. In other words, as the procedural and competition barriers decrease, export performance also increases. Research limitations/implications – First of all, not all export barriers that might affect export performance were examined. Another limitation is that, the data obtained related to a very specific period. Export performance was measured by only subjective method with Likert scale. In the context of future research, export barriers of the Turkish exporters in relation to individual countries of origin should be investigated. Practical implications – The analysis of exporting problems on the basis of firm differences between domestic and foreign markets, procedural barriers, internal inefficiency barriers, competition and governmental barriers can provide both corporate and public policy makers with valuable guidelines for the formulation of suitable export marketing strategies and national export assistance programs respectively Originality/value – This study generally confirms the literature, but comes to some original further conclusions, based on export barriers of Turkish exporters.
Details
Keywords
Anders Pehrsson and Tobias Pehrsson
The purpose is to extend the understanding of the resource base of the industrial firm's greenfield expansion on a foreign country market once a wholly owned subsidiary has been…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose is to extend the understanding of the resource base of the industrial firm's greenfield expansion on a foreign country market once a wholly owned subsidiary has been established.
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual framework is developed relying on the resource-based theory of strategy. Resource bases in terms of value-adding activities of four Swedish industrial firms' subsidiaries in the USA are analysed. Four theoretical propositions are formulated regarding consistent associations among the activities and contingencies that are relevant to expansion on a foreign country market.
Findings
The propositions show how foreign subsidiaries' value-adding activities are aligned with two contingencies: the corporate strategy manifested by the product/market knowledge transferred from the parent firm that enable local expansion and the subsidiary's knowledge of competition barriers that obstruct local expansion. The value-adding activity may be basic or advanced and may repeat the parent firm's activity.
Research limitations/implications
US subsidiaries of four Swedish industrial firms were analysed. The propositions may be turned into hypotheses suitable for tests in statistical studies. A test may include firms from different home countries and subsidiaries on different host country markets.
Practical implications
The conceptual framework and the propositions provide a ground for an industrial firm's decision to conduct a strategy of greenfield expansion on a foreign country market once a wholly owned subsidiary has been established.
Originality/value
The framework is unique and emphasizes that both knowledge stemming from corporate strategy and knowledge of local competition need to be acknowledged in order to understand firm's greenfield expansion on a foreign country market.
Details
Keywords
PohLean Chuah, Wai Peng Wong, T. Ramayah and M. Jantan
This paper aims to examine the relationships among supplier management practices, organizational context and supplier performance. The contexts selected for supplier management…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the relationships among supplier management practices, organizational context and supplier performance. The contexts selected for supplier management practices are economics transactional practices and high involvement work practices (HIWP); while power asymmetry and competition intensity are considered within the organizational context.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire survey was conducted on a multinational semiconductor company. A two‐phase statistical analysis, which comprised phase one (reliability and factor analysis), and phase two (hierarchical multiple regression analysis), was used to analyze the data.
Findings
The study provides empirical evidence to support the conceptual and prescriptive statements in the literature regarding the impact of supplier management practices and the dynamics between organizational context and supplier management towards supplier performance. The results show that high involvement work practices (HIWP) mediate the impact of competition intensity on suppliers' quality performance and partially mediate the effect of competition intensity on suppliers' flexibility. The limitation of this study is that it does not use longitudinal data, which would be more useful to examine changes in variables that affect performance; nevertheless, as this study was conducted in‐house, it was able to control the extraneous factors.
Originality/value
The study provides important insights for managers to understand the disposition of the firm to better leverage organizational context by exploiting relationships with suppliers. The paper has extended organizational theory and marketing theory into a supply chain context. Moreover, it is among the first empirical work that specifically investigates the relationship between organizational context and supplier management practices; thus the paper fills an important gap in the supply chain literature.
Details
Keywords
Nirza Dinhucha Gonçalves Fumo and Charbel Jose Chiappetta Jabbour
The purpose of this research is to shed light on the main barriers faced by Mozambican micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and their implications in respect to the support policies…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this research is to shed light on the main barriers faced by Mozambican micro and small enterprises (MSEs) and their implications in respect to the support policies available for these enterprises.
Design/methodology/approach
A literature review was made on those barriers faced by the MSEs and on the policies and governmental instruments of assistance available for MSEs. Then, a two‐step research was conducted. The first phase consisted of collecting data from 21 MSEs in Mozambique, mainly by means of interviews where the main barriers faced by those interviewed were identified and hence, this led to the second phase, which was interviewing governmental/support entities in order to know what they had done to minimize those barriers which had been identified by the entrepreneurs.
Findings
The results show that financial and competitive barriers are the main barriers faced by the analyzed MSEs. These barriers vary according to the field of activity of the enterprises.
Originality/value
This study serves to enrich the state of the art on the subject of smaller enterprises in Africa and will specially help to fill the lack of academic research available about Mozambique.
Details
Keywords
Goitom Tesfom and Clemens Lutz
The objective of the study is to derive a classification of export problems of SMEs from developing countries on the basis of a comprehensive literature study.
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of the study is to derive a classification of export problems of SMEs from developing countries on the basis of a comprehensive literature study.
Design/methodology/approach
The study performed a comprehensive and systematic literature review of 40 articles published over a period of 25 years (1980‐2004). The export problems are classified into company barriers, product barriers, industry barriers, export market barriers and macro environment barriers.
Findings
The study provides a modified qualitative model that can be used by future researchers to further their research endeavour in export problems of firms from developing countries. It also identifies the similarities and differences of export problems in developed and developing countries.
Research limitations/implications
The lack of extensive research on export problems limited the number of articles reviewed in this study. Thus, the results of this paper should be considered as a stepping stone for future research.
Practical implications
The export problems identified in this study can be used to develop a questionnaire for a regional or global survey of SME's exporters from developing countries.
Originality/value
The paper provides an important reference for researchers who intend to study export problems in developing countries. Moreover, policy makers in developing countries can use it to identify export problems that firms face and provide timely and effective assistance to SMEs.
Details
Keywords
Focuses on the international marketing of services and the need forservice marketers to be aware ofbarriers to international marketingunique to the service sector, as well as of…
Abstract
Focuses on the international marketing of services and the need for service marketers to be aware ofbarriers to international marketing unique to the service sector, as well as of management strategies for overcoming such barriers. Describes fundamental barriers to the successful international marketing of services. Includes a discussion of the significance of GATT. Explores managerial implications of tariff and non‐tariff barriers for international services marketing.
Details
Keywords
In the EC, Combined Transport (CT) is generally regarded as themost promising market for external logistics suppliers. EC deregulationpolicy makes market entry a strategic option…
Abstract
In the EC, Combined Transport (CT) is generally regarded as the most promising market for external logistics suppliers. EC deregulation policy makes market entry a strategic option both for mega carriers and big shippers. Concentrates on access problems to this market. Shows that liberalization does not automatically mean lower access barriers. The semi‐deregulated CT industry presents strong entry barriers due to low profitability and a high level of control over upstream and downstream resources by established main actors. Therefore the set of CT main providers, the “railway‐league” and the “UIRR‐forwarder‐league”, remains stable. The situation will probably not change as long as (1) the low price level of trucking is accepted by environmental and transport policy makers and (2) access to relevant resources is nationally monopolized. Only a combination of measures designed to rectify both of these market imperfections, not a succession of isolated actions, will support further development of CT. The consequence of its fast liberalization, without higher returns on capital, could be a serious crisis for the whole industry.
Details
Keywords
Business relatedness is important in international diversification because it enables a firm’s transfer of resources to business units operating in foreign markets. The purpose of…
Abstract
Purpose
Business relatedness is important in international diversification because it enables a firm’s transfer of resources to business units operating in foreign markets. The purpose of this paper is to develop a conceptual model based on a review of the major contributions of studies regarding the relatedness of subsidiaries, joint ventures or any other foreign unit.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper examines theory bases, the relatedness construct, data issues and the key achievements of previous studies. Drawing on organizational learning, transaction costs economics and industrial organization, a conceptual model and propositions are developed that intend to close important research gaps.
Findings
The model includes competitive strategy as a mediator of the effects of relatedness on foreign unit performance, type of foreign unit – that is, a wholly owned unit or joint venture – as a moderator; and competition barriers as a moderator.
Research limitations/implications
In future research, the propositions need to be transformed into testable hypotheses. It is recommended to treat relatedness as a multidimensional concept.
Practical implications
A firm is primarily advised to evaluate how its relatedness with foreign units enables knowledge transfer. A foreign cost leadership strategy benefits from product relatedness, while a differentiation strategy calls for resource relatedness.
Originality/value
The proposed model is unique as it includes an actionable component that mediates the effects of relatedness on international performance, i.e. competitive strategy, and concerns both wholly owned foreign units and international joint ventures.
Details
Keywords
This study aims to use analogical reasoning to draw a conceptual link between liabilities in International Business (IB) and export barriers.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to use analogical reasoning to draw a conceptual link between liabilities in International Business (IB) and export barriers.
Design/methodology/approach
Following a review of 130 articles on export barriers, the study develops and applies a “liabilities” metonymy to connect the source construct (liabilities in the IB) and target subject (export barriers).
Findings
Liabilities in the IB map to export barriers, and the concepts of liability of foreignness, liability of outsidership, liability of newness and liability of smallness can substitute export barriers.
Practical implications
Adoption of metonymy creates new opportunities for enhancing theory development while offering alternative perspectives regarding coping mechanisms for overcoming export barriers.
Originality/value
This, to the author’s best knowledge, is the first study in the IB to theorize based on metonymy.
Details