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Open Access
Article
Publication date: 19 October 2020

Joanna Radomska, Przemysław Wołczek and Aleksandra Szpulak

This study aims to examine the mediating effect of four antecedents of competitive advantage on the linkage of risky strategy to firm performance, measured by revenue dynamics. It…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the mediating effect of four antecedents of competitive advantage on the linkage of risky strategy to firm performance, measured by revenue dynamics. It considers the roots of competitive advantage to highlight different patterns and foundations of achieving superior performance. It investigates whether pursuing a risky strategy fosters revenue dynamics growth and whether different mediators are included in that relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Path analysis (structural equation modeling) method is used to analyze data from 122 companies of various sizes and industries. All respondents were responsible for executing strategic management processes. The paper used the subjective perspective, which is based on the individual opinion of senior company managers and owners.

Findings

The authors find a positive relationship between risky strategy and firm performance, but no evidence of a mediating role of competitive advantage and dynamic growth in this relationship. Competitive advantage should be perceived as a set of integrated factors that can be analyzed from an aggregated perspective. Integrating all antecedents requires a holistic and systematic approach and the development of a particular mindset. Aggregated competitive advantage is related to setting dynamic growth as a priority. However, no relationship between risky strategy and achieving competitive advantage, or between implementing a risky strategy and setting dynamic growth as a priority, is observed, which was assumed to explain the revenue dynamics growth.

Research limitations/implications

Secondary data should be analyzed to explore how risky strategies are manifested, and which managerial decisions are reflected in high-level risk. A multidimensional scale could be developed to check how risk shapes the constructs’ interdependence. Therefore, the dynamic capabilities approach could be further expanded.

Practical implications

This research offers insights into the short-term relationship between risky strategy and revenue dynamics, although competitive advantage does not mediate that relationship. Special attention should be paid to the selected antecedents of competitive advantage, as they influence dynamic growth.

Originality/value

This work provides insights into different antecedents of competitive advantage, which is not necessarily based on making risky decisions, and into factors that facilitate firm performance measured by revenue dynamics.

Details

European Business Review, vol. 33 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0955-534X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2021

Majid Mohammad Shafiee

Looking for ways to gain competitive advantage (CA) is one of the most challenging issues for today's businesses. Although previous research considered several aspects in this…

Abstract

Purpose

Looking for ways to gain competitive advantage (CA) is one of the most challenging issues for today's businesses. Although previous research considered several aspects in this regard, the literature has largely overlooked the process of gaining CA via strategic intangibles, regarding business type and context. This paper aims to examine how to gain CA through strategic intangibles such as intellectual capital (IC).

Design/methodology/approach

Building on the concept of IC, and using data gathered from both the manufacturing/service and public/private firms, the authors tested a moderated mediation model to determine if the effect of IC on CA was conditioned on business type, competitive intensity and managerial support.

Findings

Among the factors in the relationship between IC and CA, the results discovered the role of business intelligence (BIN) and brand image (IM), as two key mediators. Furthermore, it was revealed that managerial support and competitive intensity moderate the relationship between IC, the mediators and CA. Finally, the authors provide academics and practitioners with some implications.

Originality/value

Previous research did not fully address the aforementioned antecedents (i.e., IC, BIN and IM) toward CA in a comprehensive model. Developing the path toward CA by focusing on the role of intangibles, the authors proposed a moderated mediation model, which has hitherto received scant attention in the field of competition.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 23 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 23 August 2018

Valdir Antonio Vitorino Filho and Roberto Giro Moori

This study aims to examine the role of technological capabilities in the competitive advantage of supply chains for the “countryside” hub of São Paulo state.

7036

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the role of technological capabilities in the competitive advantage of supply chains for the “countryside” hub of São Paulo state.

Design/methodology/approach

An interdisciplinary approach was adopted by combining the strategic orientation of supply chain management as a link between market and operational activities, with technological capabilities as an essential factor for competitive advantage. This exploratory, mixed-method study was conducted in the Campinas technology hub, which has become important for its available skilled workforce, and broad and structured supply chain. The study sample included ten companies and dealt with the techniques of content analysis and non-parametric statistics – the Mann–Whitney U technique.

Findings

The results revealed that strategic supply chain management has an impact on technological capabilities and competitive advantage.

Originality/value

They also showed that technological capabilities have a partial mediating effect on competitive advantage.

Details

Innovation & Management Review, vol. 15 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2515-8961

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 September 2021

Demetris Vrontis, Hani El Chaarani, Zouhour El Abiad, Sam El Nemar and Alissar Yassine Haddad

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the impact of dynamic managerial innovative capabilities on the competitive advantage (CA), financial performance (FP) and non-financial…

1510

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the impact of dynamic managerial innovative capabilities on the competitive advantage (CA), financial performance (FP) and non-financial performance (NFP) of the health-care sector during the very turbulent Covid-19 pandemic period. The focus is on human behavior and personnel interaction in the hospitals that receive Covid-19 cases.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for this research was collected from the medical sector in Lebanon. The authors approached 14 public hospitals and 60 private hospitals for the study and only 48 hospitals (total of 284 respondents) accepted to complete the survey and provide data using a structured questionnaire.

Findings

This study reveals the moderating impact of CA on the relationship between dynamic managerial innovative capabilities and the performance of the health-care sector. Based on 48 Lebanese health-care centers during the Covid-19 pandemic, the results of the structural equation modeling model indicate that dynamic managerial innovative practices positively impact on CA and NFP. The results also reveal that CA has a moderating effect on the relationship between dynamic managerial innovative practices and NFP.

Practical implications

This study does not reveal any direct or indirect relationship between managerial capabilities and FP during the pandemic.

Originality/value

As the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, the health-care sector needs new approaches and methods for confronting the constantly evolving and turbulent environment. This study examines how health-care leaders are dealing with these dynamic challenges and tests a three-dimensional SEM model of dynamic managerial capabilities (sensing, seizing and reconfiguration) that impact CA.

Article
Publication date: 9 August 2021

Md Imtiaz Mostafiz, Mathew Hughes and Murali Sambasivan

The purpose of this study is to test the thesis that the family firm’s success hinges on effective strategic knowledge management (SKM) capability coupled with an entrepreneurial…

1696

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to test the thesis that the family firm’s success hinges on effective strategic knowledge management (SKM) capability coupled with an entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Contingency theory holds that entrepreneurial success is contingent on strategic capabilities and resource orchestration theory explains how well family firms nurture capabilities to structure, bundle and leverage resources that define competitive advantage (CA). This study combines these two theoretical viewpoints to propose the effects of EO and SKM capability on CA to achieve successful performance in family firms.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a hybrid approach applying structural equation modelling (SEM) and deep-learning artificial intelligence (DL-AI) analysis to survey data on 268 Malaysian family firms.

Findings

SEM results confirm that CA mediates the relationship between innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking dimensions of EO and firm performance. Autonomy and competitive aggressiveness have no bearing, however. The relationships among innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking with CA and performance are positively moderated by SKM capability, becoming more potent at higher levels. Moreover, four additional DL-AI models reveal the necessity of specific EO dimensions and the interacting effects of EO–SKM capability to influence CA and to attain performance success subsequently.

Originality/value

This study theorizes and presents two new boundary conditions to a knowledge-based theory of the family firm and its firm performance. First, CA mediates the relationship between EO and performance; and second, SKM capability moderates the relationships between EO and CA and between EO and family firm performance. Methodologically, this study uses DL-AI to embrace non-linearity and prioritize predictor variables based on normalized importance to produce greater accuracy over regression analysis. Hence, DL-AI adds methodological novelty to the knowledge management and family firm literature.

Article
Publication date: 10 June 2021

Majid Mohammad Shafiee

One of the most challenging issues businesses face today is seeking ways toward gaining competitive advantage (CA). Although previous research considered several aspects in this…

Abstract

Purpose

One of the most challenging issues businesses face today is seeking ways toward gaining competitive advantage (CA). Although previous research considered several aspects in this regard, the literature has largely overlooked the process of gaining CA via knowledge-based marketing (KBM) capabilities. This paper aims to conceptualize KBM, to develop a new scale for KBM and to examine how to gain CA through KBM.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from the related literature and building on the concept of KBM, this paper conducted a mixed-method approach. After reaching a pool of items using qualitative methods, this paper developed new scales and validated them. This paper developed the model by highlighting the antecedent role of KBM toward CA. In the quantitative phase, using data collected from both public/private and manufacturing/service firms, this paper classified the extracted items into five critical factors. Moreover, the relationship between KBM and CA was tested.

Findings

The results indicate that KBM construct consists of five critical capabilities, including market research, competitive intelligence, supply chain management, customer relationship management and new product development. Moreover, there is a positive and significant relationship between KBM and CA.

Originality/value

The traditional ways to achieve CA no longer work. Instead, success in the existing business context necessitates firms to seek CA through their knowledge capabilities. Previous research did not fully address KBM antecedents toward CA in a comprehensive model. By developing a new scale for KBM, this paper tested its relationship with CA, which has hitherto received scant attention in the field of knowledge and competition.

Article
Publication date: 8 August 2022

Ayman Wael Al-Khatib

This study explores the connection between big data analytics capabilities and the competitive advantage of the manufacturing sector in Jordan through the mediating role of green…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the connection between big data analytics capabilities and the competitive advantage of the manufacturing sector in Jordan through the mediating role of green radical innovation and green incremental innovation as well as the moderating role of a data-driven culture.

Design/methodology/approach

For the purpose of this study, 356 questionnaires were analysed. Convergent validity and discriminant validity tests were performed through structural equation modelling in the Smart-PLS programme, and the data reliability was confirmed. A bootstrapping technique was used to analyse the data. The mediating effect for green radical and green incremental innovation and the moderating effect for data-driven culture were performed.

Findings

The empirical results showed that the proposed moderated-mediation model was accepted because the relationships between the constructs were statistically significant. The results of the data analysis supported a positive relationship between big data analytics capabilities and the competitive advantage as well as a mediating effect of green radical innovation and green incremental innovation. It was confirmed that there is a moderating relationship for data-driven culture between green radical innovation, green incremental innovation and competitive advantage.

Research limitations/implications

This cross-sectional study provides a snapshot at a given moment in time, a methodological limitation that affects the generalization of its results, and the results are limited to one country.

Originality/value

This research developed a theoretical model to incorporate big data analytics capabilities, green radical innovation, green incremental innovation, data-driven culture, and competitive advantage. This study provides new findings that bridge the existing research gap in the literature by testing the moderated mediation model with a focus on the organizational benefits of big data analytics capabilities to improve levels of green innovation and competitive advantage in the Jordanian manufacturing sector.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 28 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 December 2023

Nadia Aslam and Umar Farooq Sahibzada

The study seeks to propose a linear model by applying complexity theory and resource-based theory to investigate how hotels achieve competitive advantage and organizational…

Abstract

Purpose

The study seeks to propose a linear model by applying complexity theory and resource-based theory to investigate how hotels achieve competitive advantage and organizational performance during the Covid-19 pandemic from the perspective of hotel leaders.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a standardized questionnaire and convenience sampling approach hotel managers and administrative employees were surveyed online. A total of 354 participants from five provinces in China were examined using Smart PLS and fsQCA 3.0 for analysis. The utilization of the asymmetric method facilitates the elucidation of relationships that may not be readily apparent when employing conventional symmetric approaches.

Findings

The results display a significant impact of transformational leadership (TL) on market orientation (MO), competitive advantage (CA) and organizational performance (OP). The results show numerous combinations using fsQCA that can be utilized to increase OP within the hotel industry.

Originality/value

At present, there is a lack of substantial empirical evidence to comprehensively investigate the impact of TL on MO, CA and OP in the field of hospitality research specifically in the context of the Covid-19. The study also contributes by providing an explanation of the factors that contribute to the development of a higher organizational performance base through TL, MO and CA during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Details

Leadership & Organization Development Journal, vol. 45 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-7739

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2021

Aluisius Hery Pratono

This study aims to understand the culture of excellence by examining the role of entrepreneurial culture in shaping how firms achieve sustainable competitive advantage (CA). This…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to understand the culture of excellence by examining the role of entrepreneurial culture in shaping how firms achieve sustainable competitive advantage (CA). This study takes into consideration the firms’ capability to transform the entrepreneurial culture into a sustainable CA by generating product development and adapting the information technological turbulence.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first gathers evidence from literature then carries out a detailed study to propose a structural equation model followed by an online survey that supports empirical evidence. This empirical test involves a data set with 782 usable responses following the 4,000 emails sent to the respondents and removed data due to the missing values. The population data are taken from the firm directory in Surabaya City that the Indonesian Ministry of Trade and Industry published.

Findings

There is a strong tendency that entrepreneurial culture is imperative for firms to attain sustainable CA by supporting new product development. The results show that product development provides a partial mediating effect, which indicates that entrepreneurial culture may affect the sustainable CA directly and with the product development support. This study also touches on dynamic capability by proposing a scenario approach that suggests that firms should refine the entrepreneurial culture to adapt to the information technological turbulence.

Originality/value

This study extends the understanding of the culture of excellence by underpinning the dynamic capability theory, which argues that entrepreneurial culture is a valuable resource, which helps firms achieve sustainable CA by promoting product development.

Article
Publication date: 10 September 2021

Umair Manzoor, Sajjad Ahmad Baig, Muhammad Hashim, Abdul Sami, Hakeem-Ur Rehman and Ifrah Sajjad

In today's global economy, developing supply chain agility (SCA) and lean practices (LP) as resource-based view and dynamic capabilities are essential for firms to sustain their…

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Abstract

Purpose

In today's global economy, developing supply chain agility (SCA) and lean practices (LP) as resource-based view and dynamic capabilities are essential for firms to sustain their competitive advantage (CA) and enhance their operational performance (OP). The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how CA is achieved through SCA and LP and how these, in turn, can enhance a firm's OP.

Design/methodology/approach

For data collection, the authors adopted the survey method using self-administered questionnaires. Two-source survey data were collected in two rounds (separated by a two-month lag time) from supply chain managers, operational managers and general managers. The purpose of collecting data in two rounds was to reduce common-method bias. Likert scale (1–5) was used in the questionnaire. Smart PLS 3 and SPSS 23 were used for the data analysis purpose.

Findings

SCA was found to directly and positively affect OP. LP also positively affected OP. In addition, CA fully mediated the relationship between SCA, LP and OP.

Practical implications

This study encourages the managers of manufacturing firms to adapt LP and their supply chains (SCs) to become agile and leverage the advantages of their implementation to improve their OP and succeed in the market.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to investigate the effect of SCA and LP on OP. Furthermore, the first study examines CA's mediating impact on the relationship between SCA, LP and OP.

Details

The TQM Journal, vol. 34 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-2731

Keywords

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