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1 – 10 of over 81000The strategic management literature emphasizes the concept of business intelligence (BI) as an essential competitive tool. Yet the sustainability of the firms’ competitive…
Abstract
The strategic management literature emphasizes the concept of business intelligence (BI) as an essential competitive tool. Yet the sustainability of the firms’ competitive advantage provided by BI capability is not well researched. To fill this gap, this study attempts to develop a model for successful BI deployment and empirically examines the association between BI deployment and sustainable competitive advantage. Taking the telecommunications industry in Malaysia as a case example, the research particularly focuses on the influencing perceptions held by telecommunications decision makers and executives on factors that impact successful BI deployment. The research further investigates the relationship between successful BI deployment and sustainable competitive advantage of the telecommunications organizations. Another important aim of this study is to determine the effect of moderating factors such as organization culture, business strategy, and use of BI tools on BI deployment and the sustainability of firm’s competitive advantage.
This research uses combination of resource-based theory and diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory to examine BI success and its relationship with firm’s sustainability. The research adopts the positivist paradigm and a two-phase sequential mixed method consisting of qualitative and quantitative approaches are employed. A tentative research model is developed first based on extensive literature review. The chapter presents a qualitative field study to fine tune the initial research model. Findings from the qualitative method are also used to develop measures and instruments for the next phase of quantitative method. The study includes a survey study with sample of business analysts and decision makers in telecommunications firms and is analyzed by partial least square-based structural equation modeling.
The findings reveal that some internal resources of the organizations such as BI governance and the perceptions of BI’s characteristics influence the successful deployment of BI. Organizations that practice good BI governance with strong moral and financial support from upper management have an opportunity to realize the dream of having successful BI initiatives in place. The scope of BI governance includes providing sufficient support and commitment in BI funding and implementation, laying out proper BI infrastructure and staffing and establishing a corporate-wide policy and procedures regarding BI. The perceptions about the characteristics of BI such as its relative advantage, complexity, compatibility, and observability are also significant in ensuring BI success. The most important results of this study indicated that with BI successfully deployed, executives would use the knowledge provided for their necessary actions in sustaining the organizations’ competitive advantage in terms of economics, social, and environmental issues.
This study contributes significantly to the existing literature that will assist future BI researchers especially in achieving sustainable competitive advantage. In particular, the model will help practitioners to consider the resources that they are likely to consider when deploying BI. Finally, the applications of this study can be extended through further adaptation in other industries and various geographic contexts.
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Adjusting a company to its competitive environment is often done without proper knowledge of the competitive environment. This paper seeks to describe methods and tools that could…
Abstract
Purpose
Adjusting a company to its competitive environment is often done without proper knowledge of the competitive environment. This paper seeks to describe methods and tools that could be used to improve internet‐based scanning of the competitive environment. In addition, the paper aims to describe an example where such methods and tools are used.
Design/methodology/approach
Existing literature on environmental scanning, competitive intelligence, and benchmarking is reviewed to brief the theoretical background, and to find new ideas to improve scanning of the competitive environment. Using theory‐building approach, the research is based on constructive methodology. The construction is done in ABB Corporate Research, in the Business Technology Portals Project.
Findings
Experts scan the environment using the advanced tools, interviews and knowledge sharing, and managers mainly scan by discussing with other people. Modern search engines can be used to build advanced tools that enhance competitive environment scanning and benchmarking on screening level. Search engines acquire and analyze information from the internet, e.g. from news, company, internet pages, patents, and databases. The methods reduce the time needed for acquiring information, enabling people to concentrate on analyzing the information.
Research limitations/implications
For researchers, the paper provides a literature review of the topic with an innovative construction.
Practical implications
For practitioners, the paper provides an example of framework, methods and tools that can be used to scan the competitive environment.
Originality/value
The theoretical background has been innovatively applied to construct and to deploy very pragmatic tools that enhance scanning the competitive environment.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of applying competitive analysis tools to an industry's competitive history. Future strategic planning can benefit from…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the usefulness of applying competitive analysis tools to an industry's competitive history. Future strategic planning can benefit from analyzing the competitive past.
Design/methodology/approach
Case summary of industry history with application of competitive analysis tool.
Findings
Competitive success of firms in an industry is influenced by consistency with the awareness, motivation, and capability framework.
Research limitations/implications
Demonstrating that firms can improve their strategic planning and competitive assessment by analyzing their industry's history using competitive analysis tools.
Practical implications
Managers can see how to apply competitive analysis tools to their industry's past, current, and future situations.
Originality/value
This is the first application of the AMC framework to a historical analysis of the US automobile market. This demonstrates that competitive analysis tools can be applied to historical situations to improve future strategic planning.
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This chapter presents two established pedagogical techniques to increase student engagement, simulations and peer assessment. The use of each technique, its benefits and…
Abstract
This chapter presents two established pedagogical techniques to increase student engagement, simulations and peer assessment. The use of each technique, its benefits and drawbacks, and how content knowledge and student engagement increase are detailed. While each of the approaches can be utilized independently to create active learning environments, this chapter illustrates the potential to extend these approaches further. An overview of an MBA-level elective on competitive analysis structured around a simulation and peer assessment is presented. The result is a highly interactive and engaging course where the simulation and peer assessments achieve symbiotic benefits. Learning and performance in the simulation is enhanced by the application of competitive analyst reports which are used by peer “clients.” Assessment in turn leads to greater insights to the simulation, and subsequently higher levels of performance on both the simulation and future analysis work. Insights on these instructional methods, their limitations, and potential barriers to adoption are offered with the hope of inspiring others to utilize and experiment with novel approaches for further enhance learner engagement.
Ana Rosa del Aguila Obra, Sebastián Bruque Cámara and Antonio Padilla Meléndez
Since the beginnings of the computing era it has been suggested that firm performance could be enhanced by the use of information technology which would help firms to score better…
Abstract
Since the beginnings of the computing era it has been suggested that firm performance could be enhanced by the use of information technology which would help firms to score better on such indicators as productivity, profitability and market share. TCP/IP or the Internet are examples of the technology that is now available to help firms pursue their strategic aims. So far, however, their effects remain uncertain. In this paper we attempt to provide some evidence regarding the impact of the Internet on competitive advantage in a non “dot.com” industry in Spain. We also offer some ideas that may help to explain the role of the Internet as a competitive tool in modern firms.
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Joseph Calandro and Scott Lane
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the relative profitability and growth matrix and to demonstrate its use as a competitive analysis tool.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce the relative profitability and growth matrix and to demonstrate its use as a competitive analysis tool.
Design/methodology/approach
Two well‐known drivers of value are profitability and growth. After a study of 2 × 2 matrices we applied these drivers on a relative or industry comparative basis to a 2 × 2 matrix, and then we applied that matrix to competitive analyses of two industries to assess its strategic utility.
Findings
Our findings suggest that the relative profitability and growth matrix could be a useful competitive analysis screening and communications tool.
Practical and research implications
The relative profitability and growth matrix assesses a firm's profitability and growth relative to its industry and by so doing helps to identify and classify performance in a succinct format that facilitates further analysis. After such analysis has been completed the matrix can also serve as a convenient tool to communicate the analytical findings.
Originality/value
The relative profitability and growth matrix is a value‐driver based 2 × 2 matrix, the strategic utility of which is demonstrated and explained in two examples.
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Competitive intelligence failures have devastating effects in marketplaces. They are attributed to various factors but seldom explicitly to information behaviour. This paper…
Abstract
Purpose
Competitive intelligence failures have devastating effects in marketplaces. They are attributed to various factors but seldom explicitly to information behaviour. This paper addresses causes of competitive intelligence failures from an information behaviour lens focussing on problems with key intelligence and information needs. The exploratory study was conducted in 2016/2017. Managers (end-users) identify key intelligence needs on which information is needed, and often other staff members seek the information (proxy information seeking). The purpose of this paper is to analyse problems related to key intelligence and information needs, and make recommendations to address the problems.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is placed in a post-positivism research paradigm, using qualitative and limited quantitative research approaches. In total, 15 participants (competitive intelligence professionals and educators/trainers originating from South Africa and the USA) contributed rich data through in-depth individual interviews.
Findings
Problems associated with articulation of information needs (key intelligence needs is the competitive intelligence term – with a broader scope) include inadequate communication between the person in need of information and the proxy information searcher; awareness and recognition of information needs; difficulty in articulation, incomplete and partial sharing of details of needs.
Research limitations/implications
Participant recruitment was difficult, representing mostly from South Africa. The findings from this exploratory study can, however, direct further studies with a very understudied group.
Practical implications
However, revealed valuable findings that can guide research.
Originality/value
Little has been published on competitive intelligence from an information behaviour perspective. Frameworks guiding the study (a combination of Leckie et al.’s 1996 and Wilson’s, 1981 models and a competitive intelligence life cycle), however, revealed valuable findings that can guide research.
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The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of knowledge of competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the degree of knowledge of competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This exploratory study was conducted using semi‐in‐depth interviews and focus group with six executives in six companies in Tunisia. Three sectors were chosen for this study: communication technologies, manufacturing and commercial retailing. These companies are prevalent in Tunisia and are very different.
Findings
The results show that Tunisian managers are conscious of the importance of competitive intelligence in the management of their companies. Second, managers believe that internal sources of information are more valuable than external sources information and personal source information is deemed most valuable. Third, the results of the process and structure questions indicate that companies may not yet be investing appropriately in building the internal infrastructure required for fully effective intelligence efficacy. Finally, this practice is not organised in a separate department and, if it is mostly done in the marketing department.
Practical implications
To know and develop this practice, a company must, on the one hand, build internal competitive intelligence process. On the other hand, develop a sensitisation programme that is continuous and that should focus on telling employees what competitive intelligence is, what they can, and should, contribute and demonstrate the value in sharing information.
Originality/value
This study is the first to investigate competitive intelligence in Tunisia. The results lead to a number of recommendations to develop competitive intelligence in Tunisian companies. Various methods are proposed including awareness and training program, recognising by managers the value of competitive intelligence as an important tool to develop competitive intelligence.
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The purpose of this paper is to develop a visualization method for texts produced by a company's competitors, partners, or customers. This method can be used for competitive…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a visualization method for texts produced by a company's competitors, partners, or customers. This method can be used for competitive intelligence purposes, and in particular, for spotting changes over time in a company's communication.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the judgments of expert readers, topics considered to be important in the quarterly reports of two telecommunication companies were turned into so‐called collocational networks, using a statistical method originating in linguistics.
Findings
The paper shows that when collocational topic networks are produced out of a sequence of quarterly reports, they provide a visualization of how the presentation of these topics changes from one‐quarter to the next.
Research limitations/implications
The statistical method used in this paper does not handle low‐frequency topics, that nevertheless might be of great importance, very well. The method could be developed further so that users' judgments of importance are given more weight.
Practical implications
The method developed in this paper can be turned into a data visualization tool for intelligence practitioners.
Originality/value
Textual data are often overlooked in competitive intelligence, as it is more difficult to visualize and present than quantitative data, such as financial ratios. The method presented here is an easy to grasp “white box” approach to visualizing textual data, as it combines the judgments of subject matter experts with a statistical method.
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Among the primary tools of collaborative commerce are information technologies that are designed to improve flows along the supply chain. However, supply chain management software…
Abstract
Among the primary tools of collaborative commerce are information technologies that are designed to improve flows along the supply chain. However, supply chain management software is not providing organizations with all its potential benefits. This study looks at three information technologies (i.e. group decision support systems, EDI and e‐commerce) that can be used to improve information flows and the factors that affect their adoption and use. These factors are divided into those related to the information technology itself and those related to maintaining the relationships that are important in managing supply chain linkages. Factors related to the technology fit such as return on investment, fit with users' needs, affordability of the technology and ability to secure the technology were found to be important in the use of these tools. The ability to secure SCM technologies currently appears to substitute for some level of trust from an information systems perspective. In the case of the most mature technology (i.e. EDI), the results show that trust is related to fit with user needs. The implications of these findings for managers who wish to adopt and implement these SCM tools are discussed. Further study of these factors is suggested, particularly as SCM tools become increasingly more collaborative.
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