STRATEGIC DIFFERENTIATION AND STRATEGIC EMULATION IN GAMES WITH UNCERTAINTY*

When players who choose a common strategy face a common shock, while players who choose different strategies face independent or imperfectly correlated shocks, equilibrium choices exhibit differentiation (respectively emulation) when the sign of the cross‐partial derivative of the firms' profit functions with respect to the realizations of the uncertain variables is negative (respectively positive). I consider a variety of applications, including technology choice, brand investments, and R&D races, many of which can be characterized as two‐stage games. In such games I demonstrate that differentiation is more likely to occur when the second stage game is a game of strategic substitutes.     

Global and political strategies in deregulated industries: the asymmetric behaviors of former monopolies

In deregulated industries former monopolies often adopt asymmetric behaviors: these firms impede the entry of foreign competitors in their home market, especially using defensive political strategies, and, at the same time, aggressively develop international strategies in foreign markets. To account for this behavior, I develop a game theoretic model involving three players: the former monopoly, its home government, and the host government of the country into which the firm wants to enter. I show first that there are in fact different asymmetric strategies that former monopolies can use in such a setting, and that a global strategy cannot always be implemented by those firms because of cooperation issues between the two governments. I also study the conditions under which these issues can be solved and show that this can happen only when the firm develops a political strategy that integrates both defensive and offensive activities. Overall, this paper therefore argues that asymmetric strategies are not always adopted to maintain monopoly rents but are also dictated by the nature of the international relationships between the governments involved. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

‘We can only request what's in our protocol’: technology and work autonomy in healthcare

This article explores the tension between standardization and autonomy raised by the implementation of new technology in healthcare organizations. The theoretical frame of this study is grounded in the impact of new technologies on work organization, routinization and autonomy across settings. Empirically it presents evidence from two NHS Trusts in England that implemented a national Electronic Patient Record (EPR). The paper aims to reinvigorate the debate on the tension between standardization and autonomy in professional workplaces such as healthcare. It argues that the implication of technology in professional work conditions processes of task routinization that constrain autonomy, and enables reallocation of discretion between professional groups. We argue that routinization is not restricted to low‐skill work but may travel across contexts and be evidenced in high‐skill work environments. The interplay between routinization and autonomy is also useful in drawing insights concerning the dynamics of change that occur in professional work.     

Municipal support of wireless access network rollout: A game theoretic approach

Next generation access networks are expected to bring ubiquitous broadband access and have attracted interest of municipal governments. This paper investigates the support by municipal authorities for the rollout of such a city-wide wireless broadband access network. Different business cases for 3G and WiFi operators are developed and it is indicated how to model the specificities for commercial versus public players. Furthermore, a game theoretic approach is used to investigate the investment options of the municipal player. It is shown that a partnership between a commercial and public player is the most likely investment strategy. However, bringing more players into the competitive environment reduces the intention of the commercial partner to engage in the public–private partnership (PPP).     

Characteristics of learning computer-controlled mechanisms by teachers and students in a common laboratory environment

Growing popularity of robotics education motivates developing its didactics and studying it in teacher training programs. This paper presents a study conducted in the Department of Education in Technology and Science, Technion, in which university students and school pupils cope with robotics challenges of designing, building and operating computer-controlled mechanisms. The university students were involved in developing robot prototypes and related instructional materials, and assisted in teaching robotics and guiding projects to middle school and high school pupils. The study focused on behaviors of the two groups of learners and aimed to elicit and analyze typical characteristics of learning in the developed robotics environment. We collected qualitative data on learning through robot design and experimentation activities and, by means of the ground theory method, elicited and analyzed typical behavioral characteristics of students’ and pupils’ learning: self-confidence, help, collaboration, interest, seriousness, self-dependence, learning effort, responsibility, coping with learning pressure, learning through observation, and perseverance. As found, the behavior characteristics evolve in the course of robotics studies and their evolution can give indication on the development of the desired competences.     

A resource‐based view of manufacturing strategy and the relationship to manufacturing performance

This paper examines manufacturing strategy from the perspective of the resource‐based view of the firm. It explores the role of resources and capabilities in manufacturing plants that cannot be easily duplicated, and for which ready substitutes are not available. Such resources and capabilities are formed by employees' internal learning based on cross‐training and suggestion systems, external learning from customers and suppliers, and proprietary processes and equipment developed by the firm. Based on data from 164 manufacturing plants, the paper empirically demonstrates that competitive advantage in manufacturing (as measured by superior plant performance) results from proprietary processes and equipment which, in turn, is driven by external and internal learning. The implication is that resources such as standard equipment and employees with generic skills obtainable in factor markets are not as effective in achieving high levels of plant performance, since they are freely available to competitors. The paper also demonstrates the important role of internal and external learning in developing resources that are imperfectly imitable and difficult to duplicate. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A comparative analysis of greening policies across supply chain structures

In this paper, we examine an apparel serial supply chain whose players initiate product “greening.” We consider situations in which the players cooperate or act individually. Our problem is motivated by recent developments in the supply chains of global apparel players. We build game theoretic models and show how greening levels, prices and profits are influenced by channel structures. We also study the impact of greening costs and consumer sensitivity towards green apparels. We propose a two-part tariff contract to coordinate the green channel. Our key contribution lies in the model of decision making of various supply chain structures and analyzing its impact on the players and supply chain. The problem throws interesting insights into the strategies of apparel players and their key decisions.     

The developmental path of networking capability of catch-up players in Korea's semiconductor industry

With respect to technological learning, networking and globalization, and the subsequent development of technological capability, this study examines the developmental path of catch-up players in Korea's semiconductor industry. It in particular deals with the important aspects of local and global networking of catch-up players accumulating technological capability. This paper also argues that networking capability plays a critical role in the development of the technological capability of catch-up players in developing countries, and that their networking patterns are changed along the global technological trajectory that they face. That is, on the basis of the Korean case analysis, this study reveals that global hierarchical networking with global leaders is provoked in the vertical cooperative phase when global mature technologies are involved in international technology transfer. Next, the quasi-global networking with overseas sister companies and their professionals is strengthened in the discordant phase when growing technologies are involved. Reciprocal networking with global players is encouraged in the strategic phase when emerging technologies are involved. In addition, this paper addresses the development path of other aspects of technological capability, i.e., production, investment, and innovation capability, of Korea's semiconductor players. Furthermore, it discusses the relevance of Korea's development path to other countries and firms.     

供应商技术研发决策行为的演化博弈分析——基于技术外部性的视角

供应商在面向多制造商时研发共性技术还是研发专用技术？以此问题为基点，本文运用演化博弈论，在共性技术外部性、外部性引发价格战及政府干预治理情形下对供应商技术研发决策行为进行分析。研究发现：共性技术外部性的存在使得博弈演化稳定于由选择不同技术研发策略的供应商共存的均衡；在外部性引发价格战情形下，当外部性较强时，零部件降价幅度越大，供应商越倾向于选择研发专用技术，反之，当外部性较弱时供应商越倾向于选择研发共性技术；当考虑外部干预治理时，政府价格干预效果依该行为所引致的市场额外需求降低状况，而政府补偿干预有效引导着供应商选择共性技术研发策略。     

Optimal lot sizing in a non-cooperative material manager-controller game

It is important for manufacturing companies to optimise purchase order quantities. Inaccurate lot size planning raises costs and lowers profits, which top management of course attempts to avoid through controlling processes. The lot size decision becomes even more relevant in the case of just-in-time delivery within a supply chain.The interaction between lot sizing and auditing can be described in terms of a modified inspection game. This paper considers how probabilities, which are the basis for the mixed strategies at equilibrium in the inspection game, will change if the level of penalties accruing to the two players (material manager and controller) depends on the cost deviation caused by the material manager's poor lot-size planning. It is evident that the Nash equilibrium shifts to the strategy combination (methodically determined decision and low auditing level), if the penalties imposed on the controller and material manager increase.Penalties that depend on such deviations, and an accurate audit of the controller's report by top management, prove to be the best instruments for avoiding mismanagement by the material manager and poor controller work, both of which lead to high costs.     

企业战略联盟中多人多产品合作生产的成本分摊研究

合作博弈理论在企业联盟收益分配和成本分摊中得到了广泛应用,但一般都是单产品问题,而多产品合作生产的成本分摊问题相关研究却很少。本文从合作博弈的视角研究了企业战略联盟中各参与企业合作生产多种产品时的成本分摊问题,构建了一个多人多产品合作博弈模型,给出了博弈应满足的公理化性质,并基于夏普利法给出了该博弈的解函数表达式,同时还给出了单位产品成本函数的表达式。使用该博弈模型首先可以实现战略联盟的总成本在各参与企业间的分摊,还可以将总生产成本在该联盟生产的各产品之间进行分摊。最后用算例证明了该方法的可行性及合理性。     

Entrepreneurial strategy making and firm performance: tests of contingency and configurational models

This field study explores the nature of entrepreneurial strategy making (ESM) and its relationship with strategy, environment and performance. In the first phase, we assess the independence of entrepreneurially oriented strategy-making processes through factor analysis. The second phase, using moderated hierarchical regression anlaysis, investigates the relative predictive power of two approaches for exploring the ESM–performance relationship: contingency and configuration. Findings from a sample of 32 firms competing in a wide variety of industries indicate that configurational approaches that align ESM, strategy, and environment have greater predictive power than contingency approaches. However, not all high performing configurations are consistent with normative theory. Thus, alternate theories linking entrepreneurial strategy making to competitive advantage should be developed and tested. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2011 ChinaJoy七月盛装起航

第九届中国国际数码互动娱乐展览会（2011 ChinaJoy）又一次进入了盛装起航的倒计时。作为全球展览规模最大、展示内容最全面、参与观众最多的综合性游戏动漫展会,ChinaJoy已成为聚集百余家参展厂商、十余万现场观众以及来自全球数亿目光关注的狂欢盛宴。不仅有无数对动漫、游戏的玩家和追随者,更有来自全球的游戏研发商、运营商、渠道商以及产业精英,汇聚在ChinaJoy以及中国游戏商务大会（CGBC）、中国游戏开发者大会（CGDC）、中国游戏外包大会（CGOC）中。     

National brand's local advertising and wholesale-price incentive under prior versus no prior information

We study the context of one private label (PL) competing against one national brand (NB) through a unique retailer. We propose a novel utility-demand function that includes the consumer's brand valuation, the retail prices, and the brands' qualities. We investigate the effect of the NB local advertising strategy on supply chain players' profits when either one of the players supports the advertising. Also, we explore the role of prior information about the manufacturer's incentive function on supply chain players' behaviors. We show that although the support for advertising from either the manufacturer or the retailer is Pareto improving, the manufacturer prefers to incite the retailer to invest in local NB advertising through profit sharing instead of using its money to counter the threat of the PL. Furthermore, we also show that the wholesale price incentive motivating the retailer to invest further in advertising is not preferred as expected, and all supply chain players are better off without prior information about the manufacturer's behavior in the context of branding competition and advertising-level dependent incentive.     

基于微分博弈的发电商报价模型及其分析

基于微分博弈原理,构建了发电商报价动态模型,在运用Hamilton—Jacobi—Bellman方法对其进行求解基础上,针对3家发电商的情况进行了数值仿真分析。分析表明：高边际成本的发电商报价策略的动态均衡会大于其Coumot-Nash均衡,而边际成本较低的发电商报价策略的动态均衡略低于CoumotoNash均衡;随贴现率的增大,发电商的均衡报价策略会经历由递增到递减的变化过程,而学习速度对发电商报价策略的影响则是相反的;当贴现率与学习速度同时变化时,对市场出清价的局部影响较为复杂,但当两者同时逐渐增大时,发电商报价策略的动态均衡会逐渐稳定在较高水平。     

Measuring Technology Incorporation/Infusion

For a technological innovation to be truly valuable, it must be incorporated within the adopting organization's operational or managerial work systems. Prior studies have examined an aspect of incorporation referred to as routinization (e.g., the adjustment of an organization's governance systems to account for the innovation). In this article, Robert W. Zmud and L. Eugene Apple introduce a second component of incorporation, that of infusion (e.g., the extent to which the full potential of the innovation has been embedded within an organization's operational or managerial work systems). They report findings of a combined quantitative and qualitative study aimed at measuring both the routinization and infusion of electronic scanners in supermarket chains and suggest that infusion can be measured and is distinct from routinization.     

Configuring quality management and marketing implementation and the performance implications for industrial marketers

This study empirically examines if different configurations of quality management and marketing (Q&M) implementation exist in various industrial organizations and explores their implications for firm performance. We survey 304 organizations that have operational quality management systems and conduct in-depth interviews with selected groups of respondent organizations to understand their market-oriented behaviors. We perform cluster analysis of the survey data to empirically construct taxonomic configurations of Q&M implementation that may exist in these organizations. The results show three distinct configurations with each configuration displaying specific implementation characteristics. We label the corresponding organizations as reactive firms, progressive firms, and proactive firms, respectively. In other words, each configuration represents a different extent of implementing Q&M in organizations. We also find that the empirically-derived configurations, corroborated with in-depth interview data, are associated with various firm performance measures. The analysis reveals that proactive firms in which Q&M are implemented at a high level attain the best firm performance. Despite the exploratory nature of this study, the taxonomy developed yields valid and reliable findings that have significant theoretical and practical implications for industrial marketers.     

Facilitating Global Organizational Learning in Product Development at Whirlpool Corporation

The challenges of leveraging learning about product development in a global company are complex. Whirlpool Corporation is addressing these challenges, using a multidimensional strategy that couples work in advanced products and product development with organization development and training. Deborah Durate and Nancy Snyder describe how Whirlpool has implemented training, best practices conferences, and programs focused on enhancing the performance of product development teams to facilitate learning after product development efforts and to leverage that learning on a global basis. Programs and processes are described, and lessons learned as well as guidelines for development are offered.     

Influence of design training and spatial solution strategies on spatial ability performance

Numerous studies have reported that spatial ability improves through training. This study investigated the following: (1) whether design training enhances spatial ability and (2) whether differing solution strategies are applied or generated following design training. On the basis of these two research objectives, this study divided the participants into design and non-design groups. Each participant in these groups was required to complete three spatial tests and one solution strategy questionnaire. This study found that the participants in the design group outperformed those in the non-design group regarding spatial visualization and spatial relations; however, the two groups showed no difference in visuospatial perceptual speed performance. The design and non-design groups adopted different solution strategies; the design group used the holistic strategy, whereas the non-design group used the analytical strategy.