Product Differentiation in the Spanish Beef Industry

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate changes in the structure of the Spanish quality beef industry in response to the significant decline in beef consumption happened over the last few decades. The role of product differentiation, mechanisms and factors involved in it, are specially studied. We use focus groups and a survey to examine the outlook for the organization of the beef industry, and trends in the development of product differentiation mechanisms and vertical co-ordination strategies.

Results reveal the existence of a restructuring process that is being implemented in two ways: Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and Quality Certified Brands (QCB). Each strategy forms its own entry barriers: the origin of calves in the case of PGI and farm size in QCB; they are therefore complementary rather than competitive.     

How Market-Guanxi Ambidexterity Affects Adaptive Capability in China＇s Transition Economy

Whether market- and guanxi-based strategies are complementary or substitutable in shaping adaptive capability is a critical yet controversial issue. This paper tackles this problem by adopting the ambidexterity perspective. Specifically, using a sample of 185 Chinese private firms, this study examines the independent and interactive effects of market orientation （MO） and guanxi orientation （GO, i.e., emphasizing on building business and political ties） on adaptive capability of firms in transition economies. Our results suggest that both direct impacts and complementary impacts of MO and GO strongly exist in shaping firms＇ adaptive capability, indicating the importance of ＂strategic ambidexterity.＂ These findings have several theoretical implications for studies on ambidexterity and adaptive capability, and practical implications for finn strategies in transition economies.     

Response strategies of local firms to import competition in emerging markets

Using a sample of 3808 firms from 1996 to 2007, the impact of three strategic options that can be implemented by local Asian (i.e., Indian) firms facing increased import competition in their domestic market is analyzed. On average, firms with greater investments in intangible resources and tighter product focus do better, while firms with greater international sales perform poorly compared to their peers. However, in industries characterized by high import competition, firms with international operations and product focus tend to have higher performance, while firms with intangible resources perform poorly.     

Strategic groups and performance in the Spanish hotel sector

This study uses the strategic group theory to identify business strategies and competitive advantages implemented by Spanish hotels, which are grouped together according to three variables (size, chain affiliation, and category) and the degree of development of the different business strategies. An analysis carried out with the aim of checking the potential existence of significant differences in performance among the strategic groups revealed that the highest performance levels are achieved by larger-sized, chain-affiliated, and higher-category hotels as well as by establishments which base their competitive advantage on category and capacity or size and internal management.     

行业品牌向消费者品牌延伸的架构选择

目前我国IT、通讯、电子商务、照明、墙纸、食品等众多行业中的部分企业，在成功奠定行业品牌基础之后，力图带着良好的行业品牌形象走向消费者，实现从行业品牌向消费者品牌的顺利延伸。在从行业品牌（B2B）向消费者品牌（B2C）延伸过程中，企业需要认清B2B品牌建设与B2C品牌建设的区别，选择和确定品牌延伸的架构模式，分析和评估其可能的利益与风险。     

Consumer Market Research on Milk in the Rural Greek Population

The purpose of the present paper is to analyse the consumption of different kinds of milk by the rural population of Greece, using the methods of multivariate analysis. First, using principal components analysis and the qualitative characteristics of milk, consumption patterns (profiles) for milk are formed. Secondly, the influence of socio-economic factors on these consumption pattems are estimated using variance analysis. Results revealed that the attitude of rural residents towards milk consumption is dominated by three critical issues: rationality, the practicality and rise of purchase, and new trend. An important finding is the existence of a high correlation between the degree of confidence in the product and the length of time that the product has been on the market. Moreover, while condensed milk exhibits a strong and positive profile in the milk market, its market share is expected to continue to drop in favour of pasteurised milk. Finally, some further implications of the study are drawn, concerning the milk companies' marketing strategies in the Greek rural population.     

英语口语教学的制约因素及教学策略研究

英语口语水平的高低是衡量英语学习者语言综合水平的重要体现。在英语教学中,教师和学生都觉得困难得就是口语,教师觉得学生的口语水平不尽如意,怎么训练也提高不快,学生则认为想说的话就是无法用英语流畅的表达出来。本文就影响英语口语进程的障碍因素加以研究,并就如何清除口语障碍提出相应的策略。     

What determines multinational hotel groups’ locational investment choice in China?

China's hotel industry has been developed quickly from a small number of 137 only in 1978 to 14,237 in 2009. One of the main drivers of the rapid development of the hotel industry has been the expansion of multinational hotel groups (MHGs) into China. The purposes of this study are to analyze the factors that determine the location strategies of MHGs and to assess what factors determine MHG's investment strategies in regard to choice of location. The study finds that the market demand and market size measured by number of inbound tourists, tourist spending, and actual foreign direct investment, the business environment measured by GDP per capital, and dummy variables measured by policy and mega events are all significant factors in affecting MHG's locational choices for investment. These findings may provide some insights for MHG's future investment strategies in regard to location choice.     

Global strategies,differing experiences. Electricity companies in two late-industrialising countries: Spain and Argentina, 1890–1950

The article compares the performance and profitability rates of electric utility firms in Spain and Argentina from the early period of global electrification to the period following World War 2. It aims to analyse the relationship between the investment strategies of international electricity companies and local conditions in two late-industrialising countries, and evaluate its impact on the structure and development of both electric utility systems. The study finds similar long-term trends in profitability as a result of the global strategies of multinational holding companies; nonetheless profitability rates varied greatly from one country to another. Rates were higher in Argentina as foreign firms controlled large systems in most dynamic urban areas. In contrast, the increasing investment of local firms in electric utilities paved the way to a less profitable but more equitable electricity system in Spain.