Strategic group theory： A customer-oriented view

Barney and Hoskisson （1990） argue that the strategic group research has neither established the existence of strategic groups, nor their relationship to firm performance. The primary reason behind the unsatisfactory results is the lack of a theoretical framework： what strategic variables to include in the analysis and their relative importance; the definition of an industry, and how to make competitive strategy operational. First, the author presents a customer-oriented theory of management which submits that, like Procter and Gamble, understanding customers should be the primary focus of a business. Second, the author proposes an integrated approach to competitive strategy. Because customer-perceived quality is far more critical to long-term success than any other factor, it should be the centerpiece of competitive strategy. The author suggests that competitive strategy should be divided in two interdependent dimensions： external and internal. It is the external strategy that should be considered the primary dimension because it reflects the customers＇ perspective, and provides a sense of direction regarding how the internal resources should be used. Next, the author presents an operational framework of competitive strategy which proposes that the best route to market share leadership in consumer markets is competing in the mid-price segment, offering superior quality compared to competition at a somewhat higher price： （1） to maintain an image of quality, and （2） to ensure that the strategy is profitable and sustainable. Finally, the author offers a framework of business or industry definition that extends Abell＇s （1980） three dimensions to seven. He suggests that an integrated approach to market segmentation provides the foundation for conducting strategic group analysis in consumer markets. So, in strategic group research, we need a bottom-up approach that begins with a product-market segment. In each product market, real competition occurs at the brand level. This is the ground where actual competitive wars are fought, and this is where the rich dynamics of competition often come to light.     

Mixed Market Competition in a Quality Differentiated Duopoly Model An Approach to Banking Sector

This paper attempts to develop a theoretical framework to investigate the competitive implications of quality choices of financial institutions whereby they charge prices to consumers based on their willingness to pay for the service qualities in the mixed market scenario under vertical product differentiation model. Initially, it analyzes benchmark equilibrium solutions of monopoly and duopoly to establish the degree of quality differentiation between two private banks in an uncover market configuration. Further, it estimates the quality differentiation between private and public banks, and examines the interaction between two market structures keeping public bank as both leader and follower, and then measures the social welfare from different prospectives. The explicit operation of two stages Nash equilibrium game forecasted that public banks＇ monopoly seems to be still better than a private banking, and it is socially optimal. The outcome demonstrates a significant importance of vertical quality differentiation for policy implication in banking industry and provides an insight on the reasons of particular co-existence of public and private banking services in the specified location. In this context, it is concluded that the presence of public banks in banking industries is a crucial condition for obtaining the higher range of social welfare.     

The Real Option Game Model to the Technology Innovation Investment Strategy

The real option game theory is a new effective method to analyze the project investment decision containing uncertain factors in the incomplete competition circumstance. Based on the introduction of the development of real option game method, this paper puts forward a real option game model to research on the investment opportunity and investment strategy of technology innovation involved two competitors. The varies of the value of project bring on three kinds of game equilibrium, that is the corporate investment equilibrium strategy, the leader ＆ follower investment equilibrium strategy and the corporate delay equilibrium strategy.     

Management Modes of Employment Relationship under a Changing and Reforming Circumstance in China： a Competitive Advantage Perspective

Since the 1990s, organizational environments in China have taken an unprecedented, unrelenting and largely unpredictable change, competitive advantage has increasingly depended on core employees, conventional and rigid employment modes have been confronted with a serious challenge. In contrast to pervious work in employment relationship, this paper explores how to achieve and maintain sustainable competitive advantage through differential management of employees in a business climate characterized by increasingly fierce competition and diverse human resources. On the assumption that human capital is idiosyncratic and according to a two dimensional matrix of strategic value and firm-specificity of human capital, the paper establishes a binary matrix model and develops a classification of four types of workers： firm-specific core employees, generic key employees, generic ancillary employees, and idiosyncratic allied employees. Each is viewed as playing a different strategic role in organization and should be developed and supported by different employment modes： commitment management based on skill, productivity management based on job, compliance management based on short-term contact, and collaboration management based on alliance, in order to facilitate employment relationship management in congruence with other HR practices and enterprise strategy for winning sustainable competitive advantage.     

The Nature and Avoidance of the ＂Middle Income Trap＂

The ＂middle income trap＂ is a significant theoretical and practical issue closely related to the economic and social transition and sustainable development of a country. This paper explores the essence of the ＂middle income trap＂ and ways to avoid it. It reveals that the inner nature of the ＂middle income trap＂ lies in the institutional transition dilemma, which results essentially from a lack of reasonable and clear definitions of governance boundaries between government and market as well as government and society. This lack of boundaries causes coexistent and interrelated government inefficiency, market distortion/failure and social anomie, leading to a stagnant transition from a factor-driven to an efficiency-driven and further innovation-driven economy. Moreover, this paper proposes that the proper way to avoid the ＂trap＂ can be found in the reconstruction of the state governance mode, that is, to transition from a development-oriented and omnipotent government to a public service-oriented and limited government, from factor-driven to efficiency-driven and further innovation-driven development, and from a traditional society to a modem civil society through defining reasonable and clear boundaries between government and market as well as government and society. Thus, reconstruction can establish a state public governance mode featuring the interactive role of government, market and society, and achieve the modernization of state governance systems and capacity.     

Market Transition and Income Inequality in Urban China： Evidence from Shapley Value Decomposition

China＇s market-oriented reform is expected to strengthen the role of the market in allocating resources, which raises concerns over the impact of market transformation on income distribution and earnings inequality in the past decades. This paper decomposes the sources of inequality based on the newly developed Shapley value approach and examines the contributions of the market, along with other nonmarket factors, to total inequality. Using the China Health and Nutrition Survey data over the period 1989-2009, we find that the income gap between laborers with a higher level of education and those with a lower level has widened since the transformational reforms of the economy. Our results suggest that the largest contribution of changes in income inequality can be attributed to the increase in returns to education, while the relative contributions of the household registration （hukou） system, type of sector ownership, geographic location, and gender to inequality experienced a downward trend between 1989 and 2009. The authors argue that rising income inequality is the consequence of efficiency improvements and an imperfect economic system, and that the market is a decisive force in economic development as it releases competitive signals and creates incentive mechanisms for innovation. Creating a more efficient labor market and increasing investment in human capital, particularly equalizing educational opportunities and improving the quality of education in lagging rural and inland regions to disadvantaged groups, are significant for an equitable distribution of income and sustainable development in the long run.     

Capability Innovation and Competitiveness

A firm can be thought as the combination of a series of capabilities. Some key capabilities owned by a firm are untradable, unimitable and unsubstitutable. These capabilities are considered to be the core capabilities. The core capabilities determine the firm＇s comparable competitive advantages. The continuous capability inrtovation can further strengthen the firm＇s competitiveness. Resources are the foundation of the capabilities. The foundation of capability innovation depends on the investment and restructuring of resources. The core products are the carders to the firm＇s core capabilities and other capabilities to satisfy the market＇s needs. The core products are the core components of the end products. The market share of the core products is more important to a firm.     

Exploration of OPEC and oil world market

In this article, the author will analyze the phenomena of soaring oil price today, how it happened, and find the reasons for the creation of OPEC, how it conducted its affairs in the market, and the economic factors that influenced Dr. Yamani in managing the organization effectively for a fairly long period of time to attain by the goals set out by him. I will apply the economic theories of market models, substitutability of products, the concept of price leadership etc. to explain the situation in the oil market and OPEC＇s function, which also illustrates current market behavior in the business world.     

Optimal allocation of watershed management cost among different water users

The issue of water scarcity highlights the importance of watershed management. A sound watershed management should make all water users share the incurred cost. This study analyzes the optimal allocation of watershed management cost among different water users. As a consumable, water should be allocated to different users the amounts in which their marginal utilities （MUs） or marginal products （MPs） of water are equal. The value of MUs or MPs equals the water price that the watershed manager charges. When water is simultaneously used as consumable and nonconsumable, the watershed manager produces the quantity of water in which the sum of MUs and/or MPs for the two types of uses equals the marginal cost of water production. Each water user should share the portion of watershed management cost in the percentage that his MU or MP accounts for the sum of MUs and/or MPs. Thus, the price of consumable water does not equal the marginal cost of water production even if there is no public good.     

英文文摘

On Overproduction in Socialist Primary Stage of China
CHEN Jun-jie
Overproduction is a common social phenomenon in capitalist production mode and socialist market economy and is a necessary result of market competition in commodity production and exchange. But there are differences in essence for capitalist and socialist overproduction. Capitalist overproduction is regular occurrence due to antagonistic contradiction between capitalist production and consumption and is the direct manifestation capitalists exploit workers. Socialist overproduction is a stage phenomenon because of market competition of various ownerships and can be overcome with the development of productive forces and the progress of reform.     

＂A Raft in the Stormy Sea＂： New Roles,New ＂Dresses＂ Operating in ＆ for Business Networks

This paper aims to discuss the development and functioning conditions of business networks. After recalling the main characteristics of post-fordistic environment and comparing it to a ＂stormy sea＂ （section one） of the paper focuses on the idea of networks described as ＂rafts＂ useful to firms to build their own competitive advantages. In fact, while theoretical knowledge is not so valuable because everybody can have it, practical and contextual knowledge is specific and therefore it can be defended. The development of a contextual knowledge is feasible if the firm chooses among all the possible alternatives. Subsequently in section two, it shows how fordistic principles eliminate space, reduce time, and increase the speed of communication among individuals and as entering a network has become a necessity as it allows a firm to obtain competitive advantages. The greatest benefit is the chance to share the task of creating new knowledge among different members. In section three it is discussed if navigation in the post-fordistic stormy sea could take advantage from the existence of a more certain regulation. It is necessary to underline that positive law is not a post-fordistic tool. There is no satisfactory detailed law regarding ideas, knowledge, and know-how, by now. Therefore, it is not possible to rely on a specific regulation framework to protect knowledge found on the network. In conclusion in section four, the work discusses how single organizations need to reach the ＂raft＂--which is the network--through the idea of sharing learning and distinguishing elements necessary to survive in the stormy sea post-Fordism environment. Lastly, section five would be analyzed a public institution--Milan Chamber of Commerce--which has ＂changed its dress＂ to more effectively perform its support role to firms.     

The impact of environmental regulations on international competitiveness of textile industry in China

A greater focus of environmental protection is directed toward environmental regulations in China. This paper focuses on environmental regulations and their impact on textile industry. The academic circle does not reach a consensus on the relationship between environmental regulations and international competitiveness. Some hold the view that environmental regulations lower international competitiveness while others think that environmental regulations improve both environment and economic performance. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the environmental regulations on the international competitiveness of textile industry in China. This study starts with theories relative to this subject; the second part, based on the impact mechanism of environmental regulations on competitiveness, analyzes the environmental impact on textile from the perspective of cost and market. The conceptual exploration comes to the conclusion that environmental regulations make a negative impact on the international competitiveness on the cost side and improve it by means of innovation and product differentiation on market side; the third part gives time series evidence to examine the impact. In this part the Pearson Correlation Analysis is conducted based on the data of China＇s textile industry of the period from 1991 to 2005. It turns out to prove that the negative environmental impact on cost side exceeds the positive environmental impact on market side, namely, environmental regulations deteriorate the international competitiveness in textile industry as a whole during the inspected period.     

Management innovation and core competitive advantages of SMEs

The paper first introduces the concept of core competence. Based on that, it proposes that small and medium enterprises （SMEs） should actively implement management innovation and describes the contents of management innovation. The conclusion is that SMEs should build the core competitive advantages through management innovation, in order to achieve better performance in the fierce market competition.     

A model of quality control based on recycling economy and sustainable manufacture

People currentiy pay attention to a hotspot problem that how industrial production is evaluated and controlled based on sustainable development theory. Quality is one of the important indexes. Two mainstream theories guide us to realize the industrial sustainable development： mainly the circular economy and sustainable manufacturing are introduced. The basic characteristics of the sustainable manufacturing are introduced, and that quality management is important contents of sustainable development is indicated. Based on circular economy and sustainable manufacture theories, the drawbacks in the existing quality management models are analyzed. The requests that satisfy the big system ＂environment- society - economy＂ are summarized to build up a model. A Chinese traditional cultural principle is applied and the relevant contents are sublimated as the platform to set up the model. The new quality management concept models are put forward ＂T- D- R＂ three-dimensional structures and ＂ecological quality loop＂ model, from which the new quality concepts are formed The paper elaborates the contents and the process of setting up the models. The big quality problems of the system can be handled by the new quality concept and model that are validated in practice.     

Inspections and Information Disclosure： Quality Regulations with Incomplete Enforcement

The weak enforcement and monitoring systems employed in China （e.g., insufficient inspection resources and negligible fines for noncompliance） are widely blamed for the growing unrest over food safety in the country. Given this development, we consider a model where quality inspection performed by agencies is a means of disclosing information on product quality. We analyze the price-quality equilibrium scheme and show that a higher probability of inspection leads to lower price premiums attached to qualified products. We further investigate the welfare effect of minimum quality standards and inspection efforts and show that they should be complementary. We finally suggest that a state dependent inspection strategy, such as not inspecting those firms that have previously been found to be noncompliant, will enhance social welfare.     

Competitiveness of Egyptian cotton exports in the international market

Cotton plays a vital role in the Egyptian economy by meeting domestic and export demands,contributing significantly to agriculture,industry,export earnings,and providing a cash income to roughly one million small farmers.This paper examines the competitiveness of Egyptian cotton exports（ECE） in the international market during the period 1990-2006.It mainly aims at investigating the trends in cotton exports over the studied period,analyzing the competitive position of Egyptian cotton by employing several economic and trade indices,and identifying the key factors that influence Egypt＇s cotton exports to the world.The results revealed that the total quantity of ECE has fallen from 196.8 thousand tons in 2003 to 87.2 thousand tons in 2006.It also shows a high degree of geographic concentration of ECE,into India,Italy,the Republic of Korea,and Japan.Together,these markets imported about 50%of ECE during 1990-2006.The competitive advantage of Egyptian cotton would appear dependent on quality not price.Japan,the Republic of Korea and Italy presented the most stable markets for ECE.Linear regression analysis suggests that a one percent increase in the Egypt-to-USA export price ratio leads to a decrease in ECE by about 27.8 thousand tons.Such analysis has also shown a positive and significant effect of the World Trade Organization on ECE.     

Analysis on Demand Price of Housing Industry and its Bubble Test

WANG Shi-fei, FAN Wang-bang In recent years China＇s housing price keeps going up and Chinese government has adopted some measures to control it, but the result is not satisfying. The current situation is that the housing price goes up among goverment＇s effort to control it. Based on view of demand and housing price, the paper has a deep analysis on relation between demand and housing price. The analysis shows that overdemand and low financial threshold lead to high price of housing. After having a test on bubble in housing market, the paper puts forward some measures to promote sound development of housing industry in China.     

Facilitating knowledge management strategies through IT and HRM

In an increasingly competitive environment, where new business practices are regularly introduced, organizations have to be innovative to survive. In the present competitive climate, knowledge is considered as the main distinguishing factor of business success, and it is seen as the foundation of organization＇s innovation. The emergence of knowledge-intensive society has changed the nature of business competition. Hence knowledge needs to be appropriately managed. Knowledge Management （KM） focuses on managing different knowledge processes such as acquiring, creating, storing, sharing, transferring and applying implicit and explicit knowledge with objective of product and process innovation, performance development and sustainable competitive advantage. This paper tries to demonstrate KM lead to promotion of innovation and performance when it is correctly supported by human resource management （HRM） and information technology （IT）. The questions we will try to investigate in this paper are： How knowledge in organizations can be managed？ What is the connection between HRM, IT and effective implementation knowledge management strategies and how these relationships affect on organizational goals？ For this means, this study ftrst states the importance of knowledge, KM process and introduces two strategies for managing knowledge （exploitative and explorative strategy）. Next, it demonstrates each strategy requires to desired facilitator to support them in action. Finally, with presenting of model, this study concludes that each one of strategy can cover some KM process. Hence for the effective implementation of knowledge management process, organizations have to utilize both strategies.     

Study on the clustering of a typical industry：a case of apple industry in Shaanxi Province, China

The apple industry in Shaanxi Province is a resource-based industry; compared to the best productiveregions at home and abroad, it is advantageous in high quality as well as geographical and natural resources. Currently,big changes have occurred in the apple market supply-demand relations; long-term and comprehensive shortage haspassed; the buyer＇s market has come into being; competitions in the domestic market are fierce. At the same time, theforeign apple will impact on the domestic market, increasing competitive pressure. Foreign anti-dumping measures,green barriers and technologies restrict the exportation of the domestic apple. Based on successful experience of otherindustrial clusters, this paper analyzes the existing problems in the development of Shaanxi apple industrial cluster,combining empirical analysis, qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis, proposes specific policy recommendationsand get the conclusions. First, the characteristics of the agricultural industrial cluster are analyzed; Shaanxi appleindustry is characterized by cluster. Second, the rapid development of Shaanxi apple industrial cluster exposes someproblems. Third, we need the government to control the disorderly competition of Shaanxi apple industry.     

Coordination Costs,Market Size,and the Choice of Technology

Impact of coordination costs and market size on a firm's choice of technology is studied in a general equilibrium model in which finns engage in oligopolistic competition. A firm establishes an organizational hierarchy to coordinate its production. First, it is shown that an increase in market size leads a firm to choose a more specialized technology. Second, surprisingly, a robust result is that an increase in the level of coordination efficiency leads a firm to choose a less specialized technology.