Discerning competitive strategy through an assessment of competitive methods

This cross-sectional study of Portuguese service organizations seeks to determine the level of alignment of competitive methods with strategy typologies covered in the business literature. Surveyed firms were asked to indicate their level of utilization of several competitive methods. The results of factor analysis of the survey data indicate that 30 of the 33 competitive methods covered in this study represent seven underlying strategy dimensions. Further analysis revealed that there is some congruence between the derived strategy dimensions and established strategy typologies in the literature. Cluster analysis revealed that each of the responding firms could be classified into one of four hybrid or mixed strategy orientations. However, differences in strategy orientation were not statistically significant in explaining differences in the financial performance of these organizations. These findings are discussed in the light of their implications for strategy development, strategy choices and performance evaluation in the Portuguese service sector.     

Product quality and competitive strategy

According to John A. Young, CEO of Hewlett-Packard, “In today's competitive environment, ignoring the quality issue is tantamount to corporate suicide.”Product quality is a powerful ingredient in a successful competitive strategy. Quality can increase productivity and profitability by lowering costs and increasing sales.     

我说恒源祥

春节期间,又看到久违的恒源祥广告了。 羊羊羊,猪猪猪,牛牛牛,大家都说恒源祥的广告太烦人了,惹得网上一片骂声,我的不少朋友也加入了这个怒骂的行列,痛骂恒源祥手法恶俗。 节后的一天,重庆电视台的主持人来电话采访,问我如何看待恒源祥。我回答说,这是恒源祥的一贯作风。     

坐而论道话视频

邓广梼：各位网友大家好，这里是互动行销每月定期举行的《互动行销沙龙》。今天很高兴请来了优酷网的CEO古永锵，还有北京光宇华夏科技有限公司的市场总监杨奇云。本次沙龙话题是“这个冬天有点冷，看视频网站如何过冬”。     

孰热孰凉说车市

今年上半年，中国汽车市场轿车产销96万辆!这是一个惊人的数字，因为去年全年中国轿车的销量不过1.9万辆。有业内人士认为：照此趋势，10年左右中国的汽车销量就会超过1000万辆，与美国一起，成为全球最大的汽车市场。但是，这是否意味着：中国汽车业就真的步入一个健康、良性的发展轨道呢?以笔者之见，这一前景不容乐观，因为在中国汽车业的持续发展中还有一道道坎，其中一连串的问号足以使人从浮躁中冷静下来，转入理性思考。     

从营销角度看节目生产

进行节目营销,是当下在纷繁众多的电视频道中占有一席之地并获得收视长虹的必由之路。本文从营销内涵的基本理念入手,探究如何实现节目营销。     

Implanting competitive strategy: A contingency approach

Competitive business strategies are often formulated with little regard given to the articulation format. This paper examines the strategy formulation process from a systems perspective and argues that articulation of a competitive strategy, such that sustained competitive advantage is created, requires consistency along the entire business chain. Internal consistency within the business chain is built through inter‐linkages. The inter‐linkages are made through four inter‐connective elements: human resources, technological resources, information resources and financial resources. It is argued in this paper that the human factor is of major importance since it integrates the other inter‐connective elements and therefore represents a key factor in the process of articulation and implementation. In view of the critical role of the human element in articulation of business strategy for competitive advantage, the paper develops a human‐factor related contingency framework. The developed contingency framework examines Porter's (1980, 1985) generic strategies with respect to congruent requisites necessary for building competitive advantage.     

谈谈"奢侈品牌"

奢侈品（Luxury）源于拉丁文的“光”（Lux）。所以，奢侈品本身就是闪光的、明亮的、让人享受的。以前，奢侈品是贵族阶层的物品，它是地位、身份、高人一等的权力象征，是贵族形象的代表。如今，虽然社会发展了，但人们的“富贵观”并未改变，“奢侈品牌”正好可以满足人们的这种本能需求。     

浅谈内部审计沟通问题

沟通是人与人之间互相传递信息的过程,可以满足彼此信息的需要。良好的沟通能够有效提高工作水平并改善工作质量,能够使团队合作更加融洽。当然,在内部审计工作中,沟通的重要性和必要性也毋庸置疑。沟通在工作中可以起到枢纽的作用,将彼此的想法不断融合、不断进步。本文主要分析了在内部审计工作中沟通的重要性、沟通存在的问题以及相关问题的解决策略,以供日后研究内部审计沟通问题时参考。     

"假日经济"之我见

曾几何时,当中国经济在低水平徘徊,国内市场上出现严重的供给与需求矛盾,政府致力于启动、刺激消费,一种新的消费形式便悄然兴起,从1999年便开始出现了强劲的增长势头,并为消费市场注入了一股新鲜的活力,这便是假日经济.     

访台归来话台湾

应台湾两岸经贸发展协会邀请．我们一行五人于2005年8月25日——9月5日．赴台湾进行了学术交流和考察访问。当我们乘坐的飞机从香港转机到达台湾桃园机场时，踏上祖先崇拜国宝岛的心情异常兴奋而又沉重，那种以往的梦想变成了现实——宝岛的美丽．富饶、生机勃勃尽收眼底。我们在台湾同邀请单位组织的专家、学者及相关企业的有关人员围绕”如何构筑食品安全体系”这一主题开展了研讨和交流．并先后访问了台湾酒客JOKER。台北世贸中心。安泰食品公司、农佳特产休闲农场等单位。     

Mindfulness as a strategy for sustainable competitive advantage

This conceptual article explores how mindfulness can be successfully integrated in the strategy tool kit of organizations. The likely global reconstruction in the aftermath of COVID-19 can be effective if organizations reexamine their existing philosophies and business practices. Against this backdrop, mindfulness is a time-tested practice that has the potential to transcend all functions in a company’s value chain and to create a sustainable competitive advantage. This article uses a strategy lens to examine mindfulness in organizations, which has implications for researchers and practitioners. First, I discuss the theoretical frameworks of mindfulness, the performance improvements that individuals can expect from consistent practice, and how these improvements translate to organization-level performance. Next, I summarize the methods and tools for workplace application and the steps for implementing mindfulness strategies in organizations. Finally, I describe implementation challenges and offer assessment tools for mindfulness.     

劫后余生谈别克

编者按语:注意行车安全!无论对驾车人还是乘车人,这都是老调常弹了.但是基于各种原因,行车事故总是难免的,所谓祸生瞬间.每一次惨烈的行车事故都使人难以忘怀,对那些事故的幸运者来说,什么最使他们刻骨铭心呢?每人的经历各不相同.本刊有幸采访到一位驾别克车出事故的先生,他的感受是别克车的优秀品质救了他一命.     

浅谈城市生态化与生态城市

城市生态化简单地说就是实现城市社会-经济-自然复合生态系统整体协调而达到一种稳定有序状态的演进过程.     

漫谈商业"造市"

“造市”是一个耳熟能详的词,却很难给“造市”下一个确切的定义:如果说“造市”一词带有贬义,也不尽然“造市”的手法有很多很多,大部分属于市场营销学的某种营销方法或营销手段。“造市”的重要基础是消费趋同心理和营销商与消费者之间的信息不对称及地位不对称,而且营销商通常具有相对优势     

International competitive strategy choices: comparing firms in China and India

This study investigates the types of international competitive strategies (ICS) followed by Chinese and Indian firms. Using firm-level primary data, the contribution analyses the factors that affect ICS choices and whether these factors differ between the two countries. It argues that firms' resources and capabilities influence firms' propensity to choose a specific ICS and that the strategies differ in relation to firms' location, sector and destination market as well.