Capabilities, Confusion, and the Costs of Coordination On Some Problems in Recent Research On Inter-Firm Relations

The arguably dominant approaches to the study of interfirm relations are the capabilities and organizational economics perspectives. This paper discusses their merits and weaknesses, concentrating on the capabilities perspective, which is argued to rest on rather weak foundations, particularly as a theory of economic organization (including interfirm relations). However, it is suggested that both perspectives may be seen as part of an overarching bargaining approach to economic organization (yet to be developed). Both perspectives have identified impediments to efficient bargaining.Interfirm relations, capabilities, organizational economics, research methodology

COMPETENCE ACQUISITION IN RETAIL FOOD: EFFICIENT CONSUMER RESPONSE AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

Based on interviews with retail food store managers and a subsequent survey, this paper traces the pathways that spawn competence acquisition in the retail food industry. It finds that having an essential capability for learning, that is, obtaining new ideas, concepts, methods, tends to breed competencies in a number of areas which are of both business and social significance. In this study, the capacity of this essential capability to generate competencies in efficient consumer response (ECR) and environmental management (EM) are examined. These competencies have attracted the attention of the retail food industry in its efforts to become more competitive with alternative retail food channels. The results show that firms possessing the essential capability of generating new ideas are more likely to have higher sales per square foot. Ties with suppliers lead to higher sales per square foot through improved environmental practices and more consumer education. Technical assistance helps retail grocers acquire a social competence in environmental management.Agribusiness, Environmental Economics and Policy, Industrial Organization, Marketing,

Exploring firm level market knowledge competence and its implications for the speed and success of export expansion : a mixed methodology study from the software industry

fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

The formulating growth strategy of Aceh port system in Indonesia: An AHP approach

The main objective of this study is to investigate the growth strategy of Aceh’s ports in order to develop a better position of those ports in the dynamic and competitive environment along the Malacca straits. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) approach, this study examines priority perspectives on strategy formulation from 25 individuals representing relevant parties in the Aceh port industry such as government officials, port authorities and managements, experts, academicians and consultants, and port user associations. Six potential strategies related to resources, competencies, market share, opportunity share, cooperation, and competitiveness were examined. The findings show that the resource-based strategy and the competence-based strategy are ranked as first and second important strategy respectively while the opportunity share strategy ranked as the least important strategy. This study provides new insights into the implications of using various strategy formulations for port growth in developing countries and provides a significant practical contribution to the port authorities

Learning Organizations and Their Role in Achieving Organizational Excellence in the Palestinian Universities

The research aims to identify the learning organizations and their role in achieving organizational excellence in the Palestinian universities in Gaza Strip. The researchers used descriptive analytical approach and used the questionnaire as a tool for information gathering. The questionnaires were distributed to senior management in the Palestinian universities. The study population reached (344) employees in senior management is dispersed over (3) Palestinian universities. A stratified random sample of (182) workers from the Palestinian universities was selected and the recovery rate was (69.2%). Statistical analysis (SPSS) program was used for analysis and processing the data. The research found the following results: there is a fair degree of approval on "cognitive dimension", there is a high approval about the importance of "organizational dimension", there is moderately consent of the importance of "Community dimension", there is a large degree of consent about the importance of axis of the "leadership excellence", there is a large degree of consent about the importance of axis of the "service-excellence", there is a fair degree approval about the importance of the axis of "cognitive excellence", and there is a moderately consent of the importance of "Organizational Excellence". The research found a group of recommendations including: the need to develop appropriate strategies for the University, employ modern technology in information systems, in addition to provide appropriate environment that achieve learning organizations, develop technological infrastructure, adopt universities for knowledge management in the academic and administrative departments because knowledge is the core of the work of these departments, create technological incubators in universities to adopt excellence academic research projects, and protected them, support them, and market them. Establishing of centers of excellence for scientific research in the university.The need for cooperation and coordination between local, Arab and international universities for the exchange of knowledge, information, and participation programs and training courses, as it provides an opportunity to develop the capabilities and skills of personnel and expertise

Toward a process theory of entrepreneurship: revisiting opportunity identification and entrepreneurial actions

This dissertation studies the early development of new ventures and small business and the entrepreneurship process from initial ideas to viable ventures. I unpack the micro-foundations of entrepreneurial actions and new ventures’ investor communications through quality signals to finance their growth path. This dissertation includes two qualitative papers and one quantitative study. The qualitative papers employ an inductive multiple-case approach and include seven medical equipment manufacturers (new ventures) in a nascent market context (the mobile health industry) across six U.S. states and a secondary data analysis to understand the emergence of opportunities and the early development of new ventures. The quantitative research chapter includes 770 IPOs in the manufacturing industries in the U.S. and investigates the legitimation strategies of young ventures to gain resources from targeted resource-holders.Open Acces

Dynamic Capabilities and their Indirect Impact on Firm Performance

This paper investigates the relationship between dynamic capabilities and firm performance. In particular it addresses the question of whether dynamic capabilities impact directly or indirectly on performance. Using data from manufacturing firms, the paper articulates and measures dynamic capabilities as a multi-dimensional construct with three underlying factors: coordination, learning and strategic competitive response. Then, structural equation modelling is employed to explore the relationships among dynamic capabilities, functional competences and firm performance. Empirical findings suggest that dynamic capabilities are antecedents to functional competences which in turn have a significant effect on performance. Direct effects on performance are found to be insignificant. Furthermore, similar effects seem to hold for both higher and lower levels of environmental dynamism. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.Dynamic capabilities; functional competences; firm performance; indirect impact

Trends of Palestinian Higher Educational Institutions in Gaza Strip as Learning Organizations

The research aims to identify the trends of Palestinian higher educational institutions in Gaza Strip as learning organizations from the perspective of senior management in the Palestinian universities in Gaza Strip. The researchers used descriptive analytical approach and used the questionnaire as a tool for information gathering. The questionnaires were distributed to senior management in the Palestinian universities. The study population reached (344) employees in senior management is dispersed over (3) Palestinian universities. A stratified random sample of (182) employees from the Palestinian universities was selected and the recovery rate was (69.2%). Statistical analysis (SPSS) program was used for analysis and processing the data. The study found the following results: There is an agreement about: the importance of the focus of "organizational structure" with an average approval, the importance of "technological infrastructure" axis with high approval, and the importance of "strategic" with an average approval. The results concluded that the study sample agree on the importance of "organizational dimension" highly. The results showed that the sample believe that the "strategic leadership" level in the universities got medium-approval. There is a fair level agreement about the axis of interest "teams / committees". There is an agreement about the importance of the "human dimension" moderately. The results showed that the sample is highly agreed about the importance of focus of the "knowledge management", and the focus of the "continuing education". They agreed weakly to somewhat about the importance of the focus of "scientific research", moderately agree about the importance of the center of "institutional culture", agree moderately on the importance of "cognitive dimension". The results showed that the sample largely agree on the importance of the focus of "strategic partnerships and alliances". They agree highly on the axis "keep up with the labor market" and on the focus of the importance of "technology incubators". The results showed that the sample moderately agree about the importance of the theme on "consulting and training", the importance of the focus of "social responsibility", and the focus of the "Community dimension". The study found a group of recommendations including: there is a need to provide suitable environment that achieve learning organizations. There is a need to develop the technological infrastructure (hardware, software, networks, databases, and human skills) because of the great advantages that they offer. The universities need to adopt knowledge management in the academic and administrative departments because knowledge is the core of the work of these departments. The establishment of technology incubators in universities to adopt outstanding university research projects, to protect, to supports, and to market them; furthermore, to develop the capabilities and skills of employees in the field of information technology

Unraveling the process of creative construction and its impact on corporate strategy and the industry structure in turbulent ecosystems

Créée dans les années 50 par l'économiste autrichien Joseph Schumpeter, le terme "Destruction créatrice" suggère que la compétition émergente des nouvelles technologies ferait perdre aux compagnies déjà bien établies, leur position sur le marché ainsi que leur avantage compétitif. Depuis, ce terme et son concept ont évolué. Certains chercheurs avancèrent que les technologies disruptives remplaceraient celles existantes, représentant ainsi un inconvénient aux entreprises historiques et leurs fournisseurs. Cette recherche empirique explore le processus par lequel la construction créatrice (ou la destruction), telle que suggérée par Schumpeter, a eu un effet sur l'industrie des télécommunications et la façon dont cela a changé la stratégie corporative des entreprises et la structure de l'industrie dans le domaine des télécommunications. La relation à l'étude est celle entre les activités intensives de fusions et d'acquisitions, celles des entreprises guidées par les entrepreneurs et managers en matière de technologies. En outre, cette recherche explique tout en le soulignant, le lien entre les acquisitions et l'entrepreneuriat innovateur, la création de nouvelles technologies et le capital-risque, le tout dans un système national d'innovation servant d'écosystème. De plus, elle explore le processus d'intégration de ces technologies acquises afin de créer de nouveaux services, applications et modèles d'affaire convergents. Dans le cadre de cette recherche qualitative, une méthodologie mixte a été employée. Celle-ci est composée principalement de la théorie ancrée (grounded theory) qui permettra de construire puis proposer un modèle théorique et ses propositions, en se basant sur les informations existantes de l'industrie de la télécommunication. Les résultats pourront être appliqués à d'autres industries de haute technologie telles que la biotechnologie, l'aérospatial et la nano technologie. Il s'agit d'une recherche multidisciplinaire suivant les traditions de la stratégie, l'entrepreneuriat et la gestion de la technologie et de l'innovation, qui aura des répercussions sur les chercheurs de même que les professionnels de l'industrie.\ud _____________________________________________________________________________