Response strategy to environment context factors using a lean and agile approach: Implications for firm performance

Based on the environment-strategy performance perspective and dynamic capabilities framework, we develop a theoretical model and hypotheses specifying how supply chain collaboration as a response to environment context factors – competitive intensity, supply uncertainty, technological turbulence and market turbulence, using a lean and agile strategy may influence firm performance. We test the model using partial least square structural equation modelling on data collected from a field survey with responses from 152 manufacturing firms representing a variety of industries. Empirical findings generally support the relationship between collaboration and firm performance using a lean and agile strategy. Also, for firms in industries that face environments characterised by high supply uncertainty and competitive intensity with, technological turbulence, the study finds evidence of a direct relationship between these environmental factors and supply chain collaboration. The findings provide an initial strategic response framework for appropriately aligning a lean and agile supply chain strategy through collaboration with environment context factors to achieve firm performance improvements.     

从比较优势学说看我国就业增长

从比较优势学说理论来看,我国应该大力发展劳动密集型产业,以获取比较优势,但从我国出口产品的现状及存在问题来看,我国似乎更应该大力发展高新技术产业以提高出口产品的附加值.本文对这一矛盾形成的原因和对策进行探讨分析,并提出相应对策.     

世界贸易组织：优势、挑战与前景

本文探讨了世界贸易组织的优势和面临的挑战，并对其发展前景作了展望。作者认为，与过去的国际贸易组织和关贸总协定相比，世界贸易组织具有许多优势，世界经济联系越来越紧密、冷战后各国对经济安全的重视、世界经济多极化的发展、发展中国家贸易政策的自由化和自身较完善的机制等都是其优势所在。但同时世界贸易组织也面临着各国经济摩擦加剧、发达国家贸易保护主义抬头、区域经济集团剧增和自身机制尚存在缺陷等挑战。基于以上分析，作者对世界贸易组织的未来前景持谨慎的乐观态度，认为世界贸易组织不会象国际贸易组织那样中途夭折，也不会象关贸总协定那样软弱被动，它将在成员国之间不断的冲突与妥协中存在并发挥比较强有力的作用。     

从创新中塑造企业核心竞争力

在市场边界瞬息万变的复杂商业环境下 ,只有真正具有核心竞争力的企业才可能驾驭市场 ,实现可持续发展。而核心竞争力来自于不断的创新 ,企业的核心竞争力要从技术、产品、管理和营销的创新中加以创造     

国家竞争力评价理论与方法述评

概述了国际竞争力研究中关于国家竞争力评价方法的种类与特点 ,并对各评价法进行了评论与比较。重点对IMD和WEF两权威机构的评价法进行比较和评价。     

对组织学习、核心竞争能力、战略柔性与企业竞争绩效的理论剖析与实证研究 --探索中国企业增强动态竞争优势之路

在当前超强竞争时代,组织学习、核心竞争能力和战略柔性,越来越成为企业竞争的焦点问题,成为企业营造持久的动态竞争优势的战略武器.本文在对前人有关研究进行回顾、总结和归纳的基础上,开创性地把企业核心竞争能力划分为技术能力、市场营销能力和整合能力这三个关键构成要素,识别出组织学习的三个关键维度,深入剖析了战略柔性的内涵与本质,并在此基础上,论述了它们之间的互动关系及其对企业竞争绩效的影响.最后,本文以来自中国企业的实际调研数据为基础,运用基于偏最小二乘法的结构方程模型(SEM),对上述问题进行了实证分析,剖析了本项研究对中国企业管理的启示.     

The impact of supply chain management practices on competitive advantage and organizational performance

Effective supply chain management (SCM) has become a potentially valuable way of securing competitive advantage and improving organizational performance since competition is no longer between organizations, but among supply chains. This research conceptualizes and develops five dimensions of SCM practice (strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, level of information sharing, quality of information sharing, and postponement) and tests the relationships between SCM practices, competitive advantage, and organizational performance. Data for the study were collected from 196 organizations and the relationships proposed in the framework were tested using structural equation modeling. The results indicate that higher levels of SCM practice can lead to enhanced competitive advantage and improved organizational performance. Also, competitive advantage can have a direct, positive impact on organizational performance.     

An exploratory study of manufacturing strategy practices of machinery manufacturing companies in India

This paper presents findings of a survey on manufacturing strategy practices adopted by the Indian machinery manufacturing companies (IMMC). Based on the survey, three companies have been selected for detailed case studies. Their experiences in the manufacturing strategy process are analyzed. Although the companies represented diversity in terms of product type, sales volume, and geographic location, they share several commonalties including use of advanced manufacturing technologies and use of several improvement techniques. The process of strategy formulation varied among the companies in terms of participants, complexity and degree of formalization. Competitive priorities, order winners and critical success factors are also identified for these companies. Based on strategic manufacturing issues, manufacturing competence index and business performance index for the companies has been worked out.     

产业集群:提升天津滨海新区竞争力的战略选择

产业集群的研究已经成为地区或国家竞争力研究以及区域经济研究的热点.在发达国家,基于产业集群而形成的集群经济早已成为区域经济的重要板块和亮点.本文通过对产业集群理论的回顾以及对产业集群竞争优势的研究,深入思考天津滨海新区所特有的经济条件和发展优势,提出了为提升区域竞争力、加快实施产业集群的经济发展战略.     

The older the bolder: Does relative age among peers influence children’s preference for competition?

Having been relatively old at school tends to have a long lasting positive effect on professional achievement, in particular in competitive environments (sports, politics). We investigate the roots of this pattern and study whether the relative age position of children at school plays a role in shaping their preference for competition. We run a controlled experiment in high schools across two states in Australia. Our participants are students who are the very oldest or very youngest in their classroom. We elicit their preference for competition using the Niederle and Vesterlund (2007) task and find evidence of an effect of relative age. This effect is concentrated on male students. We find no differences in self-confidence, and risk attitudes between relatively old and young students. These results suggest that the observed pattern may come from pure preference for competition.