Strategic Behavior and Development Sequences in Producer Service Businesses

1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 887-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
W B Beyers ◽  
D P Lindahl
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Advanced Economies ◽  
Strategic Behaviors ◽  
Key Variables ◽  
Service Businesses ◽  
Depth Interviews

Though it is widely recognized that the producer services are among the fastest growing industries in advanced economies, there is little research documenting development experiences of establishments within these industries. In this paper we address this topic by illustrating types of strategic behaviors exhibited by producer service firms and the effectiveness of these behaviors, developing a taxonomy of firm segments, and relating types of strategic behavior to this taxonomy. The paper is based on results from 444 in-depth interviews. Key variables addressed in the analysis are drawn from the industrial sociology and business strategy literature and include organizational structure, age, dynamics of client and geographic markets, and changes in services supplied.

The Producer Service Complex of Edmonton: The Role and Organization of Producer Services Firms in a Peripheral City

1993 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 761-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Z Michalak ◽  
K J Fairbairn
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Main Mode ◽  
Capitalist Production ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Organizational Linkages ◽  
Mode Of Production

In this paper the authors examine the subcontracting behaviour of producer service firms in a peripheral metropolitan city. The objective of this empirical investigation is to uncover spatial and organizational linkages of producer services that have developed in response to changes in the industrial organization of a modern capitalist production system. The focus is on three types of linkages, namely subcontracting, inputs of producer services, and inputs of goods and final services. The data collected through a survey of producer services in Edmonton reveal that subcontracting rather than internalization is the main mode of production. Therefore the producer service sector can play an important role as a supplier of indigenous higher-order services and innovations, inducing better productivity rates in other industrial sectors including resource-oriented local producers.

The Current State of Knowledge in International Business in Producer Services

1997 ◽  
Vol 29 (7) ◽  
pp. 1153-1174 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bagchi-Sen ◽  
J Sen
Keyword(s):  
Western Europe ◽  
The United States ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Entry Modes ◽  
Competitive Strategies ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Definition Of

In this paper the authors review recent research on the characteristics and operations of service multinationals. To provide an understanding of the determinants of internationalization, entry modes, and strategies of product and market diversification, examples are taken from producer service firms with specific emphasis upon accounting and advertising services. The competitive advantage of service multinationals in the United States and Western Europe is at the core of most discussion; however, the competitive strategies of the Japanese advertising firms vis-à-vis their Western counterparts are discussed to highlight interorganizational differences. This paper is organized into five sections: the definition of services and the determinants of growth in producer services in the industrially advanced nations; theoretical explanations of international investments in services; empirical research on the determinants of internationalization, entry mode, and business strategies of service firms; industry-specific examples of competitiveness in accounting and advertising; and implications for future research.

The Performance Implications of Fit among Business Strategy, Marketing Organization Structure, and Strategic Behavior

2005 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 49-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric M. Olson ◽  
Stanley F. Slater ◽  
G. Tomas M. Hult
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Strategic Behavior ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Organization Structure ◽  
Business Strategies ◽  
Marketing Organization ◽  
Contingency Perspective ◽  
Strategic Behaviors ◽  
Moderation Model

Adopting a contingency perspective, the authors present and test a fit-as-moderation model that posits that overall firm performance is influenced by how well the marketing organization's structural characteristics (i.e., formalization, centralization, and specialization) and strategic behavioral emphases (i.e., customer, competitor, innovation, and cost control) complement alternative business strategies (i.e., prospector, analyzer, low-cost defender, and differentiated defender). Responses from 228 senior marketing managers provide support for the model and demonstrate that each strategy type requires different combinations of marketing organization structures and strategic behaviors for success.

Trade and Location of Producer Services: A Canadian Perspective

1987 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 597-611 ◽  
Author(s):  
W J Coffey ◽  
M Polèse
Keyword(s):  
Service Sector ◽  
Location Theory ◽  
Urban System ◽  
Specific Reference ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Service Activities ◽  
Canadian Perspective ◽  
Locational Decision

The increasing importance of the service sector in modern economies necessitates the elaboration of a body of location theory applicable to service activities. An attempt is made in this paper to present elements of such a locational framework, with specific reference to producer services. Patterns of trade and of location are complementary aspects of the same problem. Thus three distinct channels through which producer services are traded are examined: direct and intrafirm exports by producer-service firms, and intrafirm exports by manufacturing firms. The last two ‘invisible’ channels, in particular, have important implications for the locational decision. A model for the locational analysis of producer-service establishments is then posited. The producer-service location problem may be conceptualized essentially as one of a trade-off between market-pull factors, specialized labour needs, and urban externalities. Last, the location of producer-service activities within the Canadian urban system is examined. These activities are found to be highly concentrated, but not in a simple hierarchical pattern, suggesting the importance of both specialized labour pools and urban externalities.

Producer-Service Firms in a Declining Manufacturing Region

1989 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
J W Harrington ◽  
J R Lombard
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
New York State ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Employment Structure ◽  
York State ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Service Activity ◽  
Service Employment

An overview is provided of producer-service activity (intermediate services, sold primarily to businesses) in metropolitan Buffalo (NY) from 1970 to 1986. This period brought drastic structural changes to the region's economy, such that nonmanufacturing activity in general took a far greater share of employment and output than before. After a conceptual and empirical background is given to the study of producer services, the changes in sectoral employment structure in western New York State is presented, including producer-service employment on an industry-by-industry basis. Then, the intrametropolitan location preferences of producer-service establishments are examined. Finally, questions are addressed regarding the role that these industries play in bringing income into the region.

Should I Stay or Should I Go: Predicting Advanced Producer Services Firm Expansion and Contraction

2018 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary P. Neal ◽  
Ben Derudder ◽  
Peter J. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Model ◽  
Degree Sequence ◽  
Location Decisions ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Firm Location ◽  
Producer Services ◽  
Location Selection ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Advanced Producer Services ◽  
Advanced Producer Service

The literature on firm location selection allows us to retrospectively explain why firms did locate in particular places. However, it remains challenging to prospectively predict where they will locate. In this article, we propose a simple conceptual model of firm location decisions, then operationalize it using the ordinal stochastic degree sequence model (oSDSM). We use this model to predict whether 104 advanced producer service firms will expand, contract, or maintain their presence in each of 525 cities, and find that these predictions are accurate in more than 86 percent of cases. We conclude with suggestions for further refinement of this model.

Proactive Value Co-Creation via Structural Ambidexterity: Customer Success Management and the Modularization of Frontline Roles

2021 ◽  
pp. 109467052199756
Author(s):  
Bryan Hochstein ◽  
Nawar N. Chaker ◽  
Deva Rangarajan ◽  
Duane Nagel ◽  
Nathaniel N. Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Value Creation ◽  
Functional Role ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Study Analysis ◽  
Case Study Analysis ◽  
Multilevel Perspective ◽  
Business To Business ◽  
Depth Interviews

An increasing number of business-to-business (B2B) service firms have transitioned to recurring revenue-based solutions. These subscription B2B solutions are becoming increasingly common, yet offer challenges for long-term renewal if value is not consistently realized by the customer. To address this concern, customer success (CS) management has emerged. CS management is based on regular proactive action taken by the seller to (a) educate, prepare, and engage customers for value co-creation; (b) demonstrate the value delivered by the solution; and (c) provide a channel for advocacy on behalf of customers within the service-providing firm. Our findings highlight the under-researched topic of CS in B2B settings. Specifically, we propose the CS function and role as a structural alternative to within-person (i.e., cross-functional) ambidexterity and emphasize the ability of a CS focus by service firms to complement existing firm operations in value creation efforts. Our case study analysis provides a multilevel perspective (i.e., executive, functional role employees, and customers) via in-depth interviews that offer unique insights on “how parts of the service-sales system work together.” Overall, CS is growing as a practice that propagates value to the customer via ongoing success with solutions while improving service-firm renewal and growth of subscription business.

scholarly journals Knowledge Hubs in the German Urban System: Identifying Hubs by Combining Network and Territorial Perspectives

2011 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 175-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Growe ◽  
Hans H. Blotevogel
Keyword(s):  
Urban System ◽  
Metropolitan Region ◽  
Service Firms ◽  
Public Authorities ◽  
Global Networks ◽  
Metropolitan Regions ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Functional Perspective ◽  
Producer Service ◽  
Advanced Producer Service

Abstract This paper identifies hubs of knowledge-based labour in the German urban system from two perspectives: the importance of a metropolitan region as a place and the importance of a metropolitan region as an organisational node. This combination of a network perspective with a territorial perspective enables the identification of hubs. From the functional perspective, hubs are understood as important nodes of national and global networks, established by flows of people, goods, capital and information as well as by organisational and power relations. From the territorial perspective, hubs are understood as spatial clusters of organisations (firms, public authorities, non-governmental organisations). The functional focus of the paper lies on knowledge-based services. Based on data about employment and multi-branch advanced producer service firms, four main types of metropolitan regions are identified: growing knowledge hubs, stagnating knowledge hubs, stagnating knowledge regions and catch-up knowledge regions. The results show an affinity between knowledge-based work and bigger metropolitan regions as well as an east-west divide in the German urban system.

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