scholarly journals COST LEADERSHIP STRATEGY, COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, AND PERFORMANCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF MILK PROCESSING FIRMS IN KENYA

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-76
Author(s):  
Paul G. Kimiti ◽  
Stephen M. A. Muathe ◽  
Elishiba M. Murigi
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Scale Economies ◽  
Economies Of Scope ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Milk Processing ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Purpose of the study: Cost leadership strategy is driven by economies of scale, economies of scope, and operational efficiency is a remedy to a performance where firms are facing high costs. This study sought to investigate the influence of cost leadership strategy on the performance of milk processing firms in Kenya through the lens of competitive advantage as a mediator. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive and explanatory non-experimental research designs. It was a census of all 29 milk processing firms registered with Kenya Dairy Board as of June 2019. Sampling was done using proportionate stratified random sampling technique and data was collected using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. The analysis was done using means, standard deviations, and regression. Main Findings: The findings showed that a cost leadership strategy had a positive and significant effect on the performance of milk processing firms in Kenya with a competitive advantage partially mediating the relationship. The constituent measures of cost leadership strategy namely economies of scale, economies of scope, and operational efficiency accounted for 40.1% of the variation in firm performance. Applications of this study: This study provides suggestions for firms to manage costs and therefore improve performance. This is by increasing the size of operations, expanding into related business areas, and improving operational processes. Novelty/originality of this study: The study examines the influence of cost leadership strategy in a new context of milk processing firms in Kenya. It also incorporates a competitive advantage as a significant variable affecting the relationship between costs and performance.  

scholarly journals Cost Leadership Strategy: A New Game Strategy for Competitive Advantage in Milk Processing Firms in Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (23) ◽  
pp. 296
Author(s):  
Paul G. Kimiti ◽  
Stephen M. A. Muathe ◽  
Elishiba M. Murigi
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Economies Of Scope ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Milk Processing ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Competitive advantage refers to the benefits that firms accrue from unique combination of possessions to outperform competitors. To build competitive advantage as a gateway to superior performance, firms pursue various beneficial strategic orientations. This study sought to establish whether cost leadership strategy gave rise to competitive advantage in milk processing firms in Kenya. The authors utilized the indicators of economies of scale, economies of scope and operational efficiency to operationalize cost leadership strategy while competitive advantage was operationalized through capabilities and knowledge. A census of all the milk processing firms was conducted with 148 respondents participating in the study. Data was collected using semi-structured self-administered questionnaires and subsequently analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study concluded that cost leadership strategy was a source of competitive advantage for the milk processors. It therefore recommends pursuit of cost leadership strategy as a competitive tool. It further recommends building of relevant capabilities and protection of tacit knowledge by firms as foundational blocks for competitive advantage.

scholarly journals Nexus between Cost Leadership Strategy and Performance: Fact or Fallacy in Milk Processing Firms in Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Paul G. Kimiti ◽  
Stephen M.A. Muathe ◽  
Elishiba M. Murigi
Keyword(s):  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Economies Of Scope ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Milk Processing ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Food Processing Sector ◽  
The Government ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Milk processing firms as a constituent of the food processing sector play a crucial function both economically and nutritionally. However, performance in the industry continues to be impended by high costs leading to low profitability margins, decline in output and collapse of some firms while others show stunted growth. It is hypothesized that this situation can be remedied by pursuing cost leadership strategy through economies of scale, economies of scope and operational efficiency. Extant literature however is scanty on how this strategy is employed by milk processing firms in Kenya with studies done failing to focus on how the firms manage costs as a driver for better performance. This has made it difficult to determine whether the hypothesized effect is a fact or fallacy. This study thus was an investigation of the effect of cost leadership strategy on performance of milk processing firms in Kenya. It was anchored on the balanced scorecard model complemented by the resource based view and capability based view theories. The study empirically examined the relationship using data from milk processing firms in Kenya obtained from a sample of 168 key respondents. The findings showed that cost leadership strategy had a positive and significant effect on performance of milk processing firms in Kenya. The study recommends that milk processors improve their performance by cutting costs through measures to increase their scale of operations, expand into related business areas and improve operational processes. The government and other the regulatory bodies should implement corresponding supportive policies and reforms.

PORTER'S GENERIC STRATEGIES AND FIRM PERFORMANCE IN PETROLEUM MARKETING COMPANIES: A CASE STUDY OF VIVO ENERGY, NAIROBI, KENYA

2021 ◽  
pp. 98-112
Author(s):  
Novah Omboga ◽  
Paul Machoka
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Focus Strategy ◽  
Generic Strategies ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Porter's Generic Strategies ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

ABSTRACT The main objective of the study was to establish the influence of Porter's generic strategies and firm performance in petroleum marketing companies using Vivo Energy Limited as a case study. The business environment in emerging economies has witnessed intense competition among firms. Petroleum marketing companies in Kenya have had to face such conditions in a competitive environment prompting the firms to develop strategies that match their capabilities to market demands. The specific objectives of the study were: to examine how leadership cost strategy and; focus strategy affect the firm performance of Vivo Energy Limited. The study was premised on the; resource-based view, competitive advantage and contingency theories. This study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 237 employees at Vivo Energy Limited. Stratified proportion sampling was used to obtain a sample of 108 respondents. Questionnaires were used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to determine the relationship between the study variables. Pearson correlation analysis was carried out to establish the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was checked to reveal the overall model significance. The study established that there was a positive relationship between the cost leadership strategy and firm performance. Analysis also revealed that focus strategy had a substantial positive correlation, establishing that focus strategy and firm performance are fundamentally related, and that the variation in firm performance can be explained by a unit change in focus strategy. The study recommended that the management of Vivo Energy Limited should adopt cost leadership strategy that is focused on gaining competitive advantage byselling their products at average prices to earn higher profits than competitors in the sector or below the average industry prices to gain market share. It also recommends that Vivo Energy should consider employing focus strategies that are concentrated on narrow segment aimed at achieving cost advantage or differentiation. Keyword: Cost leadership, Firm Performance, Focus strategy, Generic Strategies

scholarly journals Sustaining Competitive Advantage in Prima Sakti

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 127
Author(s):  
Kristin Handoyo ◽  
John J. O. I. Ihalauw
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Learning Effect ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Capacity Utilization ◽  
Scale Economies ◽  
Economies Of Scope ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Metal Stamping ◽  
Plastic Injection

Didirikan pada tahun 1993, Prima Sakti adalah sebuah perusahaan metal stamping dan plastic injection parts. Setelah lebih dari dua dekade, perusahaan ini telah berkembang menjadi sebuah perusahaan yang kompleks dalam hal ukuran, pasar dan produk. Penelitian kualitatif ini dipandu oleh sejumlah teori sebagai landasan dan menggunakan triangulasi data. Hasil dan pembahasan menunjukkan adanya perkembangan perusahaan dari sistem made-to-order menjadi sistem hybrid antara sistem made-to-order dan made-to-stock untuk memaksimalkan kapasitas dalam menerapkan cost leadership. Target pasar juga meluas dalam hal melanjutkan penetrasi pasar, pengembangan pasar dan pengembangan produk. Hasil dan pembahasan juga mengindikasi bahwa untuk mendapatkan keunggulan kompetitif, perusahaan mengintegrasi strategi cost leadership dan differentiation. Sebagai penutup, peneliti mengusulkan sebuah teori-mini yang didasarkan pada sejumlah variabel antara lain reputasi perusahaan, kualitas produk, pelayanan, learning effect, economies of scale, economies of scope dan capacity utilization yang mungkin memengaruhi keunggulan kompetitif untuk diuji secara kuantitatif.

Intentional Cannibalization, Radical Innovation, and Performance: A Comparison of Chinese and Western Enterprises in China

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 40-58
Author(s):  
Saeed Samiee ◽  
Maria Sääksjärvi ◽  
Nükhet Harmancioǧlu ◽  
Erik Jan Hultink
Keyword(s):  
Radical Innovation ◽  
Marketing Strategies ◽  
Chinese Firms ◽  
Chinese Enterprises ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Subsequent Performance ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Research contrasting the marketing strategies of foreign and domestic firms within local markets is scarce but is of critical importance to both types of firms. This research examines how intentional cannibalization (IC) functions in Western and Chinese enterprises operating in China and evaluates IC’s impact on radical innovation and subsequent performance while accounting for the moderating effects of cost leadership and differentiation strategies. The investigation uncovers important marketing strategy concerns for firms competing in emerging markets such as China. The results demonstrate that IC on its own correlates with radical innovation for Western firms, but not for Chinese firms. For Chinese firms, the link between IC and radical innovation becomes significant only in combination with a cost leadership strategy. For Western firms, the link between IC and radical innovation is strengthened when these firms pursue a differentiation strategy and, in contrast to Chinese firms, radical innovation mediates the effect between IC and performance. Thus, the way IC and radical innovation affect performance varies across Western and Chinese enterprises. These findings bolster and extend research regarding strategies of local and nonlocal firms in home markets.

scholarly journals The Effects of Business Strategy and Inventory on the Relationship between Sales Manipulation and Future Profitability

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2377
Author(s):  
Hwa Deuk Yi ◽  
Sambock Park ◽  
Jonghyun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Product Differentiation ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Real Activities Manipulation ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Many researchers have found that real activities manipulation undermines future profitability, because it deviates from normal operating activities. We are interested in sales manipulation, which is one type of real activities manipulation relating to corporate sustainability. First, we empirically examine whether the effects of sales manipulation on future profitability differ according to the strategies of a firm. Next, we divide sales manipulation as a type of real activities manipulation and optimal sales manipulation and then examine how the two types of sales manipulation affect future profitability. Finally, we examine how the effects of optimal sales manipulation on future profitability differ according to the firm’s strategies. The empirical findings show that the association between sales manipulation and future profitability is more negative (−) for a product differentiation strategy than for a cost leadership strategy. Further, the sales manipulation performed by firms with a high proportion of the starting inventory and a decrease in the inventory during the current year has a positive (+) impact on future profitability. Our results contribute to the literature on business strategy by presenting evidence that core management activities are related to future financial performance, according to the business strategy. In addition, our research shows that sales manipulation can turn into an optimal operating activity, depending on the firm’s situation.

scholarly journals Open innovation in the context of organisational strategy

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Walecka-Jankowska ◽  
Joanna Zimmer
Keyword(s):  
Open Innovation ◽  
Corporate Strategy ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Operational Range ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy ◽  
Innovation Processes

Abstract The paper aims to analyse the relationship between different types of corporate strategy and open innovation in the contexts of the age, size and the operational range of enterprises. The research targeted companies in Poland that were surveyed from January to April, using traditional and electronic forms of a questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed based on a 5-point Likert scale. The level of “openness” of innovation processes in an enterprise was determined according to a 3-point scale, namely, a closed innovator, a hybrid or semi-open innovator, and an open innovator. The strategy implemented by an enterprise was classed into main three types used to achieve a competitive advantage, i.e. cost leadership, differentiation or diversification. There is a strong correlation between open innovations, the cost leadership strategy and the differentiation strategy (negative correlation). The relationship between the age, size and the range of a company and the opening of innovative processes was also observed. The research aims to fill the knowledge gap existing in the literature regarding the links between a particular type of strategy and the opening of innovation processes.

scholarly journals An Empirical Study of Strategic Positioning and Production Efficiency

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsihui Chang ◽  
Guy D. Fernando ◽  
Arindam Tripathy
Keyword(s):  
Production Efficiency ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Strategic Positioning ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Listed Firms ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Brand Development ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

We examine the relationship between strategic positioning of firms and their production efficiency. Firms with competitive advantages based on either cost leadership or differentiation are able to outperform their competitors. Firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy seek to be the lowest cost producer, primarily by minimizing inputs for a given level of output, thus concentrating on increasing the efficiency of their production processes. On the other hand, firms that pursue a differentiation strategy rely on innovation, brand development, marketing, and so forth to achieve competitive advantages; therefore such firms do not place high emphasis on production efficiency. Thus the importance of production efficiency for the success of a firm depends on the strategic positioning of the firm. We apply DEA to an archival data for a large sample of publicly listed firms to investigate the importance of production efficiency for firms based on their strategic positioning. We provide empirical evidence that firms pursuing a cost leadership strategy attribute higher importance to production efficiency, while firms pursuing differentiation strategy attribute less importance to production efficiency.

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