scholarly journals Porter’s Generic Strategies and Performance of Selected Automotive Firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Author(s):  
Louisa Kabure ◽  
Mary Ragui

Every firm operating in a dynamic and competitive environment must employ competitive strategies in order to enhance performance and remain relevant to the market. The automotive industry in Kenya has experienced shifts within the last couple of years that have disadvantaged automotive firms’ sales and this despite adequate capacity to supply local demand. Consequently, a persistent decline in volume sales has negatively impacted performance of these firms in overall, reducing competition to price wars that are not a viable option in the long run. This study therefore, sought to investigate the effect of Porter’s generic strategies on performance of selected automotive firms in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of cost leadership strategy on the performance of selected automotive firms in Nairobi county, Kenya, to investigate the effect of differentiation strategy on the performance of selected automotive firms in Nairobi county, Kenya and to establish the effect of focus strategy on the performance of selected automotive firms in Nairobi county, Kenya. The scope entailed a study of selected new vehicle firms in the automotive industry in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was anchored on three theories that included the market based view, the resource based view of the firm and Porter’s diamond theory of national advantage. Descriptive research design was adopted. The study used simple random sampling to attain the sample size and data was collected through drop and pick method using semi structured questionnaires. To ensure reliability in the questionnaire, Cronbach’s alpha correlation coefficient was used where a level of above 0.7 confirmed internal consistency. Pilot testing was done on ten respondents and Pearson’s product correlation coefficient was used to check for correlation between the study variables. A multivariate regression model was used to determine the relative importance of each variable to the study. Data collected was presented in graphs, tables and charts and a conclusion of the study drawn. The study revealed that cost leadership was significant in influencing the organizations’ performance. The study also revealed that differentiation affected their organizations’ performance to a great extent. The study also revealed that the focus strategy improved the sales growth in the firms thereby resulting to overall organization performance. The study concluded that cost leadership was significant in influencing the organizations’ performance. The study also concluded that differentiation affected their organizations’ performance to a great extent. The study also concluded that the focus strategy improved the sales growth in the firms thereby resulting to overall organization performance. The study recommended that the government and other policy makers come up with policies and regulations meant to foster innovation in the automotive industry. Policies should also be put in place meant for the creation of an enabling environment for fair and market driven competition to take place. The study recommended that the management of the automotive firms should often review their pricing structures and be geared towards minimizing their operational costs so as to offer cost friendly vehicles to the clients. The study also recommended that the firms’ management ensure they develop quality vehicles and embrace differentiation strategy so as to remain competitive in the market. The study also recommended that the management fully adopt the focus strategy to help in improving the sales growth in the firms thereby resulting to overall organization performance as well as improving on the product innovation which would lead to improved market share.

1970 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-90
Author(s):  
Richard Allen ◽  
Marilyn Helms ◽  
Margaret Takeda ◽  
Charles White

While the use of Porter's generic strategies have been well documented inAmerica and Europe, no studies have assessed their use in Japan. This researchinvestigates if Japanese companies are indeed following Porter's genericstrategies or continuing to follow more traditional "Japanese" managementstrategies. Using a survey to operationalize Porter's generic strategies, Japanesemanagers were questioned about their firm's current strategic practices. Afactor analysis revealed Japanese firms are following only two strategies thatcould be identified as those of Porter. A cost leadership strategy was the mostfrequently used strategy, and the differentiation strategy was used the least.There was no evidence of organizations using a focus strategy. Interestingly,two additional strategies emerged that did not fit Porter's research but are inline with traditional Japanese strategies including a supply chain focus and atraining based strategy.


Author(s):  
Novah Omboga ◽  
Paul Machoka

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


1992 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel F. Jennings ◽  
James R. Lumpkin

This study explored the relationships between the environmental scanning activities of chief executives from a single industry and their organizations' strategies, on the premise that executives employing different types of Porter's generic business-level strategies would use different scanning activities. There were differences in the strategy-scanning linkages. Specifically there are indications that firms with a differentiation strategy tend to employ a scanning activity that places more importance on evaluating opportunities and customer attitudes. Firms with a cost leadership strategy tend to use a scanning activity that evaluates competitive threats and tracks the policies and tactics of competitors.


2014 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Dülger ◽  
G. Alpay ◽  
C. Yılmaz ◽  
M. Bodur

This paper attempts to shed light on the role of learning orientations of firms and their adoption of Porter’s generic strategies on four dependent variables: Behavioral innovativeness, product innovativeness, technological innovativeness and, ultimately, firm performance. Hierarchical regressions were run with data from a random sample of 121 firms operating in Turkey. Findings indicate that internally-focused learning, market-focused learning and differentiation strategy have significant effects on the three innovativeness dimensions. When firm performance is included as the eventual outcome variable into the analysis, internally-focused learning, focus strategy and product innovativeness emerge as its main predictors. In fast-paced, highly unpredictable market environments, managers can make use of these findings to their benefit in terms of elevating their firms’ innovativeness and performance levels.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 45-56
Author(s):  
Frederic Karangirwa ◽  
◽  
Eugenia Nkechi Irechukwu ◽  

The purpose of this study was to examine porter’s generic strategies and market share growth of Skol Brewery in Rwanda. The specific objectives were to: determine effect of cost leadership, differentiation, and market focus on market share growth of Skol Brewery in Rwanda. The target population consists of 287 staff members of Skol Brewery Ltd. The study used simple random and purposive sampling techniques to select a sample of 167 employees. Quantitative data was obtained using questionnaire while a documentary checklist was used to obtain secondary data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for quantitative data analysis while content analysis was used for qualitative analysis. Results on cost leadership show a tight cost in all business activities (mean of 4.333), economies of scale (mean of 3.666), and efficient cost saving for designs (means of 4.000) and effective operational cost reduction (mean of 3.666) were used as a cost leadership component. A positive correlation was found between cost leadership and sales (r=231**, p=0.006), investment rise (r=.159**, p=0.043) and profit margin (r=.174**=0.014).Results on differentiation felt that cost allocated to the control of quality of goods and services (mean of 4.333), effort in reputation management (mean of 4.000), names (mean of 4.833). A positive correlation was between differentiation and sales (r=.274**, p=0.039), investment rise (r=.187, p=0.035) and profit margin (r=.324, p=0.032).Results on market focus found that marketing specification for products (mean of 3.833) is the measurement that has the highest level of application. A positive correlation was between market focus strategy and sales (r=.854**, p=0.018), investment (r=.873**, p=0.035) and profit margin (r=.750**, p=.0.036). The study concludes that there is no significant relationship between porter strategies and market share growth. The study recommends that management of the brewery company should evaluate implementation of cost leadership, conduct a study on market focus to respond to market niches as any gap in customer centric products would yield customer non responsiveness, benchmark differentiation, and hire competent staff to achieve its success. Keywords: Porter’s Generic Strategies, Cost Leadership Strategy, Differentiation Strategy, Market Focus Strategy, Market Share Growth


1970 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-46
Author(s):  
Eonsoo Kim ◽  
Dae-il Nam ◽  
J. L. Stimpert

Although traditional strategic management theory evolved in the context ofbrick and mortar firms operating in a physical space, we propose that Porter's(1980) generic strategy framework is still applicable, albeit in need of somemodification, to competition in the digital age. This study tests that assertionin a sample of Korean online shopping malls. In particular, it explores the followingresearch question: Do Porter's (1980) generic strategies explain performancedifferences across business-to-consumer (B2C) firms?Our results suggest that Porter's generic strategies are applicable to e-businessand that they indeed explain performance differences across firms.Contrary to conventional wisdom, but consistent with the logic of business inthe digital realm, the cost leadership strategy exhibited the lowest performance.Firms pursuing a hybrid cost leadership/differentiation strategy exhibited thehighest performance. Interestingly, when a sub-sample of all firms pursuing thehybrid strategy was analyzed for performance differences by firm type (pureplays vs. clicks-and-bricks), pure plays exhibited superior performance. Ourfindings suggest that cost leadership and differentiation can be combined at thesame time, and must be combined to be successful in e-business.


Vascular ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 149-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bauer E Sumpio

There are many stakeholders in the vascular marketplace from clinicians to hospitals, third party payers, medical device manufacturers and the government. Economic stress, threats of policy reform and changing health-care delivery are adding to the challenges faced by vascular surgeons. Use of Porter's Five Forces analysis to identify the sources of competition, the strength and likelihood of that competition existing, and barriers to competition that affect vascular surgery will help our specialty understand both the strength of our current competition and the strength of a position that our specialty will need to move to. By understanding the nature of the Porter's Five Forces as it applies to vascular surgery, and by appreciating their relative importance, our society would be in a stronger position to defend itself against threats and perhaps influence the forces with a long-term strategy. Porter's generic strategies attempt to create effective links for business with customers and suppliers and create barriers to new entrants and substitute products. It brings an initial perspective that is convenient to adapt to vascular surgery in order to reveal opportunities. Vascular surgery is uniquely situated to pursue both a differentiation and high value leadership strategy.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sirajuddin Omsa ◽  
Ibrahim H. Abdullah ◽  
Hisnol Jamali

Five competitive forces that comprise bargaining power of buyers, bargaining power of suppliers, threat of newentrants, threat of substitute products or services, and intensity of rivalries have been studied by many researchers for several years. However, linking them with Porter’s generic strategy in order to gain financial and market performance in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) context is very rare. The main purpose of this study is to analyze how those fivecompetitive forces affect generic strategies developed by Porter and how the generic strategies affect firm performances. Questionnaire, survey and deep interview were conducted to figure out the implemented generic strategies by the owners of MSMEs of wooden furniture in East Java, Indonesia. Smart partial least square (PLS) was used to analyse the data. The results show that power of buyers (PoB) significantly affects only differentiation strategy (DS), power of supplies (PoS) significantly affects cost leadership strategy (CLS) and focus strategy (FS) but does not significantly affect differentiation strategy (DS), and threat of rivalries (ToR) significantly affects differentiation strategy (DS) and focus strategy (FC). In regards to the relationship between generic strategies and firm performances (FP), the results of this study show that both DS and FS significantly affect FP, while CLS does not significantly affect FP. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the owners of MSMEs wooden furniture in East Java (Indonesia) consider PoB, PoS, and ToR before performing DS and FS to gain much greater firm performances in the future.


Author(s):  
Grace Wanjiru Ngugi ◽  
Esther Gitonga

Pharmaceutical industry has been facing a lot of competition both from the inside and outside the country (importers of raw materials who also manufacture finished product). A report by the Kenya Pharmaceutical Sector Profile in 2018 indicated that imports have been rising sharply and grew by more than 30% between 2017 and 2018 in other sectors but a decline from the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector which could be attributed to the low-quality pharmaceutical products. The aim of this study was to analyze the generic strategies and performance of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nairobi County, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: assess the effect of cost leadership strategy, differentiation strategy and focus strategy on performance of pharmaceutical companies in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was informed by Porter’s Five Forces Model and Resource Based View theory. The study used descriptive research design. The population of this study was all the 22 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nairobi County. The target population was the managers in the pharmaceutical manufacturing companies. The study was a census of all pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nairobi. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was pilot tested to determine its validity and reliability. The study used primary data which was gathered from the managers. Data collected was organized in spreadsheets for the purpose of analysis. It was coded and entered in Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS, Version 22.0) for analysis. Correlation and regression analysis were conducted to find the relationship between the independent and dependent variables. The study found that cost leadership strategy, product differentiation strategy and focus strategy positively and significantly influenced performance of pharmaceutical companies in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study concluded that managing the production expenses enhances business performance because of increased profit value. Also, the study concluded that using technology to automate business operations lowers the cost thus increasing profitability. In addition to that, the study concluded that providing high quality products to customers builds customer loyalty which translates to improved performance. Similarly, the research concluded that lowering prices relative to that of competitors attracts more customers leading to increased sales volume. It was recommended that pharmaceutical firms should always aim at lowering the cost of production to reap optimal profits. However, these products should meet the quality demands in the market. It was also recommended that businesses should conduct customer satisfaction surveys to bridge the niche that may be identified. This way, businesses will be able to offer the relevant products and services and gain customer loyalty which eventually leads to increased profitability. In addition, it was recommended that non price competition strategies such as product packaging should be adopted by pharmaceutical firms to increase profitability. Customers would prefer to buy uniquely packaged products as they appear appealing. Future areas of study should focus on other competitive strategies since the three generic strategies that were identified did not account for 100% of the variation in performance of pharmaceutical firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 176
Author(s):  
Okechukwu Lawrence Emeagwali

In a bid to contribute to the increasing body of extant interdisciplinary research within the antecedents of university performance and strategic management domains, this study investigates the role of generic strategies in the perceived performance of universities. Using a case study of eight Nigerian universities and survey responses from 380 academics and administrative staff from these universities, the study tested four succinct hypotheses using the covariance structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) technique. Findings revealed that while there was a limited link between differentiation strategy and performance, there was a substantially strong link between focus strategy and performance according to the findings. Similarly, findings revealed that respondents from public-private universities perceived their institutions as having the strongest generic strategy-performance connection, followed by respondents from the public sector. The cost leadership-performance path demonstrated no significant effect.


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