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.

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.

The Impact of Strategic Relevance and Assurance of Sustainability Indicators on Investors' Decisions

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mandy M. Cheng ◽  
Wendy J. Green ◽  
John Chi Wa Ko
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Alignment ◽  
Investment Decisions ◽  
Company Strategy ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Nonprofessional Investors ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Strategy Versus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

SUMMARY In this study, we report two 2 × 2 between-subjects experiments that investigate the effect of strategic relevance of reported sustainability information and its assurance on nonprofessional investors' investment decisions. The first experiment manipulates strategic relevance of reported environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators between “high” and “low” by varying the company strategy (sustainability-based differentiation strategy versus cost leadership strategy unrelated to sustainability). The second experiment manipulates the strategic alignment of the ESG indicators (holding strategy constant). We also manipulate the presence (absence) of assurance in both experiments. Results from both experiments document that investors perceive ESG indicators to be more important, and are more willing to invest in the company if ESG indicators have higher strategic relevance. Experiment one also provides evidence that assurance increases investors' willingness to invest to a greater extent when ESG indicators have high relevance to the company strategy. Our findings suggest that the assurance of ESG indicators has a beneficial signaling role in communicating the importance of this reported information to investors.

Evaluation of Hospital Supply Chain Performance During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2022 ◽  
pp. 95-110
Author(s):  
Doni Maryono ◽  
Rita Ambarwati
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Supply Chain Performance ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
The Balanced Scorecard ◽  
New Finding ◽  
The Government ◽  
Almost All

The pandemic has an impact on almost all sectors of people's lives, in the economic, political, and socio-cultural sectors. The government has implemented large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) as an effort to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus. With the PSBB, it causes disruption to the hospital supply chain management. As a step to anticipate the hospital's impact on the PSBB, the hospital needs to evaluate the performance of supply chain management. The purpose of this chapter is to describe the performance evaluation of hospital supply chain management using a balanced scorecard approach. A new finding from this study is to measure the performance of hospitals experiencing various disruptions in their supply chain management caused by the COVID-19 pandemic with a balanced scorecard. The author concludes that measurements with the balanced scorecard approach can provide information about the performance of hospital supply chain management broadly in areas experiencing disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

FATMOLS lodges of Zambia: reaching international travelers

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Marlene M. Reed ◽  
Steven Sikobela
Keyword(s):  
Customer Service ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
First Century ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Original Intention ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
General Business ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Study level/applicabilityUndergraduate.Case overviewThis case deals with a Zambian entrepreneur named Frank Ngambi who had developed several lodges in Ndola and Lusaka, Zambia. His original intention had been to build lodges that would provide inexpensive lodging for domestic travelers. That strategy had succeeded, and the lodges had been so successful that Frank had been able to increase the size of his lodges in both cities. However, by the summer of 2015, Frank had decided to seek the patronage of international travelers. He knew that this change in strategy would be difficult to achieve. After analyzing one of his competitors, the Intercontinental Hotel in Lusaka, he realized that he needed to increase his product offerings and also offer outstanding customer service. One problem in attaining that goal was the fact that there was very little training for human resources involved in the hospitality industry in Ndola where two of his lodges were located. Another problem he faced was figuring out how to market his lodges to international travelers, as he had never sought that segment of the market before.Expected learning outcomesAt the conclusion of the case discussion, the student should be able to apply Michael Porter’s General Business-Level Strategy to the present and anticipated strategies for the FATMOLS Lodges; to identify tactics that would apply to a low cost leadership strategy; to identify tactics that would apply to a differentiation strategy; to discuss reasons tourism has increased in Zambia in the twenty-first century; to analyze the financial strategy used in developing the FATMOLS Lodges; and to develop a plan for moving a company from a low-cost leadership strategy to one of differentiation.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or [email protected] request teaching notes.Subject codeCSS 11: Strategy.

Evaluation of Cost Leadership Strategy in Shipping Enterprises with Simulation Model

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria V. Ferfeli ◽  
Anthi Z. Vaxevanou ◽  
Sakas P. Damianos ◽  
George Maroulis ◽  
Theodore E. Simos
Keyword(s):  
Simulation Model ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

scholarly journals Management Strategies and The Performance of Youth Agri-Businesses in Kenya: A Case of Farm Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-83
Author(s):  
Michelle Wambui Muiruri ◽  
Fr. Paul Mathenge ◽  
Dr. Joseph Ntale
Keyword(s):  
Interest Rates ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Market Price ◽  
Statistical Tool ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Focus Strategy ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Purpose: The general objective of the study is to assess management strategies and performance of youth agribusinesses in Kenya: case of Farm Africa. Three research objectives were used; to find out the effect of differentiation strategy on the performance of youth led agribusiness at Farm Africa, to establish the effect of cost leadership strategy on the performance of youth led agribusiness at Farm Africa, and to assess the effect of focus strategy on the performance of youth led agribusiness at Farm Africa.Methodology: This study adopted a case study research design. The study population was all the 30 youth who participates in agribusinesses. Census method was then used since the population was manageable. This research study used questionnaires as the primary research instruments for data collection. A statistical tool known as Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20) (Park, 2015) were used for the process of data analysis. The data that was collected was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation analysis method as well as regression analysis.Findings: The study concludes that differentiation costs had positive significant relationship with the performance of agribusinesses at Farm Africa. The study concludes that cost leadership strategy led in the improvement of performance of agribusinesses at Farm Africa. The study concludes that majority of the farmers that were studied adhered to focus strategy because it helped them in improving overall performance of agribusinesses at Farm Africa. The study concludes that finance was a key determining factor in the performance of agribusinesses.Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study recommends that farmers at Farm Africa need to adhere to product differentiation such that they cannot easily be copied by rivals. The study recommends that farmers should have flexible product costs together with water tight market price strategies that could promote performance. The study recommends that in order to enhance focus strategy, farmers should strive to exploit differences in cost behavior in market segments in order to improve agribusiness performance. The study recommends that policy makers should come up with farmer friendly financial policies that will cushion farmers from high interest rates charged by financial institutions such as MFIs and commercial banks.

scholarly journals Market Orientation And Performance: Does Organizational Strategy Matter?

2011 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamalesh Kumar ◽  
Ram Subramanian ◽  
Karen Strandholm
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Market Orientation ◽  
Customer Orientation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
Competitor Orientation ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

Data from a survey of 159 hospitals was used to test the relationship between market orientation and firm performance for low cost and differentiation strategies. Hospitals pursuing a differentiation strategy had stronger market orientation than those pursuing a cost leadership strategy. Market orientation had a more positive impact on the performance of organizations pursuing a differentiation strategy than on those pursuing a cost leadership strategy. In the cost leader group, the inter-functional coordination component of market orientation significantly affected firm performance, while in the differentiator group the customer orientation and competitor orientation components of market orientation had significant impact on performance. The implications of these findings for managers also are discussed.

scholarly journals The Impact of Cost Leadership Strategy and Financial Management Control Systems on Organizational Performance in Pakistan’s Services Sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Ahmed Imran Hunjra ◽  
Farida Faisal ◽  
Faiza Gulshion
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Control Systems ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Management Control Systems ◽  
Cost Leadership ◽  
Services Sector ◽  
Leadership Strategy ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Cost Leadership Strategy

This study gauges the impact of cost leadership strategy and financial management controls on financial performance of firms in Pakistan’s services sector. Drawing on a sample of banking, insurance and investment firms listed on the Karachi Stock Exchange, we find that cost leadership strategy and financial management control systems have a significant and positive impact on financial performance. This implies that both factors should be aligned in the long term.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document