The impact of market orientation on small firm performance: a configurational approach

PurposeIn this study, the authors examine the influence of market orientation on small firms' performance. The authors theorize that the association between market orientation and small firm performance provides an incomplete picture in a competitive environment. The application of configuration approach which involves simultaneous consideration of market orientation, strategic flexibility and competition intensity is crucial to examine driver of firm performance.Design/methodology/approachThe sample of the research study consists of 272 small firms from an emerging economy, India. Ordinary least squares regression has been used to investigate the hypothesized relationships.FindingsThe authors noted that the three-way interaction between market orientation, strategic flexibility and competition intensity elucidates variance in small firm performance over and above a contingency model and a direct relationship.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings contribute to the existing literature by exhibiting the effect of market orientation on firm performance. The configuration model suggests that small firms can outperform competitors in a lower competitive environment if they have high market orientation and high strategic flexibility investment. To leverage market opportunities and achieve better firm performance, small firms’ owners should analyze the usefulness of current capabilities in a changing competitive environment concurrently and align market orientation to those conditions.Originality/valueThe strategic management and marketing literature suggests that relationship between market orientation and performance is ambiguous. The findings offer insights to managers regarding the appropriate use of strategic flexibility in leveraging the benefits of market orientation in a highly competitive environment. Furthermore, by collecting data from the context of an emerging economy, India, the authors attempt to strengthen the applicability of market orientation in different contexts.

Stereoscopic Planting in Ridge and Furrow Increases Grain Yield of Maize (Zea mays L.) by Reducing the Plant’s Competition for Water and Light Resources

Increasing planting density is an important ways to increase maize yield. A hot topic of conversation in the current research is how to improve crop light efficiency and yield potential by optimizing the cultivation mode under high density planting is a hot topic in current research. Thus, in this study, a field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of stereo-planting patterns on water and the utilization light resource and maize yields. Planting patterns included the conventional flat planting pattern (as the control, CK) and the stereo-planting in ridge and furrow (T). Each planting pattern had three planting densities, i.e., 60,000 plants ha−1 (D1), 75,000 plants ha−1 (D2) and 90,000 plants ha−1 (D3). The results showed that stereo-planting affected the physiological characteristics of plants by changing the spatial distribution of soil moisture. At the silking stage (R1), photosynthetic rate (Pn) of plants on the ridge was similar to CK, and transpiration rate (Tr) was significantly lower than that of CK. Pn of maize in the furrow was significantly higher than that of CK, and Tr was similar to CK. Stereoscopic planting had different effects on intraspecific competition intensity in maize population in different growing stages. In the six-leaf stage (V6), stereo-planting increased competition intensity of maize on the ridge, but lowered that of maize in the furrow by affecting the spatial distribution of soil moisture. During the R1 stage, stereo-planting increased the light transmittance rate within the canopy and eased the plant’s competition for light by reducing plant height and leaf area of maize under three density conditions. Stereo-planting had no effect on grain yield and dry matter accumulation of ridge-planted maize in the later growing stage, but it did increased the dry matter accumulation and grain yield of furrow-planted maize due to the improvement of the light environment and photosynthetic characteristics of the population. In two test years, stereo-planting increased 5.0–11.0% average yield of maize compared to CK under three density conditions. These results indicate that stereo-planting can reduce the plant’s competition for light and water resources and improve its physiological traits of plant by optimizing its spatial distribution of soil moisture and canopy structure, thus further increasing grain yield of maize under high-density planting conditions.

Analyzing the Chinese Telecommunication Industry Based on Oligopoly Game and Dynamic Evolution

In this paper, we consider the impact of the product price, service level and delay parameters on the operation of enterprises in the current Chinese telecommunications industry. A three-oligarch game model is established, where system parameters are taken as important factors affecting the development of the involved companies. By improving their service levels, the three oligarchs could plunder the market of each other, but also enhance the reputation of the industry, thus bringing more communication data usage. In the paper, firstly we analyze the static Nash equilibrium, especially the impacts of competition intensity and service cost coefficiency. Then, we analyze the stability and evolution behavior of the system under the dynamic game. We found that the increase of competition intensity and cost coefficiency has adverse effects on the stability region. Finally, we show that a delay decision of a single company has a positive impact on its own profits, but not conducive to its own stability region and the profits of the opposing oligarchs, nor to the total profit.

Peculiarities of formation of competitive strategy of the enterprises of flour-milling branch of Ukraine

The article deals with the peculiarities of formation of competitive strategy of the enterprises of flour-milling branch of Ukraine. The paper substantiates the necessity to determine the stage of the life cycle of the industry in the process of formation of the competitive strategy. The market analysis of flour-milling industry of Ukraine is carried out on indicators: size of the market, commodity nomenclature, buyers and their behavior, raw material base and intensity of competition. The paper determines that the flour-milling industry of Ukraine is at the stage of growth and has a number of tendencies, such as: decrease in sales volumes, increase in export volumes, standardization of products and average level of competition intensity. The following stages of the life cycle of the industry are studied: introduction, growth, maturity and decline. The paper proves the necessity of distinguishing the stage of renewal in the life cycle of the industry, which is implemented on the basis of modern technologies. The practical significance of the research consists in developing recommendations for choosing a competitive strategy of the flour mill enterprise in accordance with the stage of the life cycle of the industry. The enterprises of the flour-milling industry of Ukraine, in accordance with the stage of the life cycle of the industry are recommended to form competitive advantages on the basis of the concept of "lean production".

The Influence of Marketing Innovations on Firm Performance under Different Market Environments: Evidence from China

The adoption of marketing innovations can contribute to the sustainability of a firm. However, research on the types of marketing innovations and their effects is limited. The purpose of this study is to analyze the dimensions of marketing innovations, their effects on firm performance, and how market environmental factors moderate those effects. Based on an analysis of the literature, this study discovered two types of marketing innovations and established a model to explain the dynamics of marketing innovation and firm performance under different market environments. Empirical data were collected and used to validate the model. Results show that both market-driven and market-driving innovations significantly contribute to a firm’s performance. Moreover, their effects are significantly moderated by competition intensity and technological turbulence but not demand uncertainty. This study contributes to the literature because it elaborates the conceptualization of marketing innovation and presents the dynamics of marketing innovation, market environment, and firm performance. It also provides practical implications on how firms can utilize marketing innovations to achieve business sustainability.

TFP determinants in the manufacturing sector: the case of Ecuadorian firms

Purpose Using a large firm-level data set, this paper examines total factor productivity (TFP) and its determinants in the Ecuadorian manufacturing sector in the period 2007–2018. Design/methodology/approach I analyze the role played by traditional TPF determinants, including internal firm characteristics, international trade activities, financial constraints and competition intensity. I contribute to the literature by presenting quantile regression results. Moreover, I analyze industry patterns, distinguishing between industries according to their technological intensity (following the organisation for economic co-operation and development classification). Findings My results confirm that firm age is positively related to TFP level but negatively related to TFP growth. I also find that being an exporter and an importer at the same time is associated with higher TFP levels and that this effect is higher than when being only an exporter or an importer. Additionally, l find that credit is positively related to TFP levels. Finally, I find that more competition is positively related to productivity in lower quantiles of output. Practical implications The results are the source of tools to propose policy recommendations, which are stated in the present document. Originality/value This paper aims to reopen the debate of firm productivity determinants in a developing country such as Ecuador. The authors use a set of covariates less analyzed in this issue.