A non-parametric analysis of competitiveness efficiency: The relevance of firm size and the configuration of competitive pillars

This study employs a DEA model with a single constant input to analyze the competitiveness performance of a unique sample of 103 knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) firms from Hungary, Spain, Colombia and Costa Rica for the year 2017. Also, we assess how the configuration of competitive pill...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Lafuente González, Esteban Miguel|||0000-0001-5889-7656, Leiva Bonilla, Juan Carlos, Moreno-Gómez, Jorge, Szerb, László
Formato: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Recursos:Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
Repositorio:UPCommons. Portal del coneixement obert de la UPC
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:upcommons.upc.edu:2117/130569
Acesso em linha:https://hdl.handle.net/2117/130569
https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.brq.2019.02.002
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palavra-chave:Benchmarking (Management)
Competition
Competitiveness
System dynamics
DEA
Benchmarking
Referenciació (Economia)
Competència econòmica
Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Economia i organització d'empreses::Competitivitat i innovació
Descrição
Resumo:This study employs a DEA model with a single constant input to analyze the competitiveness performance of a unique sample of 103 knowledge-intensive business service (KIBS) firms from Hungary, Spain, Colombia and Costa Rica for the year 2017. Also, we assess how the configuration of competitive pillars—strengths and weaknesses—impacts efficiency and how firm size moderates this relationship. The mean efficiency scores by which the competitiveness output can be optimized is 47.43%. The results suggest that the configuration of competitive pillars has important implications for efficiency analyses. For small businesses, competitive-enhancing actions should focus on mitigating competitive weaknesses that are detrimental to efficiency. Also, a configuration of competitive pillars in which one or various competitive strengths prevail is more beneficial for small businesses. Managerial tools such as the proposed competitiveness measure may offer useful information on what strategic actions can contribute to optimize business competitiveness.