Drawing on the resource-based view and transaction cost economics, this study investigates the benefits and costs that might drive the dynamic relationship between an established multinational enterprise's (MNE) diversification into emerging markets and its firm performance. Using an unique dataset of the leading MNEs from the global retailing industry over thirteen years (from 1997 to 2009), we find a persistent inverted U-shaped relationship between diversification into emerging markets and profits. Thus, established MNEs that focus more intensively on a few emerging markets are able to outperform rivals that either decided not to diversify into emerging markets, were reluctant to commit sufficient resources to emerging markets, or diversified intensively into many emerging markets. However, when MNEs market a focused product portfolio, they are able to benefit by diversifying more intensively into various emerging markets. The study concludes with a discussion of established theoretical arguments in the context of emerging markets.
Counterfeiting has become an enormous global challenge for brand owners. Companies recognize that solely legal protection measures are not sufficient to handle this problem. A comprehensive protection concept seems to be necessary to secure their future performance especially in the fast growing Asian markets. Based on experiences of Western brand owners in China, this article provides guidance for companies to develop and implement appropriate strategies to fight against Chinese counterfeiters.
Divestitures have become an important topic on the agenda of many firms, especially during the recent economic downturn. Based upon psychological constructs of cognitions, emotions, and hope, this paper presents a framework to explain how managerial reluctance to divest might evolve in the formation of divestiture decisions and is likely to affect the timing of the divestiture. From this framework, a set of testable propositions is derived and discussed for future empirical research endeavours. The paper concludes that the timing of divestiture decisions can be improved by rationalizing the decision process through the definition of formal divestiture criteria and implementing processes to ensure that divestiture is routinely considered. Moreover, it is important to build managerial and organizational capabilities that recognize divestitures as an unavoidable strategic process to explore future growth opportunities rather than a managerial failure.
Der intensive Wettbewerb in weit gehend gesättigten westlichen Handelsmärkten zwingt viele Manager führender Handelsunternehmen über neue Wachstumsmöglichkeiten nachzudenken. Vor diesem Hintergrund stellt die Diversifikation in neue Handelsformate eine häufig eingeschlagene Wachstumsstrategie auf der Gesamtunternehmensebene dar. Doch die Diversifikation in neue Handelsformate, d.?h. das Zusammenführen von Handelsformaten in einem Portfolio, ist nur unter bestimmten Bedingungen profitabel. Handelsunternehmen sollten die Ausprägungen der Diversifikation und vor allem die Bedingungen deren Profitabilität beachten, um entsprechende Entscheidungen fundiert treffen zu können. Die Profitabilität der Formatdiversifikation variiert im Food-Handel, je danach welche Form der Diversifikation in der Vergangenheit gewählt und umgesetzt wurde.
This study examines the performance implications of the world's leading retailers' assortment diversification behavior over thirteen years (from 1997 to 2009). Results show that assortment diversification into food and non-food retailing increases retailers' sales, while it decreases their profits. Thus, our findings indicate that retailers' decision to diversify across food and non-food assortments results in a trade-off between the objectives of market-based (i.e., sales) and accounting-based (i.e., profits) performance maximization. Moreover, beside the negative effect of assortment diversification on profits, we find suggestive evidence that retailers can decrease the volatility of their profits by diversifying into food and non-food assortments
Press Release - Vom 4. bis 6. Juni 2009 fanden zum dritten Mal die unter der Schirmherrschaft des Retail Lab - eine Initiative des
Forschungszentrums für Handelsmanagement der Universität St.Gallen - ausgerichteten Retail Talent Career Days statt. Bei dem zweitägigen Recruiting Event auf Mallorca stellten Handelsunternehmen ausgewählten Studierenden die Welt der Handelsbranche und deren Karriere-Möglichkeiten vor.
