Linking Product Line Strategies to Competitive Advantage An Empirical Study of Nigerian Food and Beverages Industry

Authors

Ismaila Abubakar  1 , Haruna Isa Mohammad  2
Department of Business Management, Adamawa State Polytechnic, Yola Adamawa State – Nigeria 1 , Department of Management Technology, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola Adamawa State – Nigeria 2
“crossref”/
Views: 2182  
Downloads: 2738  

Main Article Content

Abstract

Purpose-This study examines the relationships between product line strategies and competitive advantage in Nigerian foods and beverages industry.


Design/Methodology-Data were obtained from a sample of 278 employees choosing from 8 companies in the foods and beverages industry located in north-eastern Nigeria using a self-administered questionnaire. Pearson's correlation and Multiple regression were conducted in the data analysis.


Findings-Findings of the research revealed that all four hypotheses were supported signifying that product line strategies have significant effects on the competitive advantage of foods and beverages companies in Nigeria.


Practical Implications-The study combined the dimensions of product line strategies to determine optimal product line in the food and beverages industry. It provides the decision makers of food and beverages firms in Nigeria with a guide for determining the blend of product line strategies to adopt in order to gain competitive advantage. It also served as a guide to potential investors in the food and beverages industry to make an informed decision that can strategically improve the efficiency and effectiveness through its advocacy on reforming product line strategies.

Article Details

Abubakar, I., & Isa Mohammad, H. (2019). Linking Product Line Strategies to Competitive Advantage: An Empirical Study of Nigerian Food and Beverages Industry. SEISENSE Journal of Management, 2(4), 65-78. https://doi.org/10.33215/sjom.v2i4.166
Research Articles

Copyright (c) 2019 Ismaila Abubakar, Haruna Isa Mohammad

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Agbin, R. G. & Idris, A. J. (2015). Competitive Advantage through knowledge Dissemination; An Empirical Analysis of Hotels in Makurdi Metropolis Benue State, Nigeria. European Journal of Business and Innovation Research, 3(1), 22-35.

Akpoyomare, O. B, Adeosun, L. P. K. & Ajao, R. (2012). The Influence of Product Attributes on Consumer Purchase Decision in Nigeria Food and Beverages Industry. A Study of Lagos Metropolis, American Journal of Business and Management, 1(4), 196-201.

Allman, H. F. (2013). Vertical Versus Horizontal Line Extension Strategies: When Do Brands Prosper? (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from htp://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/2435

Amit, R. & Schoemaker, P. J. H. (1993). Strategic Assets and Organizational Rent. Strategic Management Journal, 14(1), 33–46. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250140105 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Ansoff, H. (1965), Corporate Strategy: An Analytic Approach to Business Policy for Growth and Expansion. McGraw Hill, New York.

Avlonitis, G. J. (1986). The Management of the Product Elimination Function: Theoretical and Empirical Analysis, Advances in Business Marketing, 1(2), 1-65.

Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm Resources and Sustained Competitive Advantage. Journal of Management. 17, 99-120. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Bayus, B. L. & Agarwal, R. (2007). Product Technology Strategies and Firm Survival in the Personal Computer Industry 1974 – 1994. Journal of Management Science. 53(10), 21 – 39. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Besanko, D. Drawmove, D. & Shamley, M. (2000). Economics of Strategy (2nd edition) New York: John Wiley & Sons.

Bratic, D. (2011). Achieving Competitive Advantage by Supply Chain Management. IBIMA Business Review. 11, 1-13. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5171/2011.957583

Dirisu, J. I., Iyiola, O. & Ibidunni, O. S. (2013). Product Differentiation: A Tool of Competitive Advantage and Optimal Organizational Performance. (A Study of Unilever Nigeria Plc). European Scientific Journal, 9(34), 256-281.

Draganska, M. & Dipak, C. J. (2005). Product Line Length as a Competitive Tool, Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 14(1), 1-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1430-9134.2005.00032.x CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Draganska, M. & Dipak, C. J. (2006). Consumer Preferences and Product-Line Pricing Strategies: An Empirical Analysis. Marketing Science, 25(2), 164- 174. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.1050.0126 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Evans, C. (2003). Managing for Knowledge: HR’s Strategic Role. Butterworth-Heinemann, Amsterdam. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Franca, R. B., Jones, E. C., Richards, C. N. & Carlson, J. P. (2010). Multi-Objective Stochastic Supply Chain Modelling to Evaluate Trade-Offs Between Profit and Quality. International Journal of Production Economics. 127(2), 292-299. Retrieve February 2017, from http://www.sciencedirect.com

Grant, R. M. (1991). Towards a knowledge-based theory of the firm Strategic Management Journal 17, 109-122. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250171110

Griethuijsen, R. A. L. F., Eijck, M. N., Haste, H., Brok, P. J., Skinner, N. C. & Mansour, N. (2014). Global Patterns in Student’s Views of Science and Interest in Science, Research in Science Education, 45(4), 581-603. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-014-9438-6

Hakkak, M. & Ghodsi, M. (2015). Development of a Sustainable Competitive Advantage Model Based on Balanced Scorecard, International Journal of Asian Social Science, 5(5), 298-308. Retrieved from (http://www.aessweb.com/journals/5007) CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Haas, M. R. & Hansen, M. T. (2005). When Using Knowledge Can Hurt Performance: The Value of Organizational Capabilities in A Management Consulting Company, Strategic Management Journal, 26(1), 1-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.429 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Hayes, R. H., Pisano, G. P., Upton D. M. & Wheelwright S. C. (2005). Operations, Strategy, and Technology: Pursuing the Competitive Edge. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Health, T., Del Veccihio, D. & Michael, S. M. (2011). The Asymmetric Effects of Extending Brands to Lower and Higher Quality. Journal of Marketing, 75(4), 3-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkg.75.4.3

Kariuki, J. & Kilika, J. M. (2017), Organization Capacity, Innovation and Competitive Advantage: An Integrative Theoretical Framework Review of Literature. International Journal of Business & Management, 5(2), 42-51.

Khin, S, Ahmad, H. N., & Ramaya, T. (2010). Product Innovation among ICT Technopreneurs in Malaysia, Business Strategy Series, 11(6), 397-406. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/17515631011093106

Long, C. & Koch, M. (1995). Using Core Capabilities to Create Competitive Advantage. Retrieved from http://www.accessinglibracy.com/article-IGI-17353701/using-core capabilities-create-html DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0090-2616(95)90032-2 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Muir, J. & Reynolds, N. (2011). Product Deletion: A Critical Overview and Empirical Insight into This Process. Journal of General Management, 37(1), 5-30. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/030630701103700102 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Murray, P. (2000). Designing for Business Benefits from Knowledge Management, in Despres, C. & Channel, D. (eds) knowledge Horizons: The Present and the Promise of Knowledge Management, Butterwood-Heinermann, Boston. CrossrefGoogle Scholar

National Bureau of Statistics, (2016). Nigerian Gross Domestic Product Report, Quarter 1 (9). 2016, pp.1-40. Retrieved in November 2016 from http://nigerianstat.gov.ng

Oghojafor, B. E. A., Aduloju, S. A. & Olowokudejo, F. F. (2012). Product Elimination: The Nigerian Insurance Industry Experience. International Journal of Business Administration, 3(2), 74-83. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5430/ijba.v3n2p74 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Okere, R. (2012, December 3). Nigeria’s Food, Beverage Industry Riding Above the Storm. Guardian Newspaper, pp. 3-4. Retrieved December 7, 2017, from http://www.ngrguardiannews.com

Papulova, E. & Papulova, Z. (2006). Competitive Strategy and Competitive Advantage of Small and Midsized Manufacturing Enterprises in Slovakia. E-Leaders, Slovakia.

Peteraf, M. A. (1993). The Cornerstones of Competitive Advantage: A Resource-Based View. Strategic Management Journal,14(3), 179-192. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250140303

Putsis, W. P. & Bayus, B. L. (2001). An Empirical Analysis of Firms’ Product Line Decisions. Journal of Marketing Research, 38(1), 110–18. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1509/jmkr.38.1.110.18830 CrossrefGoogle Scholar

Rumelt, R. P. (2003). What in the World is a Competitive Advantage? Working Paper No. 2003-105. The Anderson School. UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Retrieved on January 2017 from http:// Anderson.ucla.edu/faculty/dick.rumelt/docs/papers/WhatisCA_03.pdf

Salvador, F., Forza, C. & Rungtusanatham, M. (2002). Modularity, Product Variety, Production Volume, and Component Sourcing: Theorising Beyond Generic Prescriptions, Journal of Operations Management, 20(5), 549-575. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6963(02)00027-X

Sanchatha, M. (2007). Sony Under Fire Over 60Gb PS3 Phase-Out Plans, Financial Times, Companies and Markets, July 18th.

Shrestha, A. (2016). Research On Product Line Strategy and Brand Identity. Thesis Central University of Applied Sciences Business Management pp.1-32. Retrieved from https://www.theseus.fi/ashish.shrestha.pdf

Su, Q., Shi, J. H. & Lai, S. J. (2008). Study on Supply Chain Management of Chinese Firm from the International View. International Journal of Production Economics, 115(1). 362-373. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpe.2007.11.016

Tiwana, A. (2012). The Knowledge Management Toolkit: Orchestrating, Strategy and Knowledge Platforms, Prentice-Hall, Upper Saddle River.

Wan, X., Evers, P. T. & Dresner, M. E. (2012). Too Much of a Good Thing: The Impact of Product Variety on Operations and Sales Performance. Journal of Operations Management, 30(4), 316-324. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jom.2011.12.002

Wernerfelt, B. (1985). Brand Loyalty and User Skills, Journals of Economic Behavior and Organization, 6, 381-385. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2681(85)90005-8

Worthing, P. M. (1975). Improving Product Deletion Decision-Making, MSU Business Topics, Summer, 29-37.