Title: Explaining firms' performance through the resources and capabilities allocation in strategic groups: the case of Italy's cosmetic sector

Authors: Tommaso Pucci; Samuel Rabino; Lorenzo Zanni

Addresses: Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali e Giuridici, Università degli Studi di Siena, Piazza S. Francesco, n. 7, 53100 Siena, Italy ' D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University, 202 Hayden Hall, Boston, MA 02115, USA ' Dipartimento di Studi Aziendali e Giuridici, Università degli Studi di Siena, Piazza S. Francesco, n. 7, 53100 Siena, Italy

Abstract: The strategy literature encompasses studies that have investigated the existence of different strategic orientations as related to firm performance as well as studies that analyse the relationship between industry structure, the presence of strategic groups and firm performance. In contrast, very few studies attempted to evaluate the relationship between strategic orientations, resources, strategic groups and a firm performance. The aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship among strategic orientations, resource and capabilities allocation, strategic groups and firm performance. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a focus group and a survey on the Italian cosmetics industry employing a sample of 80 firms. The results show that participants did not adopt exclusively one strategic orientation. Participants applied a hybrid strategy, blending different mixes of the market-based and technology-based orientations. Though different in their orientation, ultimately each grouping might yield a similar level of performance.

Keywords: strategic orientation; strategic groups; strategic assets; resources; capabilities; marketing; innovation; firm performance; cosmetics industry; Italy; resource allocation; capabilities allocation; industry structure; market-based orientation; technology-based orientation.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2014.065592

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2014 Vol.7 No.4, pp.375 - 393

Published online: 30 Apr 2015 *

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