Competition's new clothes : 20 short cases on rivalry between firms /
Lévêque, François,author.
"Competition is extending its reach, growing stronger everywhere. The evidence is there for all to see. Supermarket shelves sag under the weight of goods from all over the world. Neighbourhood stores must compete with online vendors who deliver to our doorstep. The choice of television channels and video content is growing apace. Even electricity and gas monopolies are a distant memory. But is it really that simple? Giant companies have conquered the planet in leaps and bounds, and now seem unassailable. Big names such as Amazon and Google, of course, but Lego too, in the toy market, or indeed Ikea for home decoration. There are many more, though perhaps as yet little known. Who has ever heard of China Marine International Containers, the world's biggest manufacturer of steel shipping containers? Or Amer Sports, a Finnish concern that leads the market for skis and tennis rackets? So is competition intensifying or slackening? Is it different in today's global, technology-driven economy than in the past? Hard to say really, so let's look a little closer.On the one hand the boundaries of markets are being extended, thanks to the falling costs of transport and communications, which de facto increases the number of competitors serving the same customers. So competition should be greater. On the other hand markets are shrinking due to growing differentiation of goods and services. Take the example of wine! French winegrowers are now in competition with their counterparts in Australia and Chile, no longer just with producers in Spain and Italy. Yet, if we set aside the cheapest tipples, wines are from being interchangeable"--
Includes bibliographical references and index.
"Competition is extending its reach, growing stronger everywhere. The evidence is there for all to see. Supermarket shelves sag under the weight of goods from all over the world. Neighbourhood stores must compete with online vendors who deliver to our doorstep. The choice of television channels and video content is growing apace. Even electricity and gas monopolies are a distant memory. But is it really that simple? Giant companies have conquered the planet in leaps and bounds, and now seem unassailable. Big names such as Amazon and Google, of course, but Lego too, in the toy market, or indeed Ikea for home decoration. There are many more, though perhaps as yet little known. Who has ever heard of China Marine International Containers, the world's biggest manufacturer of steel shipping containers? Or Amer Sports, a Finnish concern that leads the market for skis and tennis rackets? So is competition intensifying or slackening? Is it different in today's global, technology-driven economy than in the past? Hard to say really, so let's look a little closer.On the one hand the boundaries of markets are being extended, thanks to the falling costs of transport and communications, which de facto increases the number of competitors serving the same customers. So competition should be greater. On the other hand markets are shrinking due to growing differentiation of goods and services. Take the example of wine! French winegrowers are now in competition with their counterparts in Australia and Chile, no longer just with producers in Spain and Italy. Yet, if we set aside the cheapest tipples, wines are from being interchangeable"--
Organizational behavior.
Competition.
Competition.
Organizational behavior.