Cards (20)

  • Competitiveness refers to the relative standing of one competitor against other competitors. Competitiveness is like the game of musical chairs: There are finite numbers of places to sit, and some are more desirable than others.
  • One organization that has addressed its desire to remain competitive in the global economy is Samsung of South Korea. To expand its ability to deliver quality products and services in a highly competitive industry of mobile phones, Samsung has developed a Global Leadership Program, to provide its top managers with a global outlook.
  • Competitiveness has become a prominent business and government concern in the era of global business as a contest among nations. Members of the news media routinely talk about the competitiveness of the United States versus Japan and the United States versus the Pacific Rim. This meaning of competitiveness is part of the new attitude of globalization described earlier. It is a direct consequence of the unprecedented proximity among nations in the global marketplace as defined by the International Monetary Fund or IMF.
  • Competitiveness can refer to a country's preparedness for future competitive interactions. To be competitive in this sense is to have a chance to win upcoming contests.
  • Philippine Airlines - tagged as Asia's first airline-under the management of Lucio Tan had so far refurbished its business class services and retains the world known Mabuhay Class (the first airline to offer sky bed in long haul flights) needs to stay competitive against the two Asian giants Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific Airways to win for a number of industry players who faced higher airfare and maintenance costs
  • Cost of labor
    A measure of a country's competitiveness
  • The competitiveness of U.S. labor costs is questionable in relation to lower wage rates in other countries such as the Philippines, Mexico, Vietnam, and Indonesia
  • Companies seeking lower-wage personnel
    Close factories in the United States and move production facilities to China, Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines
  • This creates some controversy and ethical dilemma for global managers
  • Another measure of a country's work force. Government representatives who seek to attract new investors in their economics like to cite literacy rates and skilled training. For example, English proficiency is also a factor in the workforce forsome U.S. companies establishing plants and facilities in other nations. The case of our Filipino engineers in the tiny State of Qatar is a good example.
  • Another measure of a country's work force. Government representatives who seek to attract new investors in their economics like to cite literacy rates and skilled training. For example, English proficiency is also a factor in the workforce forsome U.S. companies establishing plants and facilities in other nations. The case of our Filipino engineers in the tiny State of Qatar is a good example.
  • These different interpretations of competitiveness are used by government officials around the world who are aggressively scrambling to adjust to global economy.
  • It is considered common that the United States has been slow to recognize and adapt to the globalization of business. Japan has become the most visible competitor nation although South Korea is heading into the same direction
  • For example, although home technology was originally developed and patented in the United States, not one video cassette recorder has ever been manufactured in this country. Japan now controls the world's $15 billion market for audio/video market. The Japanese have taken over a large portion of the semiconductor market, once an American monopoly, and have assumed leadership in the development of new drugs (Porter, 1990 as cited by Abelos et.al., 2006
  • The Japanese do not pose the only challenge to U.S. competitiveness. European products such as Airbus jet aircrafts are also gaining market shares once firmly held by companies in the United States (Boeing), and Korean products such as Samsung, LG, Kia, and Hyundai have made major market inroads.
  • Perhaps the most vivid example of changes in American competitiveness has occurred in the automobile market. Once, virtually all the cars in the United States were from American manufacturers. Now, every parking lot in the U.S. visibly display cars manufactured in Japan and South Korea.
  • According to Young (1995 as cited by Abelos et. al., 2006), the ability of the United States to compete in the world economy has declined over the past two decades. He concluded that both government and business need to place a higher priority on international competitiveness. Among specific recommendations, he suggested that responsibility for formulating international trade policy and encouraging exports (now fragmented among multiple government agencies) should be unified.
  • Global managers thus operate in a climate marked by more aggressive government efforts to influence how they run their organizations. According to Porter (1990), those efforts have influenced global competitiveness
  • With striking regularity, firms from one or two nations achieve disproportionate worldwide success in particular industries. Some national governments seem more stimulating to advancement and progress than others
  • Porter traces that success to a significant degree, to the economic climate institutions, and policies attributable to government actions. With a touch of irony, Porter concludes that in this era of globalization, what happens in a company's "home country" is more important than ever (Porter, 1990 as cited by Abelos, et al., 2006, pp. 81-82).