Purpose

This study aims to evaluate how the configuration of competitive pillars impacts businesses' competitive efficiency by using a non-parametric model, namely, data envelopment analysis (DEA), with a single constant input.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed DEA model evaluates technical inefficiency, which results from differences in the availability and allocation of resources, and configuration inefficiency, which we link to differences in the way businesses amalgamate their competitive pillars. The sample includes 115 Spanish businesses operating in manufacturing, construction, retail and knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) sectors.

Findings

The results reveal that, on an average, firms can improve their overall competitive efficiency by 53.53%. The findings suggest that the configuration of competitive pillars has important implications for efficiency analyses: human capital and strategy are the most relevant aspects shaping competitive efficiency in manufacturing and construction firms; whereas innovation emerges as the most relevant competitive aspect driving competitive efficiency in KIBS firms.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in the analysis of competitive efficiency in a model where efficiency can be explained by overall (industry-specific) competitive efficiency within the industry and by strategic choices on how resources and capabilities are combined within the business.

中文翻译：

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竞争支柱配置对竞争效率影响的非参数分析

目的

这项研究旨在通过使用具有单一常数输入的非参数模型（即数据包络分析（DEA））来评估竞争支柱的配置如何影响企业的竞争效率。

设计/方法/方法

提议的DEA模型评估技术效率低下，这是由于资源的可用性和分配上的差异以及配置效率低下所导致的，我们将其与企业合并其竞争支柱的方式上的差异联系起来。该样本包括在制造业，建筑业，零售业和知识密集型商业服务（KIBS）领域运营的115家西班牙企业。

发现

结果表明，平均而言，企业可以提高整体竞争效率53.53％。研究结果表明，竞争支柱的配置对效率分析具有重要意义：人力资本和战略是影响制造和建筑公司竞争效率的最相关方面；而创新成为驱动KIBS公司竞争效率最相关的竞争因素。

创意/价值

这项研究的新颖之处在于模型中的竞争效率分析，该模型中的效率可以通过行业内整体（特定行业）的竞争效率以及企业如何组合资源和能力的战略选择来解释。