What is Bangladesh’s competitive advantage? An exploratory content analysis of the unique firm resources claimed by Bangladeshi apparel export firms

Quaddus

2022

IJLM

PurposeGrounding on relational view and contingent resource-based views, the authors investigate the conditional indirect effect of Supply Chain Relational Practices (SCRPs) on supply chain performance (SCP) through proactive and reactive supply chain resilience (SCRE) capabilities at different levels of network complexity (NC).Design/methodology/approachThe authors adopt an “exploratory sequential mixed methods design” combining the qualitative and quantitative approaches under a positivist paradigm. The qualitative method is primarily used to contextualize and develop better measurements of the factors and variables using content analysis of the field studies. This then informs the quantitative phase which conducts a questionnaire survey among the apparel manufacturing firms in Bangladesh. The authors analyzed the quantitative data using Partial Least Square based Structural Equation Modelling. The authors also used PROCESS integrated regression analysis to test conditional indirect effects.FindingsOur research findings indicate that the indirect effect of SCRPs on SCP through proactive and reactive SCRE is positive and significant. It also finds that the conditional indirect effect is high at higher NC.Practical implicationsThe results have immense practical implications as it proposes to enhance relational practices in order to develop SCRE as a contingent resource to mitigate disruptions. This will also help the supply chain (SC) managers to work through smoothly at different levels of supply chain NC and improve SCP.Originality/valueExtant literature does not provide a deeper understanding of the impact of SCRPs on SCP, while SCRE and NC influence the link. Therefore, investigation of the conditional direct and indirect effect of SCRPs on SCP through proactive and reactive SCRE at different levels of NC is novel in SC management literature.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Managing relational practices for performance improvement in a complex supply chain network: the mediating roles of proactive and reactive resilience in apparel industry of Bangladesh

Quaddus

2022

IJLM

“…The research suggests that in national and industrial competition, production factors are becoming less influential, while productivity has become the decisive factor, and productivity is determined by the competitive advantage. Although the theory of national competitive advantage is set at the national level, its analysis framework applies to regional and urban levels ( Feng and Chen, 2020 ; Swazan and Das, 2021 ). Regional competitive advantage refers to the comprehensive competitiveness for regional product market share, which is determined by all schedulable resources within the region and regional difference factors, such as geographical environment, economic development, natural resources, and cultural environment in regional competition.…”

Section: Regional Competitive Advantage Theory and Innovative Entrepreneurshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy of Scientific and Technological Entrepreneur Talent Using Regional Competitive Advantage Theory

2021

Front. Psychol.

Under the background of mass entrepreneurship and innovation, innovative entrepreneurship research is urgently needed for entrepreneurs. The aim was to explore the innovative entrepreneurship consciousness of new entrepreneurs. First, the regional competitive advantage theory is discussed. The research method of questionnaire survey is combined with statistical analysis to obtain relevant research data. Quantitative standards are used to measure the impact of regional advantages and policy support on entrepreneurs’ innovation and entrepreneurship. The policy content analysis and questionnaire survey are applied to discuss the impact of regional competitive advantage, educational psychology, innovation and entrepreneurship policy, and entrepreneurs’ innovation consciousness. Meantime, the policies related to entrepreneurs’ innovation and entrepreneurship are further explored. The results show that the proportions of young entrepreneurs suffering anxiety and depression are 29.4 and 27.5%, respectively, which are significantly higher than the national average. Besides, in the test, F=23.11, p<0.005, which indicates that all proposed hypotheses are valid. The results suggest that the overall mental health level of young new entrepreneurs is not high, and their consciousness of innovation and entrepreneurship needs to be strengthened. Under the wave of mass innovation and entrepreneurship, the research results can strengthen entrepreneurs’ innovative entrepreneurship consciousness and may have great theoretical and practical significance for improving and optimizing government innovation and entrepreneurship policies.

What makes the second-largest apparel-exporting nation? An in-depth analysis of competitiveness and comparative advantage in Bangladesh’s apparel industry

Hasan,

Das

2024

Purpose This study aims to analyze the export competitiveness of Bangladesh's apparel industry by identifying the specific product categories that help sustain its export comparative advantage. Design/methodology/approach Compound annual growth rate (CAGR) and market share (MS) are calculated between 2011 and 2020 at the two- and four-digit level apparel product categories within the harmonized system (HS) to analyze the industry’s growth and export dominance. Trade competitiveness (TC) at the four-digit level, revealed comparative advantage (RCA) and normalized revealed comparative advantage (NRCA) at the two-, four- and six-digit-level apparel product categories are computed for the same 10-year period to investigate the industry’s export competitiveness. Major export destinations of the top 5 exporting product categories are identified to understand the factors facilitating the industry’s growth. A non-parametric Spearman rank correlation analysis evaluated the association between the RCA and NRCA indices. Findings Among the 34 product categories at the four-digit level, 29 consistently demonstrated an export comparative advantage, as did 34 out of 217 six-digit level sub-categories. In contrast, 12 sub-categories at the six-digit level consistently exhibited a comparative disadvantage in Bangladesh's export competitiveness. Furthermore, the TC measure identified 28 categories at the four-digit level with a robust comparative advantage. 30 categories displayed a positive CAGR, and Bangladesh asserted significant market dominance over 26 product categories at the four-digit level. Research limitations/implications This study's implications are significant for various stakeholders in Bangladesh and other apparel-exporting industries, encompassing government entities, industry officials, policymakers, investors, researchers and students. Nevertheless, limitations arise from the study's reliance on RCA and NRCA as competitiveness indicators, particularly its adoption of a macro-level approach for measurement without exploring a micro-level perspective. This constitutes a notable constraint in the study's analytical framework. Originality/value This study contributed novelty and enrichment to the existing academic literature by identifying distinct apparel product categories that contribute to the industry's growth.