Abstract:
The objective of this independent study is to study the different factors related to the competitive advantage of the chilled and frozen shrimp industry in Southern of Thailand. The factors about the firm, the environment, and the competitive advantage were analysed before studying the relationship of each factor with the competitive advantage. The questionaires answered by the firms executives were used to collect the data. The samples in this study were 30 companies which manufactured their chilled and frozen shrimp products in the southern of Thailand.
From studying the firm factor, it was found that most of the companies or factories produced the frozen raw shrimp. More than 70 % of the frozen shrimp products had been exported over the period of year. Most of the factories had more than 200 workforces. The authorized capital of most companies was equal to 50 million Baht or less. Most of them were Thais organizations and had operated their business for more than 15 years. The products were mainly exported to USA. Their main competitors in the same industry were the companies in Vietnam
From studying the environment factor, most of the executives focused on both external and internal environment which were generally considered as the strong level. When investigating each item, it was found that the production factor (raw material cost, raw material quality, and production cost), the marketing factor (quality and standard of product), and the financial factor (ability to reduce the lower cost than competitors) were considered as the strongest level.
(5)
Form studying the competitive advantage factor, most of the executives had their opinions in this issue at the medium level. When considering each item, it was found that the rivalry among competing firms, the bargaining power of suppliers, the threat of new entrants, and the threat of substitute products were considers as the medium level. While the bargaining power of buyers was considered as the low level.
When studying the competive advantage of each company, it was found that the executives opinions about the competitive advantage had the different level due to there were the difference in type of production, percentage of export, size of factory based on number of workforce, size of factory based on the authorized capital, period of business operation, organizations character, main export market, and main competitor country in the same industry.
From studying the relationship between the competitive advantage and the external environment, it was found that there was high correlation in the same direction. When considering the relationship of each item, there are 3 aspects of the two factors which related to each other in the same direction with the high level as shown.
1) The threat of substitute products and the law and politics.
2) The bargaining power of suppliers and the economy.
3) The bargaining power of buyers and the technology.
And the high correlations in the opposite direction were also found in the following 4 aspects.
1) The rivalry among competing firms and the society.
2) The bargaining power of buyers and the society.
3) The threat of new entrants and the society.
4) The bargaining power of suppliers and the technology.
From studying the relationship between the competitive advantage and the internal environment, it was found that there was medium correlation in the same (6)
direction. When considering the relationship of each item, there are 2 aspects of the two
factors which related to each other in the same direction with the high level as shown.
1) The threat of new entrants and the production factor.
2) The bargaining power of buyers and the financial factor.
And the high correlations in the opposite direction were also found in the following 6aspects.
1) The bargaining power of suppliers and the production factor.
2) The bargaining power of buyers and the production factor.
3) The threat of substitute products and the marketing factor.
4) The threat of new entrants and the financial factor.
5) The threat of new entrants and the human resource management.
6) The bargaining power of supplier and the operation and organization
management.
WALAILAK UNIVERSITY. CENTER FOR LIBRARY RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL MEDIA