Abstract:
This research aims to analyze the five forces that influence the competitive advantage of the cost leadership strategy among packaging business operators in Thailand. Additionally, it seeks to examine the five forces affecting the competitive advantage of the differentiation strategy employed by these operators. The study utilizes a quantitative research approach, including a structured questionnaire to collect data from a sample of 400 participants, comprising executives and heads of marketing strategy departments within the Thai packaging industry. Descriptive statistical methodssuch as percentages, frequencies, means, standard deviations, and multiple regression analysisare used to assess the relationships among the identified factors. The research findings indicate that the level of competitive pressure in Thailand's packaging industry is currently at its highest. Among the various factors influencing this competitive landscape, pressure from substitute products emerged as the most significant, contributing significantly to the competitive advantage of packaging businesses in Thailand. Hypothesis testing revealed two critical insights: 1. The five forces of competitive pressure significantly affect the cost leadership strategy, particularly pressure from existing competitors within the industry and the bargaining power of buyers and suppliers. However, pressure arising from new market entrants and substitute products did not significantly impact the strategy. 2. The five forces also significantly influence the differentiation strategy, notably through the pressure from substitute products and the bargaining power of suppliers. Conversely, the pressures from new competitors entering the market and from buyers did not significantly affect the differentiation strategy.