Browsing by Author "Rusanen, Olli Aleksi"

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  • Nopeuden merkitys yritysten kansainvälistymisessä
    (2008) Rusanen, Olli Aleksi
     Informaatio- ja luonnontieteiden tiedekunta | Bachelor's thesis
  • Retailing strategies in time and place
    (2011) Rusanen, Olli Aleksi
     School of Science | Master's thesis
    Economies of scale and scope have deep roots in economics. These size economies are utilized in literature through Strategy-Structure-Performance (SSP) paradigm. Strategy is viewed as top-management oriented choice of appropriate structure that can deliver size economies. Many empirical studies are cross-sectional. My approach incorporates organic perspective in the study size economies. Structure is viewed as a result of emergent process characterized by multiple middle managers. Empirically this is operationalized through co-evolutionary examination of retailers in two analysis levels: store portfolio and logistics function. In this view, feasible analysis examines how growth is related to creation of size economies whereas traditional SSP analysis examines how certain absolute structure delivers performance. This research is longitudinal and it examines four retailers in two countries. J Sainsbury Pic and Tesco Pic in United Kingdom are examined during 1975-2009 and Kmart Corporation and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in United States of America are examined during 1975-2004. The data is mainly based on annual reports. The main findings for retailers are that companies should create a synergy chain in order to gain store-level size economies in logistics. Growth should be done in nearby locations in order to gain dense network of stores. Retailers also benefit if store portfolio decisions are consistent and synchronized in time with logistics decisions. These statements are supported through analysis of investment rates, store portfolio figures and central performance figures. Finally, I will present a path-dependent expansion model for retailers. The main contribution to existing literature is to demonstrate an approach to examination of size economies that is based on co-evolutionary research setting. Competitive advantages gained through unique growth path are likely to be sustainable. Similarly, problems arising from inappropriate growth are hard to fix. Appropriate growth is needed also to fully utilize the available technologies: