Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/208661 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2016
Series/Report no.: 
Copenhagen Discussion Papers No. 2016-63
Publisher: 
Copenhagen Business School (CBS), Asia Research Centre (ARC), Frederiksberg
Abstract: 
In this paper, I first critique the composition-based view of Yadong Luo and John Child for understanding how resource-poor firms survive and thrive. To remedy the deficiencies in their perspective, I then propose a dynamic theory of compositional advantage and strategy. Here, the compositional advantage is redefined as the attractiveness of the composition of the producer's offering in terms of scope and perceived value/price ratio. I identify five ways or basic compositional strategies to improve the value/price ratio. A firm may have an overall compositional strategy that is composed of some or all of the five basic compositional strategies. I argue there are three indispensable key success factors for a composition-based competition, i.e., aspiration (ambition-position asymmetry), attitude (being ALERT), and action (turning asymmetry into advantage). I also discuss the particular relevance of the present theory to understanding Chinese firms. I conclude with managerial implications and suggestions for future research.
Subjects: 
Composition
Advantage
Strategy
Value/price ratio
Key success factor
Asymmetry
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by-nc-nd Logo
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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