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SOURCES OF COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA –
ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE FOOD SECTOR COMPANIES
FROM GREATER POLAND REGION
Agata BUDZYOSKA-BIERNAT
Poznan University of Technology,
Faculty of Engineering Management, Chair of Economic Sciences, Poland.
Abstract
Both globalization and the consequent internationalization constitute some of the biggest challenges for Polish
companies. In addition, the intensity of competitive businesses in the global market forces companies to seek
competitive advantages and improve their abilities in the process. The article contains the results of empirical
research conducted in the years 2014-2015 in Greater Poland as part of the project titled "Competitive
strategies of Greater Poland's food sector enterprises in a globalizing world". The research problem was to
identify and compare the instruments shaping competitive advantages of food sector companies in Greater
Poland. This paper also contains data from both theoretical and empirical evidence on building competitive
advantage. The aim of this study is to identify the factors determining the formation of competitive advantage
of food processing companies from Greater Poland that in turn contributed to the internationalization of those
businesses. Secondary sources were used in pursuing the goal - theoretical implications were based on studies
of literature, and they were verified by surveys. In addition, the following methods were used: description,
visualization and statistical techniques. The study among enterprises of the food sector suggests that, although
the managers of these companies believe in the role of tangible factors of production, they are also beginning
to recognize the importance of the intangible ones (high rates for social capital resources). Moreover,
important is also the fact that companies successfully operating in the international market recognize the need
to invest in innovation.
Keywords: the competitiveness of enterprises, competitive advantage, sources of competitive advantage, food
sector, small and medium-sized enterprise, Greater Poland region.
Introduction
Modern companies conduct their business in an environment characterized by high
dynamics of changes. They encounter many obstacles to their functioning. Increasing the
intensity of the impact of globalization, which has become a hallmark of the present world,
but also the internationalization of enterprises. This has its direct impact on the
liberalization of trade, as well as the impact of international corporations. Moreover,
competition is one of the fundamental concepts related to the functioning of the economy
based on knowledge. It affects the rationalization of business operations, improving quality
of goods and implementing innovations. It should be noted that currently achieve
international competitiveness has become necessary. And not only for companies wishing
to internationalize their business, but also for those who want to achieve success in the
domestic market, with international competitors there. In addition, the intensity of
competitive businesses in the global market forces one to seek competitive advantage of
companies, improving their ability in the process. Moreover, competitive advantage is
dynamic, which means that under the influence of both external and internal changes in the
business environment various types of competitive advantage must be subject to evolution.
The aim of this study is to identify the factors which determine the formation of competitive
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