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Between Sustainable and Temporary Competitive Advantages in the Unstable Business Environment

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  • Letycja Sołoducho-Pelc

    (Strategic Management Department, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland)

  • Adam Sulich

    (Department of Strategy and Management Methods, Wroclaw University of Economics and Business, 53-345 Wroclaw, Poland)

Abstract

Gaining a competitive advantage assumes that a company should build a unique position, but this concept is related to a relatively stable environment. However, it is difficult to predict the consequences of the enterprises’ changes, leading to changes both in the business and natural environment. Therefore, this study’s authors asked a research question: Is it possible to restore a balance between durability and variability of the organization in terms of strategy? The answer to such a question was drawn upon the literature review and survey research. This paper presents a qualitative and quantitative model of competitive advantage in a changing business environment. This article uses an inductive inference method supported by a literature study and a deduction method supported by statistical calculations, based on a survey conducted among 150 Polish companies in different economic sectors. As a result of the research methods, a dualistic competitive advantage model in a changing environment was proposed and discussed. The article’s aim was achieved in the model combining a sustainable (SCA) and temporary competitive advantage (TCA). Understanding the conditions for gaining competitive advantage allowed to formulate general conditions under which sustainable strategic management can be built to consider sustainability objectives and contribute to the green economy. This research has confirmed that building a competitive advantage in unstable conditions requires finding a balance between implementing the planned development strategy and using new opportunities.

Suggested Citation

  • Letycja Sołoducho-Pelc & Adam Sulich, 2020. "Between Sustainable and Temporary Competitive Advantages in the Unstable Business Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-16, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8832-:d:434038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Răzvan-Andrei Corboș & Ovidiu-Iulian Bunea & Daniel-Constantin Jiroveanu, 2023. "The Effects of Strategic Procurement 4.0 Performance on Organizational Competitiveness in the Circular Economy," Logistics, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, February.
    3. Jerzy Niemczyk & Aleksandra Sus, 2020. "The Concept of Global Competencies of Corporations in the Context of a Global Mindset," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(Special 2), pages 30-39.
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    7. Adam Sulich & Malgorzata Rutkowska & Agnieszka Krawczyk-Jezierska & Jaroslaw Jezierski & Tomasz Zema, 2021. "Cybersecurity and Sustainable Development," Papers 2105.13652, arXiv.org.
    8. Adam Sulich & Letycja Sołoducho-Pelc & Marcos Ferasso, 2021. "Management Styles and Decision-Making: Pro-Ecological Strategy Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-18, February.
    9. Rafał Trzaska & Adam Sulich & Michał Organa & Jerzy Niemczyk & Bartosz Jasiński, 2021. "Digitalization Business Strategies in Energy Sector: Solving Problems with Uncertainty under Industry 4.0 Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-21, November.
    10. Letycja Sołoducho-Pelc & Adam Sulich, 2022. "Natural Environment Protection Strategies and Green Management Style: Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-25, August.
    11. Fieras Alfawaire & Tarik Atan, 2021. "The Effect of Strategic Human Resource and Knowledge Management on Sustainable Competitive Advantages at Jordanian Universities: The Mediating Role of Organizational Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-35, July.
    12. Sora Lee & Jaewon Yoo, 2021. "Determinants of a Firm’s Sustainable Competitive Advantages: Focused on Korean Small Enterprises," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-16, January.
    13. Joanna Martusewicz & Karol Szewczyk & Arkadiusz Wierzbic, 2022. "The Environmental Protection and Effective Energy Consumption in the Light of the EFQM Model 2020—Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-17, October.
    14. Adam Sulich & Malgorzata Rutkowska & Uma Shankar Singh, 2021. "Decision Towards Green Careers and Sustainable Development," Papers 2106.00465, arXiv.org.

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