A Decision Model to Predict the Optimal Size of the Diversified Management Industry from the View of Profit Maximization and Coordination of Industrial Scale

Chong-Mao Li, Tao Cui, Rui Nie, Yuli Shan, Juan Wang and Xiangyan Qian
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Chong-Mao Li: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Tao Cui: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Rui Nie: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Yuli Shan: Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of International Development, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
Juan Wang: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Xiangyan Qian: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: To avoid the risk of single and homogeneous development, China’s coal enterprises have explored a diversified development model and are actively developing coal-based industries such as electric power, coal chemical, coal equipment manufacturing, logistics, and building materials. In previous studies of the diversification strategy, the focus has been placed on the motivation for diversification, the measurement of diversification, and the relationship between diversification and enterprise performance. From an enterprise strategic decision, we predicted the optimal size of each industry by considering the limited enterprise capital, human resources, the synergetic relationship among industrial clusters (mainly the scale coordination), and policy factors. The optimal decision model for diversified industrial management was constructed using linear programming methods. The decision target was to maximize the enterprise’s profit, but to also consider the social and environmental benefits. One of the largest listed coal enterprises in China, China Coal Energy (also a typical diversified enterprise), was selected as a case for analysis. Data were collected from surveys and annual reports from 2010 to 2014. The optimal scales of coal, electric power, chemical, and equipment manufacturing were predicted, and could be used as a reference for future enterprise production decisions. Furthermore, this decision model can be used as a reference for other diversified enterprises.

Keywords: diversified management; optimal industrial scale; maximization of enterprise profit; coordination of industrial scale (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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