Cross-Industry Research Findings

Ulrich Steger

Chapter 3 in The Business of Sustainability, 2004, pp 11-60 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract Our investigation of the economic situation of the eight selected industries has revealed both similarities and differences. With the exception of the oil and gas industry, which is enjoying windfall profits from (relatively) high oil prices, most of the industries are operating in a tough economic environment. However we feel that this is better for our research, given that the ‘do-good’ rhetoric of better times tends to disappear rapidly when the going gets tough. A point in common among the industries is that globalization has led to boundary erosion, a blurring of industry segmentation and an increase in competition, resulting in increased rivalry and often overcapacity. Companies try to avoid profit-depressing factors by massively differentiating their production, which makes it difficult to reap economies of scale. Linked to this is their ambition to move beyond commodity products, with their low rates of profitability and correspondingly low stock prices. Whether it is asset management in financial services, the increase of generic products in the pharmaceutical industry or car production that can no longer use technology and quality as a differentiator, all industries are struggling to maintain a difference and thus a price mark-up, mostly through their brands.

Keywords: Business Model; Global Reporting Initiative; Corporate Sustainability; Sustainability Issue; Beverage Industry (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2004
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palchp:978-0-230-52447-7_3

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DOI: 10.1057/9780230524477_3

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