Strategies for gaining a competitive edge : a look into the South African sawmilling industry

Abstract

ENGLISH : Firms must constantly adjust to changing market conditions. Understanding the firm and its strategies is an important component of strategic management. The study used a survey approach to gather the views of individuals working in South African sawmills on strategy and competitive advantages. The results highlighted that the participants saw the availability of wood resources as essential for the sawmill industry to function competitively. The participants also indicated that they used differentiation as a strategy in their sawmills. Future research should focus on globally competitive sawmills to assess how their competitive advantage and strategy differ from those of sawmills in South Africa.

AFRIKAANS : Ondernemings moet voortdurend by veranderende marktoestande aanpas. Om die onderneming en sy strategieë te verstaan, is ‘n belangrike komponent van strategiese bestuur. Die studie het ’n opname gebruik om menings in te samel oor strategie en mededingende voordele van individue wat in saagmeulens in Suid-Afrika werk. Die resultate het die belangrikheid van beskikbare houtbronne beklemtoon om ’n leidende mededingende voordeel vir saagmeulens te verkry. Deelnemers het ook aangedui dat hulle differensiasie as ’n strategie in hul saagmeule gebruik het. Toekomstige navorsing moet fokus op vergelykende studies met wêreldwye saagmeulens om te bepaal hoe hul mededingende voordeel en strategie verskil van dié van saagmeulens in Suid-Afrika.