Analysis of external environment. Competitive dynamics - boyd and bresser 2008

16 important questions on Analysis of external environment. Competitive dynamics - boyd and bresser 2008

What is the central focus of Boyd & Bresser (2008)?

The performance implications of delayed competitive responses, specifically how the timing of responses affects responder and first mover performance.

What does traditional theory predict about response delay?

A negative linear relationship between response delay and responder performance, and a positive linear relationship between response delay and first mover performance.

What is Boyd & Bresser’s main theoretical contribution?

They propose a curvilinear relationship between response delay and responder performance: fast and late responses perform worse, while intermediate delays yield better performance.
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Why does traditional theory argue for quick responses?

Quick responses prevent first movers from building advantages (e.g., switching costs, market share, technological leadership) and signal commitment to defend market positions.

What are the three main reasons quick responses are seen as beneficial?

  • Profit advantages of imitation (fast second strategy).
  • Cost advantages from learning from rivals’ mistakes.
  • Aggressive marketing/management responses limit first mover dominance.

What are the risks of overly fast responses?

Hasty commitments, poorly designed strategies, and performance disadvantages due to insufficient information or planning.

Why might delayed responses sometimes be beneficial?

They allow time for information gathering, uncertainty resolution, and developing more effective responses (better products, stronger marketing programs).

What shape describes the relationship between response timing and responder performance?

An inverted U-shaped (curvilinear) relationship: lowest performance for fast and late responders, highest for intermediate responders.

Why do intermediate delays often perform best?

They balance the risks of moving too quickly (hasty mistakes) and too late (market already dominated by the first mover).

What are three reasons firms respond too quickly or too slowly?

  • Bad luck – unforeseen developments undermine an otherwise appropriate decision.
  • Conscious choices – deliberate deviation from optimal timing, accepting risks.
  • Blind spots – errors due to cognitive biases in competitor analysis.

What are three types of blind spots in competitor analysis?

1. Competitors use a limited perspective to frame their competitive problems
2. They engage in a nonrational escalation of commitment with respect to previously chosen strategic directions (sticking to previous choices or paths, even if they are not working out)
3. They show unjustified overconfidence in their judgment and abilities.

What is Hypothesis 1 (H1)?

Responder performance and response delay are related in an inverted U-shape: intermediate delays outperform fast and late responses.

What is Hypothesis 2 (H2)?

First mover performance and response delay are linearly related: longer delays by followers benefit first movers, as they gain more time to build advantages.

What industry and period did the study analyze?

The U.S. retail industry, focusing on 17 major department and variety stores from 1994–2000.

What was the independent variable and dependent variable?

Independent variable = response delay; Dependent variable = stock effects of responses.

What are the managerial implications?

Managers should avoid both hasty and overly delayed responses; the optimal strategy often involves measured, intermediate delays.

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