Environmental scanning and information systems in relation to success in introducing new products
CEOs in 46 firms were interviewed in regard to the pattern of the environmental scanning they performed. The results were analyzed to determine the degree of use of information systems by CEOs in their strategic decision making and to seek a link with the firm's success in introducing new products. The study indicates significant differences in the level of environmental scanning and in the use of information systems between firms that were more successful in introducing new products into the market and firms that were less successful. The differences are in the pattern and the frequency of conducting environmental scanning, in the number of computerized applications, and in the number of advanced marketing information systems.
This paper presents a study of the technical efficiency of industries in a transitional economy: China. Using data for 28 manufacturing industries across 29 provinces and the Data Envelopment Analysis approach, the technical efficiency of each industry is measured and compared across regions and provinces. The determinants of differential technical efficiency performance are analysed, with a particular focus on the impact of trade orientation and foreign investment. Trade openness is found generally to have a positive effect on technical efficiency.