Analysis of the Competitiveness of Railway Freight Services by the Knowledge House Method

Purpose –To assess competition and trends of the global rail freight market. Research methodology. The paper employees empirical research statistical data analysis and Knowledge House analysis. This paper analyzes the competitiveness of the railway sector using the Knowledge House method, and assesses international trends and risks. Findings – the main findings discover advantages of railway sector in freight transportation. Practical implications – research results allow to perceive business environment and to attract new freight services to Lithuania. Originality / Value - The publication presents an original application of a new method for assessing the international competitiveness of the railway sector

Use of “Knowledge House”, DWS, DMS and DSS methodology by completing a competitors' analysis in the railway sector

In completing a competitors’ analysis in the railway sector by using the “Knowledge House” method, there is frequently a problem of data and information accessibility. The quality of primary information has direct influence on the quality of analytical conclusions. One more condition for the qualitative application of this method is the intellectual capital and experience of the analyst. One should note that in this regard we face another problem, that of selection of proper personnel, on the qualification of whom depends the accuracy of the evaluation and final results, on the basis of which strategic decisions are taken. The main aim of the paper is to assess the opportunities for applications of competitive intelligence methods in the railway sector. The study is using “Knowledge House”, DWS, DMS, DSS methodologies. Having analysed the scientific works the direct scientific sources of information, which are oriented to the application of the methods of competitive intelligence to the railway sector, have not been identified. The paper is absolutely original in that until now the competitive intelligence techniques have not been applied for the railway sector companies. Considering the fact that foreign companies, which compete for freighting at the international level, are regarded as the main competitors of the railway sector, the use of the methods of the competitive intelligence becomes more important while fighting for the part of the market. The competitive intelligence methods and their application to the railway sector companies are little studied. In accordance with application of the relevant methods in other sectors, it can be assumed that these innovative approaches could have a positive impact on the competitiveness of companies in the railway sector and their income

Competitive intelligence (CI) model

O competitive intelligence (CI) providencia informação, alertando a gestão para as constantes mudanças do meio competitivo e turbulento onde as organizações estão inseridas. Neste artigo apresentam-se as diversas fases que compõem o CI, estabelecendo uma diferenciação entre os vários modelos da literatura. É aqui apresentado um modelo conceptual integrador dos vários modelos propostos por estudos anteriores, bem como a identificação das diversas ferramentas tecnológicas capazes de auxiliar no processo de competitive intelligence.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Changes in the Competitive Environment and Their Evaluation in the Context of COVID-19: A Case Study

Оцінюючи конкурентне середовище в контексті пандемії, слід враховувати глобальний масштаб пандемії, оскільки всі продукти, пов’язані з управлінням COVID-19, не мають регіональної конкуренції, а швидше переходять до глобальної конкуренції та конкурують із подібними продуктами чи замінниками. Слід зазначити, що до її спалаху не було продуктів, призначених для боротьби з пандемією. Навіть із початком пандемії було розроблено не так багато спеціалізованих продуктів, за винятком деяких загальних заходів захисту. Однак за два роки після початку пандемії на ринку з’явилися конкурентоспроможні продукти, призначені для боротьби з COVID-19. Глобальні масштаби пандемії автоматично створили всесвітній попит на таку продукцію, що призводить до глобального зсуву конкурентоспроможності. У результаті змінюється конкурентне середовище для продуктів, призначених для боротьби з COVID-19. Мета дослідження: оцінити конкурентоспроможну продукцію — сучасне та роботизоване обладнання для дезінфекції приміщень — наявну на ринку та розроблену. Завдання дослідження: розробити методику оцінки конкурентоспроможної продукції та вибрати критерії та методи оцінки; оцінити конкурентоспроможну продукцію за її функціональністю та технічними характеристиками; а також досліджувати канали та методи, що використовуються для виведення конкурентоспроможних продуктів на ринок, і аналізувати передову практику.При оценке конкурентной среды в условиях пандемии необходимо учитывать глобальный масштаб пандемии, поскольку все продукты, связанные с управлением COVID-19, не имеют региональной конкуренции, а скорее сразу переключаются на глобальную конкуренцию и конкурируют с аналогичными продуктами или заменителями. Следует отметить, что до ее вспышки не было продуктов, предназначенных для борьбы с пандемией. Даже с началом пандемии было разработано не так много специализированных продуктов, кроме некоторых средств общей защиты. Однако уже через два года после начала пандемии на рынке появились конкурентоспособные продукты, предназначенные для борьбы с COVID-19. Глобальные масштабы пандемии автоматически создали мировой спрос на такие продукты, что приводит к глобальному сдвигу в конкурентоспособности. В результате меняется конкурентная среда для продуктов, предназначенных для борьбы с COVID-19. Цель исследования: оценить конкурентоспособную продукцию — современное и роботизированное оборудование для дезинфекции помещений — представленное на рынке и разрабатываемое. Задачи исследования: Разработать методику оценки конкурентоспособной продукции и выбрать критерии и методы оценки; оценить конкурентоспособные продукты с точки зрения их функциональности и технических характеристик; и изучить каналы и методы, используемые для запуска конкурентоспособных продуктов на рынок, и провести анализ передовой практики.When evaluating the competitive environment in the context of the pandemic, the pandemic’s global scale must be considered, since all products related to COVID-19 management have no regional competition but rather immediately switch to global competition and compete with similar products or substitutes. It should be noted that no products intended for managing the pandemic were available before its outburst. Even with the onset of the pandemic, not many specialized products, except for some general protection measures, were developed. However, in the two years after the pandemic began, competitive products intended for managing COVID-19 emerged into the market. The global scale of the pandemic automatically created worldwide demand for such products , which leads to a global shift in competitiveness. As a result, the competitive environment for products intended to manage COVID-19 is changing. Research purpose: To evaluate the competitive products — modern and robotized indoor disinfection equipment — available in the market and those under development. Research objectives: To develop a methodology for evaluating the competitive products and to select evaluation criteria and methods; to evaluate the competitive products in terms of their functionality and technical characteristics; and to research the channels and methods employed to launch competitive products into the market and provide analysis of best practice.Дослідження виконано за фінансової підтримки Міністерства освіти і науки України, науково-дослідна тема № 0121U10047

Offshore companies’ participation in strategic state projects and their impact on state budget revenue

Purpose – to assess possible consequences of the employment of offshore companies in strategic state projects. Research methodology – empirical research statistical data analysis. This publication introduces scientific research on the case of employment of offshore companies in strategic state projects and assesses its possible damage to state budget revenue. Findings – offshore financial centres specialise in serving particular economic sectors. Research limitations – although developed countries suffer the most significant tax revenue losses, they promote the establishment of offshore centres. Countries do not learn from their mistakes, especially in terms of tax evasion through offshore companies. Practical implications – by employing offshore companies in its strategic projects, Lithuania supports the double standards and the principle that what the state is allowed to do, private business is not. By taking advantage of offshore companies, corruption offences can be financed. Originality/Value – this article introduces the new empirical research on employment of offshore companies in strategic state projects

Use of reconnaissance methods seeking advantages in competitive contest

According to the experts in reconnaissance opinion after the Soviet Union had been destroyed great many specialists working in special detachments (collecting and analyzing information, operational servants, analysts, IT specialists, technicians and others) were fired in post soviet republics because of reduction of staff, services dissolution, also were tired (20 years' working experience is enough) and on the other grounds. Large business corporations soon spotted the possibilities to use such specialists' experience and knowledge so the services of vindication, security and others as well as separate consulting companies were founded. Some scientists maintain that large world corporations successfully use virtues provided by competitive reconnaissance in order to achieve competitive advantages. The company, which decided to invest into collecting and analyzing information about rivals' activity and plans, is usually interested in the benefit it could get. Therefore in the most scientists' opinion the possible benefit of business information's safety includes the company's funds economy, profit gain, respectability, support in competitive contest, possibility to expand the market (Stephen, 2004)

Review of the Methods for the Evaluation of the Investment in the Offshore Centers

Most of the аuthors emphаsize the chаnges in the business environment, which tаke plаce аfter the periods of the crises have passed. The efforts, which аre made by vаrious countries (especiаlly the countries of the EU) in order to fight аgаinst tаx аvoidаnce or аggressive schemаs of plаnning, аre аccentuаted. The internаtionаl business often uses such instrument аs offshore compаnies for this purpose. Since the performаnce of the compаnies, which belong to this cаtegory, is treаted аs breаking the lаw, they are perceived as illegаl automatically. In juridicаl sense it would be difficult to quаlify аll the compаnies which аre registered in offshore centers аs illegаl ones becаuse in this cаse the compаnies which аre registered in more thаn fifty offshore centers would be regаrded аs illegаl аnd аny business аnd finаnciаl trаnsаctions with these compаnies аre аgаinst the lаw. Аnother аspect is аs follows: in the tаxing schemes аt the internаtionаl level the compаnies, which perform in such centers, help to reduce corporаtion tаx, which mаkes up 15% in Lithuаniа. Therefore, if the compаnies аre tаxed аccording to the tаriff which is twice аs more аs potentiаl profit, the withdrаwаl of the cаpitаl from the country cаn be the only result. Also the fаct thаt the neighbouring countries do not tаke аnаlogous meаsures should be tаken into аccount

The Scale of activities of offshore companies in Lithuania as member of the European union

The activity of offshore centers in the economical area of the European Union also the place taken by them in international trade are analysed in the article. The activity of offshore centers is analyzed considering to the activity of the offshore companies incorporated in the former colonies of the European Union. The alterations in the activity of the offshore companies, incorporated in the area of the European Union and outside it, which took place after the new members had joined are also analysed. The potentials for Lithuanian business subjects to perform international trade using offshore centers are also researched. The authors review the extent of international trade with offshore centers till the 1-st of May 2004, i.e. the period when Lithuania had not become the member of the EU yet, and during the period when Lithuania had already been the member of the European Union, i.e. till the end of 2010

The potentials for using of methods of competitive intelligence in the sector of railways

The sector of railways plays a very important part in economy of the most countries of the European Union. Usually such companies are known as the largest employers also taxes payers in the country, consequently their importance is really great. It is also noticed that the companies, which belong to the sector of railways compete in the market with the companies of other sectors of transport. That is why the matter of planning and implementing of the methods of competitive intelligence has taken on a special topicality as one of the ways to get a competitive advantage in the market. Usually to frame such methods on their own is a very difficult task for business organizations, so they seek assistance from to the companies, which provide them with such service. However it is necessary to remark that competitive intelligence is a continuous process with no interruption and only in this circumstance it is possible to expect the positive results. In our opinion, this process should be started with framing of the methods