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Antecedents and performance consequences of corporate refocusing and repositioning

This dissertation entails investigation of the antecedents and performance consequences of two types of business portfolio restructuring, both of which involve change in the portfolio of businesses involved. These restructuring choices are termed refocusing and repositioning and they are distinguished by business core definition. Both restructuring efforts involve a careful reconsideration of product/market choice, business core definition, and typically involve the sale of lines of business of the firm which are seen as peripheral to the long-term strategy of the firm. / Two interrelated research questions guide this study: (1) When restructuring, why do managers of firms choose to refocus versus reposition? and (2) Why are some refocusing and repositioning efforts more performance enhancing than others? First, five hypotheses were developed to explore internal and external antecedents to these restructuring choices based on a review of theory--the resource-based view and the adaptation perspective--and relevant literature. Second, two propositions were developed to explore performance outcomes that reflected the impact of both antecedents and strategic choices upon firm performance. / The results of the hypotheses tests suggest that internal resource factors play a larger role than external environmental factors as antecedents to business portfolio restructuring decisions. These two types of restructuring choices were significantly related particularly to levels of intangible resources and financial resources. The results of the exploratory tests of the propositions revealed performance differences between refocusers and repositioners, with repositioners generally performing better. It was additionally shown that refocusers and repositioners could be grouped by internal and external factor configuration and that performance differences were observed between these groups. / The findings of this study provide partial support for the resource-based view of the firm, the adaptation perspective, and configurational theory and they provide richer insight into the complex undertaking of corporate restructuring. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 56-04, Section: A, page: 1430. / Adviser: Bruce T. Lamont. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1995.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_77417
ContributorsGreenwood, Robin Marie T., Florida State University
Source SetsFlorida State University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeText
Format178 p.
RightsOn campus use only.
RelationDissertation Abstracts International

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