Laboratory comparison of technique for rewarming hypothermic casualties.

Abstract

In many markets and firms, positive feedback effects play an important role.\nPositive feedback effects mean that there is a tendency for that which is ahead to\nget further ahead, and for that which loses advantage to lose further advantage\n(Arthur, 1996). Such positive feedback effects result from four mechanisms: (1)\nsocial interaction effects; (2) network effects; (3) scale effects; and (4) learning\neffects. Of these mechanisms social interaction effects and network effects are\nmarket-bound, while scale effects and learning effects are firm-bound (Den\nHartigh and Langerak, 2001). Prior research has highlighted the influence of\nmarket-bound positive feedback mechanisms on market structure and market\noutcomes, but has largely ignored the impact of firm-bound positive feedback\nmechanisms on firm performance.\nIn this study we aim to fill a part of this gap in extant knowledge by: (1)\ninvestigating the extent to which Dutch firms listed on Euronext have been able\nto exploit scale and learning effects between 1983 and 2002; (2) examining the\nextent to which the realization of scale and learning effects has affected firms’\nperformance during this period; and (3) investigating the competitive strategies\nused by firms to increase their productivity and performance. This will enable us\nto assess the success of these strategies and to advise firms as to how they\nshould change their strategy in order to become more successful by making\nbetter use of productivity gains.