The major purpose of this thesis is to investigate the influence of the first-mover and second-mover advantages on the competitive strategy and performance.
The advantage consists of sources of advantage and realized advantages each on first and second movers. The competitive strategy means how to realize sources of advantage and overcome threat from competitors.
The relationships among variables are theoretically constructed and empirically tested based on 47 venture firms in the Korea. A case study shows how conceptual variables are functioning in real competitive environment.
The major findings are as follows. First, firms that perceive and realize more advantages of their own, archive better performance. Second, firm’s technological competence can enhance the connection between sources of advantage and firm’s performance. Third, in general , firms try to make sources of advantage into real advantage when they face them, while, firms try to avoid threats rather than overcoming them, when they face threats. Forth, the sources of first and second mover advantage can vary according to firm’s generic strategies, industrial characteristics and product characteristics.
