Abstract:

The fast changing internet world has revolutionized the way firms conduct business, relate to partners, customers and suppliers. The internet technology has also enabled a competitive business landscape, which has created opportunities and challenges for a variety of businesses in meeting customers’ needs. Customers are now better educated and informed on specific products and services, partly, because of the roles of the internet, hence greater alternatives for customer. This research provides three key management-focused constructs for building business competitiveness. The objective of this paper is to examine the key determinants of firm competitiveness on three fronts: Quality Management, Marketing Management, and Knowledge Management. Data for this research will be collected using questionnaire survey from a proposed sample of 600 participants from four key states in Malaysia. This research would provide useful information for businesses in building critical capabilities to create and maintain competitive positions in the marketplace. The paper would also be useful in enriching related literature for future research.