The Effect of Strategic Containment on Enhancing Competitiveness through Core Capabilities: An Exploratory Field Study in the General Company for Food Industries – Abu Ghraib Dairy Factory

Abstract

This research aims to determine the impact of strategic containment on enhancing competitiveness, while examining the mediating role of core capabilities in maximizing this impact. The research began with an independent variable, strategic containment, with its dimensions of (adopting alternatives, facilitating assignment, synthesizing information, and implementing the strategy), and a mediating variable, core capabilities, with its dimensions of (communication, teamwork, and human capital). The dependent variable was competitiveness, with its dimensions of (cost, quality, and speed of delivery). The research was conducted in the field at the General Company for Food Industries, Abu Ghraib Dairy Plant, as it is one of the important production plants facing increasing competitive challenges in the business environment. The researcher selected a purposive sample consisting of managers of production and administrative departments, their assistants, and heads of some divisions. The researcher adopted the descriptive-analytical method, as it was suitable for the nature and objectives of the research. To test the research hypotheses, a set of statistical methods was used with the SPSS program, most notably: descriptive data analysis, including arithmetic means and standard deviations, correlation hypothesis analysis, linear regression, and analysis of direct and indirect effects. The research reached a number of results, the most prominent of which was the existence of a significant positive effect of strategic containment. In enhancing competitiveness, particularly through the two dimensions of adopting alternatives and synthesizing information, the research recommended the need to strengthen strategic containment practices and develop core capabilities in the researched laboratory, which would contribute to improving cost, quality, and delivery speed levels, and support the organization’s competitive position in the market.