Textile and Apparel Industries

Competitive Advantages of the Apparel Industries of Bangladesh: Qualitative Insights from the Managers and Executives of Bangladeshi apparel industry

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Abstract

Bangladesh is the second largest apparel manufacturer and exporter of the world after China. The Bangladeshi apparel industry has become one of the fastest growing industries in the world since the 1990s. This study is designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the Bangladeshi apparel exporters competitive advantages from the perspective of managers and executives of selected firms. The Porter (1990) diamond theory of national competitive advantage was used as the conceptual framework for this study. A semi-structured qualitative interview approach was used to analyze how Bangladesh's competitive advantages are created/shaped by Porter's determinant. The study revealed four key competitive advantages for the Bangladeshi apparel industry: a) price, b) on-time delivery, c) quality, d) product advantage. The study findings will assist the Bangladeshi apparel export firms to identify their actual key resources and competitive advantages.

Keywords: Bangladesh apparel industry, Porter Diamond, Competitive advantage

How to Cite:

Swazan, I. & Das, D., (2020) “Competitive Advantages of the Apparel Industries of Bangladesh: Qualitative Insights from the Managers and Executives of Bangladeshi apparel industry”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 77(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.12034