Competition Among Domestic Apparel Manufacturers PDF
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Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2017 Competition Among Domestic Apparel Manufacturers Mary Simpson Walden University Follow this and additional works at:https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of theBusiness Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, and the Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please [email protected]. Walden University College of Management and Technology This is to certify that the doctoral study by Mary Simpson has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Timothy Malone, Committee Chairperson, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Jon Corey, Committee Member, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Dr. Richard Johnson II, University Reviewer, Doctor of Business Administration Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2017 Abstract Competition Among Domestic Apparel Manufacturers by Mary P. Simpson MBA, Liberty University, 2006 BS, Liberty University, 1986 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2017 Abstract Apparel manufacturing characterizes a sustainable means of creating employment and encouraging economic growth; however, 86% of U.S. apparel manufacturing companies and 74.7% in North Carolina have closed since the late 1990s. Less than 3% of apparel bought in the United States is domestic. The purpose of this case study was to explore the strategies used by American apparel manufacturing business leaders who produce competitive products using Porter’s diamond theory as the conceptual framework. Data were collected through semistructured interviews of 4 business leaders from an apparel manufacturer that had been in business a minimum of 5 years in North Carolina. Member checking and transcript review were used to ensure the trustworthiness of the findings. Data were coded using a qualitative analysis software. Coded data were analyzed to identify themes. The results led to 3 major themes: technology, time, and brand development. The findings revealed that apparel manufacturing business managers used technology to produce competitive apparel products by owning the fiber, fabric, and technologies in the apparel products and shortened lead-times to the retailer. New knowledge from this study could contribute to social change through improved opportunities for apparel workers, improved business strategies among apparel manufacturing business leaders, and increased demand for apparel products produced in the United States. The findings from this study may also contribute to positive social change by potentially increasing business prospects for apparel manufacturers, suppliers, auxiliary businesses, thereby increasing revenue in North Carolina and the United States. Competition Among Domestic Apparel Manufacturers by Mary P. Simpson MBA, Liberty University, 2006 BS, Liberty University, 1986 Doctoral Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Business Administration Walden University August 2017 Dedication I dedicate my dissertation to my late parents, C. J. and Melba Simpson. I dedicate this dissertation to Jesus Christ who, through the entire process, helped me persevere every step of the way and through every obstacle. I dedicate this dissertation to my loving husband, Hoyt B. Alford, III, who married me despite working on my doctorate continuously throughout the first 5 years of our marriage. He is a loving and encouraging husband. Thank you to Dr. Timothy Malone and my committee members, without them, I would not graduate. Table of Contents Section 1: Foundation of the Study ......................................................................................1 Background of the Problem ...........................................................................................2 Problem Statement .........................................................................................................3 Purpose Statement ..........................................................................................................4 Nature of the Study ........................................................................................................4 Research Question .........................................................................................................6 Interview Questions .......................................................................................................6 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................7 Operational Definitions ..................................................................................................8 Assumptions, Limitations, and Delimitations ................................................................9 Assumptions .............................................................................................................9 Limitations ...............................................................................................................9 Delimitations ..........................................................................................................10 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................10 Contribution to Business Practice ..........................................................................11 Implications for Social Change ..............................................................................11 A Review of the Professional and Academic Literature ..............................................12 Organization of the Literature Review ..................................................................14 A Brief History of Apparel Globalization and Industrialization ...........................15 Global Competition in the Apparel Industry .........................................................16 Global Supply Chain ..............................................................................................28 i Consumers..............................................................................................................36 Fast Fashion Versus Slow Fashion ........................................................................39 Social Responsibility .............................................................................................40 Overview of Technology and Advancements in Apparel and Textile Industry ......................................................................................................42 The Apparel Manufacturing Industry ....................................................................43 The Textile Manufacturing Industry ......................................................................49 Fibers, Yarns, and Finishes Used in Textile Production ........................................52 Redefined Manufacturing ......................................................................................53 Trade Agreements for Imports and Exports...........................................................54 Corporate Social Responsibility: A Global Issue ..................................................57 Transition .....................................................................................................................60 Section 2: The Project ........................................................................................................61 Purpose Statement ........................................................................................................61 Role of the Researcher .................................................................................................62 Participants ...................................................................................................................63 Research Method and Design ......................................................................................64 Research Method ...................................................................................................65 Research Design.....................................................................................................65 Population and Sampling .............................................................................................67 Ethical Research...........................................................................................................70 Data Collection Instruments ........................................................................................71 ii Data Collection Technique ..........................................................................................72 Data Organization Techniques .....................................................................................73 Data Analysis ...............................................................................................................74 Reliability and Validity ................................................................................................75 Reliability ...............................................................................................................75 Validity ..................................................................................................................77 Transition and Summary ..............................................................................................78 Section 3: Application to Professional Practice and Implication for Change ....................79 Introduction ..................................................................................................................79 Presentation of Findings ..............................................................................................79 Emergent Themes ........................................................................................................79 Theme 1: Technology ............................................................................................81 Theme 2: Time .......................................................................................................82 Theme 3: Brand/Industry .......................................................................................84 Application of Professional Practices ..........................................................................87 Implication for Social Change .....................................................................................88 Recommendations for Actions .....................................................................................89 Recommendations for Further Research ......................................................................91 Reflections ...................................................................................................................92 Conclusion ...................................................................................................................94 References ..........................................................................................................................95 iii Appendix A: Sample Letter of Cooperation ....................................................................121 Appendix B: Sample E-mail Letter #1 .............................................................................122 Appendix C: Sample E-mail Letter #2 .............................................................................123 iv
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