The Significance and Purpose of 1. Enterprise Research

The significance of enterprise research is that it can help enterprises understand their own position and competitive situation in the market, find out their own advantages and disadvantages, find out the advantages and disadvantages of benchmarking enterprises, so as to formulate their own competitive strategies and enhance their competitiveness and market share. The purpose of enterprise research is that it can provide strong support and basis for the strategic decision-making of enterprises, such as market positioning, product development, price strategy, marketing strategy, channel strategy, innovation strategy and so on. Enterprise research can also help companies predict the future trends and behaviors of benchmarking companies, as well as market trends, so as to be prepared to respond and adjust, seize opportunities, avoid risks, and achieve sustainable development.

Difficulties and Solutions of 2. Enterprise Research

Enterprise research is a complex and systematic project, involving many aspects and links, which requires enterprises to invest a lot of time, energy and resources in order to achieve satisfactory results. However, in the process of conducting enterprise research, enterprises often encounter the following difficulties:

(I) how to determine the research object and scope

The definition of benchmarking enterprise is relative. Different enterprises, different industries, different markets and different times may have different benchmarking enterprises. Therefore, before conducting business research, companies must first identify their target markets and target customers, as well as their core competencies and differentiation advantages, so as to determine their competitive areas and scope. Then, according to the degree of relationship and influence between the benchmarking enterprises and themselves, the benchmarking enterprises are divided into direct benchmarking enterprises, indirect benchmarking enterprises, potential benchmarking enterprises and substitute benchmarking enterprises, and are sorted and screened according to the importance and urgency to determine the object and scope of the research. In general, direct benchmarking companies are the most noteworthy because they are most similar to their own products or services and most directly affect their own market share and profits. Indirect benchmarking companies are second, because although they are not exactly the same as their own products or services, they can also meet the same customer needs, thereby diverting their own potential customers. Potential benchmarking companies are again, because although they have not yet entered their own market, they may become a threat in the future and need to be prepared in advance. Substitution benchmarking enterprises are the last, because although they can replace their own products or services, they are quite different from their own products or services. Only when they have obvious advantages in price, quality, function, etc., can they have an impact on themselves.

(II) how to collect effective information and data

The sources of information and data for corporate research are diverse and can be divided into two broad categories: internal and external sources. Internal sources refer to the information and data that the enterprise already has, such as sales data, customer feedback, market research reports, etc. External sources refer to the information and data obtained by enterprises through various channels and means, such as the official website of benchmarking enterprises, social media, news reports, industry associations, business databases, market research institutions, expert consultation, offline investigation, secret customers, interview employees of benchmarking enterprises, etc. When collecting information and data, enterprises should pay attention to the following points:

Quality and reliability of information and data. Enterprises should try their best to choose authoritative, formal and open sources of information and data, and avoid using inaccurate, outdated, false and biased information and data, so as not to affect the results of analysis and the correctness of judgment. At the same time, enterprises should verify, screen, sort and classify the collected information and data, remove the false and keep the true, and improve the effectiveness and availability of information and data.

Quantity and adequacy of information and data. Enterprises should try their best to collect diverse, comprehensive and detailed information and data, covering all aspects and levels of benchmarking enterprises, such as enterprise overview, development process, strategic objectives, organizational structure, product line, market share, financial status, marketing strategy, innovation ability, customer satisfaction, brand image, corporate culture, etc., in order to conduct in-depth analysis and evaluation of benchmarking enterprises. At the same time, enterprises should select appropriate information and data according to the purpose and focus of the research, and avoid collecting irrelevant, redundant and repetitive information and data, wasting time and resources.

Legitimacy and ethics of information and data. When collecting information and data, enterprises should abide by laws and regulations and business ethics, and do not use illegal, immoral and unfair means, such as theft, embezzlement, defamation, deception, threat, etc., to obtain the information and data of benchmarking enterprises, so as to avoid legal disputes and reputation loss. At the same time, enterprises should respect the intellectual property rights and trade secrets of benchmarking enterprises, and do not abuse or disclose the information and data of benchmarking enterprises, so as not to damage their reputation and image.

(III) how to analyze and evaluate the strength and strategy of benchmarking enterprises

The information and data of enterprise research is the basis for analyzing and evaluating benchmarking enterprises, but not the purpose. After collecting sufficient information and data, enterprises should also use appropriate methods and tools to systematically analyze and evaluate the strength and strategy of benchmarking enterprises, so as to obtain valuableConclusionand revelation. When analyzing and evaluating benchmarking enterprises, enterprises should pay attention to the following points:

Objectives and rationale for analysis and evaluation. According to their own strategic objectives and competitive advantages, enterprises should determine the objectives and basis for analysis and evaluation, such as the market share, cost structure, profit margin, customer loyalty, innovation ability, risk tolerance, etc. of the benchmarking enterprises, as well as the gaps and differences with themselves. At the same time, enterprises should choose appropriate analysis and evaluation methods and tools according to the quality and quantity of their own information and data, such as SWOT analysis, Porter's five forces analysis, value chain analysis, strategic group analysis, competitive map analysis, etc., in order to improve the effectiveness and accuracy of analysis and evaluation.

angles and dimensions of analysis and evaluation. Enterprises should conduct a comprehensive analysis and evaluation of benchmarking enterprises from multiple angles and dimensions, such as from the macro industry environment, meso market structure, micro enterprise operation and other perspectives, as well as from the history, current situation and future of benchmarking enterprises, in order to fully understand the characteristics and trends of benchmarking enterprises. At the same time, enterprises should conduct relative analysis and evaluation of benchmarking enterprises from their own perspective, such as from their own strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, strengths and weaknesses, as well as from their own goals and strategies, actions and reactions, effects and impacts, and other dimensions, in order to clarify their own position and posture.

Analyze and evaluate the results and implications. Based on the results of analysis and evaluation, enterprises should make reasonable judgments and predictions about benchmarking enterprises, such as their strengths and strategies, strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, trends and behaviors, as well as their own impacts and challenges. At the same time, enterprises should effectively adjust and improve themselves according to the enlightenment of analysis and evaluation, such as formulating or revising their own strategies and objectives, optimizing or innovating their own products and services, enhancing or consolidating their own competitiveness and advantages, etc., in order to cope with the competition and pressure of benchmarking enterprises.

(IV) how to develop and execute research plans and reports

The plan and report of enterprise research are the guidance and summary of enterprise research, an important part of enterprise research, and the embodiment of the results and effectiveness of enterprise research. Enterprises should pay attention to the following points when formulating and implementing research plans and reports:

Develop and enforce principles and standards. Enterprises should follow the SMART principles, that is, specific (Specific), measurable (Measurable), achievable (Achievable), relevant (Relevant), time-bound (Time-bound) principles, the development and implementation of research plans and reports. At the same time, enterprises should follow the PDCA standard, that is, plan (Plan), implementation (Do), check (Check), improve (Act) standards, develop and implement research plans and reports.

The content and steps of development and implementation. Enterprises should clarify the contents and steps of the research plan and report, such as the purpose and focus of the research, the object and scope of the research, the methods and tools of the research, the time and resources of the research, the results and enlightenment of the research, and the suggestions and measures of the research. At the same time, enterprises should carry out research plans and reports in an orderly manner in accordance with the contents and steps developed, such as collecting and analyzing information and data, evaluating and forecasting benchmarking enterprises, formulating and adjusting strategies and actions, and writing and submitting reports and recommendations.

Development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation. Enterprises should establish an effective supervision and evaluation mechanism to supervise and evaluate the formulation and implementation of research plans and reports, such as setting and checking the progress and quality of research, solving and improving research problems and difficulties, summarizing and sharing research experiences and lessons, feedback and improving the effectiveness and value of research. At the same time, enterprises should continuously optimize and improve the formulation and implementation of research plans and reports according to the results of supervision and evaluation, such as revising and updating the objectives and basis of research, increasing and enriching the information and data of research, adjusting and improving the methods and tools of research, perfecting and refining the results and enlightenment of research, and improving and improving the suggestions and measures of research.

3. epilogue

Enterprise research is an important part of enterprise strategic management, and it is also a necessary means for enterprises to enhance their competitiveness and create differentiated advantages. However, enterprise research is not an easy task. In the process of enterprise research, enterprises often encounter many difficulties and problems, such as how to determine the research object and scope, how to collect effective information and data, how to analyze and evaluate the strength and strategy of benchmarking enterprises, how to formulate and implement research plans and reports, etc. This paper discusses the difficulties of enterprise research, and puts forward some solutions and suggestions, hoping to better carry out enterprise research, improve the effect and value of research, help and inspire.