Managing the Competitiveness of Engineering Services

This study offers proprietary methodology for managing the competitiveness of engineering services based on a consumer behavior model depending on the level of a company’s thesaurus, types of customers and adequate degrees of originality of services. Aim. This study aims to substantiate an algorithm for the contractor’s analysis and selection of competitive engineering services based on innovative and market factors. Tasks. This study defines engineering services; determines innovative and market factors that stipulate the competitiveness of engineering services; identifies economic types of customers in engineering; and develops methods for managing the competitiveness of engineering services. Methods. This study uses general methods of scientific cognition to identify innovative competitiveness factors, as well as the judgmental method, factor analysis, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients to determine market competitiveness factors and identify economic types of customers. Quality assessment methods are indispensable as quantitative approaches only work within a certain area of application. Results. For most customers of engineering services, the key competitive factor is innovativeness. The degree of originality is stipulated by such criteria as the level of co-production, technological effectiveness and customization of services, and customer’s thesaurus level. However, essential as it may be, this factor alone is not enough. It must be bolstered by a number of market factors that are important for the customer. A competitiveness model for engineering services allows a transition towards parametric management methods, which involve step-by-step selection of the most competitive services. It begins with studying the customer’s needs and then going through the stages of technological search with due consideration to the market factors important for the customer. Conclusions. The proposed approach to managing the competitiveness of engineering services can be recommended to engineering companies that act as prime contractors and face he problem of selecting a competitive solution from several alternatives. The proposed mechanism takes into consideration the economic type of the customer; originality of the proposed solution, including the technological/non-technological nature of an innovation; and a combination of market factors that hinge on techno-economic characteristics.

интеллектуальные услуги, инжиниринговые услуги, инновации в сфере услуг, управление конкурентоспособностью, кастомизация, уровень тезауруса, покупательское поведение, knowledge services, engineering services, innovations in service industry, competitiveness management, customization, thesaurus level, customer behavior

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