Abstract
The hypothesis that will be addressed in this research paper is that product diversification has an effect on firm performance. More specifically this proposed relationship will be an inverted-U, meaning that diversification will increase performance up to an optimal level, at which point more diversification will cause performance to decrease. The variables included in the conceptual model are firm performance as the dependent variable and then firm size, economies of scale, capital intensity, competition, industry growth, and most importantly diversification as the independent variables. A multivariate OLS regression model will be used to analyze the relationship empirically. The data set used for this study consists of over 1000 manufacturing firms compiled from the Compustat database. The results from the empirical study show no statistically significant relationship between diversification and firm performance.
Advisor
Sell, John
Second Advisor
Duffus, LuAnn
Department
Business Economics
Recommended Citation
DeBoer, Kendall E., "Does Product Diversification Matter? Theoretical and Empirical Analysis on the Product Diversification- Firm Performance Relationship" (2014). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 6045.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/6045
Disciplines
Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Business and Corporate Communications
Keywords
diversification, firm performance
Publication Date
2014
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2014 Kendall E. DeBoer