错位经营

10:46 May 1, 2013
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Retail / B&M
Chinese term or phrase: 错位经营
台湾两大食品巨头———顶新和统一在大陆的竞争,已开始从食品制造业打到零售业。有意思的是,这对“老冤家”,在大陆零售业的发展上非常有“默契”地开展了“错位经营”。

全文见:http://biz.163.com/05/0311/11/1EIDCBDP00020QFA.html

It took me a whole afternoon to find the right term, but there seemed nothing other than "multi-position management" on Baidu Baike (http://baike.baidu.cn/view/2434764.htm). I checked and double checked and thrice checked on Google but found no reference at all. Please help me avoid a fate of screaming and going crazy out of utter frustration. Thanks a lot.
Jing Hu
China
Local time: 02:49


Summary of answers provided
5differential strategic positioning
QHE
4differentiated operations
Joe Caddock
4multi-position management
Zilin Cui
4role reversal mode of business operation
pkchan
3Complementary (not a technical term here)
Phil Hand


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
differentiated operations


Explanation:
The second link is definitely marketing speak but it is still a valid use of the term. I would use this as it seems to ring true to the source topic.


    Reference: http://www.huawei.com/en/about-huawei/publications/communica...
    https://www.atkearney.com/financial-institutions/capability/-/asset_publisher/1SoZsulwkC6U/content/agile-and-differentiated-operations/10192
Joe Caddock
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:49
Native speaker of: English
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
multi-position management


Explanation:
http://baike.baidu.com/view/2434764.htm

Zilin Cui
Local time: 15:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ChineseChinese
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
role reversal mode of business operation


Explanation:
mode of business operation - 有道海量词典
dict.youdao.com/w/mode_of_business_operation/ - Cached
Both drawing power and aggregate competitive edge may be enhanced through
role reversal mode of business operation. 错位经营可增强商圈的集聚效应和 ...
错位经营在贸易经济分类中的翻译结果 --cnki翻译助手
dict.cnki.net/h_153251157.html - Cached
INGUIRY INTO ROLE REVERSAL MODE OF OPERATION IN THE BUSINESS
CIRCLE OF XU JIA HUI AREA. 徐家汇商圈错位经营模式的探讨. 短句来源 ...

pkchan
United States
Local time: 14:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Complementary (not a technical term here)


Explanation:
错位经营 as a technical term - as defined in Baidu Baike is just product/brand differentiation (the English in the Baidu entry is incorrect, what a surprise!)

But you shouldn't be looking for a technical term to translate this term here. It is not being used as a technical term, it's just descriptive in this article.

It explains later in the article what it means:
"在地域上,顶新偏重于华北、东北和华东地区,而统一则更偏爱在西南、华南和山东省开店...要选择一个竞争对手没有在做、并且没有进入的地区发展"

It's about achieving complementary distribution, not competing head-to-head.

台湾两大食品巨头———顶新和统一在大陆的竞争,已开始从食品制造业打到零售业。有意思的是,这对“老冤家”,在大陆零售业的发展上非常有“默契”地开展了“错位经营”。
In mainland China, competition between Taiwan's two food giants has extended into their retail strategies, but interestingly, these two longstanding rivals are choosing not to compete head-to-head. Instead, they have settled into complementary approaches to the retail market.

Be careful when you translate 默契 that you don't use English words which imply cartel-like behaviour. I don't think the article is implying that.

Phil Hand
China
Local time: 02:49
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
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1 day 10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
differential strategic positioning


Explanation:
emphasize the business level of strategy, not operation.


    Reference: http://www.isc.hbs.edu/pdf/2012-0928--Porter_Prize_India.pdf
QHE
United States
Local time: 14:49
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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