The stimulation of regional competitiveness is a difficult and complex process that leads to the achievement of a competitive position against other regions covered in the comparison. The study includes a comparative analysis taking into account the Regional Competitiveness Index (RCI) level of voivodeships in Poland in 2010–2019 and, as a supplement, a Multi-Dimensional Comparative Analysis and cluster analysis. This made it possible to select a group of voivodeships characterized by a stable and relatively highly competitive position compared to the rest (voivodeships: Mazowieckie, Śląskie, Wielkopolskie, and Dolnośląskie). The apparent spatial disparity in the competitiveness of Polish voivodeships may be a result of long-term socioeconomic processes (such as sparse urbanization and industrialization), the polarized growth of competition leaders and the adverse effects of such polarization, i.e., the draining of competitive potential (such as qualified staff) from neighboring voivodeships.
The optimal location of a company is an asset in the market game, it is particularly important in activities where direct contact with the customer is essential. A well-used location of an entity increases the chance of achieving future profits, it is an important source of competitive advantage in service activities such as tourism, gastronomy or cosmetics. This study aimed to assess the most important factors that affect the location of small service enterprises operating in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship. The survey was conducted by the standardised interview method with a survey questionnaire and an in-depth interview. The research findings have shown that the ranking of location factors changes due to their importance for the development of business activity. The optimal location of small service companies offering services in a traditional and/or mixed manner was determined by the following factors: Internet access, the potential for the company spatial expansion, the costs of maintaining the premises, the number of future customers and customers’ demographic characteristics, the closeness of competitors, the cost of building purchase/rental, local taxes and fees and availability of parking space.
SME-sector enterprises seeking to be more competitive in the domestic and foreign markets should build their competitive advantage on the basis of innovativeness. Analysis and assessment of innovative potential translates into activity (or its absence) in the field of innovation. This is important for determination of business innovativeness and represents a component of business competitiveness. This paper studied the innovativeness of SME-sector enterprises in the region of Warmia and Mazury. The results showed that as many as 62.3% of the surveyed SME-sector enterprises were innovative and that they implemented product innovations the most frequently (31.7% of all innovations). Nevertheless, the majority of innovations were local in nature and the opinions expressed by customers proved to be the most important external source of innovations, while the enterprise owner was the main source of internal innovations.
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