...Understand the Competitive Advantages of Competitors 1. What to Cover – Carefully evaluate established or emerging competitors in the market to identify their strengths. Consider their weaknesses and what opportunities this creates for a new company to potentially establish a foothold in the market by addressing those gaps. Also evaluate companies that have established a leadership position in other markets for ideas and examples of how competitive advantages can effectively be developed. Review what is known about the competitive landscape to understand factors in the external environment that may be a source of competitive advantage. Then, name the competitive advantages that these companies have developed (i.e., what they do well that others cannot easily imitate), as well as the business strategies they have put into place to capitalize on them. 2. Where to Look – * Analyst Reports – If players in the competitive landscape are public, carefully review analyst reports for clues regarding a company’s core assets, strengths, and sources of competitive advantage. These publications may also provide information about the chosen business strategies of public companies. * Personal Networks – Network with individuals in the field to gain insight into the competitive advantages and supporting business strategies that have been chosen by these companies, how well their strategies support their competitive advantages, and any difficulties they have encountered along...
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...press damaging their reputation. Spotify’s argument is that they are paying the rights holders a fair price but it’s the record labels who are not paying artists fairly. Also they claim that paying subscribers are paying on average more on music monthly than if they were to pay for downloads and physical copies. Another weakness is that 90% of Spotify’s revenue is generated by paying subscribers, this puts Spotify under pressure to keep paying subscribers happy otherwise the amount the artist earns will decrease. This could result in further artists leaving Spotify, and possibly meaning that advertisers will invest less into Spotify due to loss of users. With streaming being the most popular form of consuming music currently many other competitors have entered the market...
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...technology, Netflix will begin to offer ultrahigh definition video formats, with about twice the resolution of a traditional HDTV. Netflix is also very much content based. For instance, recently, several years after the cancellation of cult favorite “Arrested Development”, the company revived the show for a fourth season. It initially received mixed reviews from critics but has attracted a high number of viewership. The company has also allowed rampage viewing of exclusive content in order to differentiate itself from competitors. Secondly, Netflix always gives the audience what they want so they will subscribe. People always want ways to watch what they like and when they want. The company has tried to change the model from the inside with their own content. The company has forgone the strict windows where people cannot see a movie for ages if they miss it in theatres or get a boxed set of their favorite TV show for a year plus. In addition, Netflix has competitive advantages with regard to * Selection * Convenience and * Price...
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...The Competitive Advantage of Heinz Company over Competitors Student Name Institutional Affiliation The Competitive Advantage of Heinz Company over Competitors Heinz Company is the most global of all the American based food companies. It is famous for its iconic brands that it markets in six continents. The company offers nutritious, convenient, and delicious food for families across 200 nations in the world. In more than 50 of these countries, Heinz Company enjoys the market leadership position. Heinz Company was founded in 1869, which is an indication that it has long historical roots and a wealth of knowledge in the industry (Heinz, n.d). Into the bargain, Heinz is well known for its ketchup product. The company sells more than 650 million bottles of Heinz ketchup every year to millions of households across the globe. In addition to ketchup, the company also markets an ever-expanding selection of other great tasting foods. Its main products include ketchup, meals, sauces, snacks, as well as infant nutrition. To this end, Heinz Company is committed to enriching all family’s eating experience, whether at home, on the move or dining out (Heinz, n.d). More importantly, Heinz employees are highly skilled and innovative, which facilitate them to create new products, perfect fresh ideas, as well as develop nutritious and innovative foods for today’s families. Heinz Company is a trusted...
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...INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS Name Institution Date V b b b b b b b b b b b n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n b b b b h h jj h h n n Thesis Statement: Utility of Stakeholder Theory for Sustainable Business Introduction Strategies employed by international companies to gain competitive advantage over their rivals differ from one company to another. One way of doing this is ensuring that they are environmentally conscious in how they partake their activities. In this modern age, they should not only focus on profit making but also consider how their activities affect the stakeholders of the business; hence the stakeholder model. The Stakeholder Model Unlike the traditional economic model that focused on the main goal of profit making, the Stakeholder theory focuses on more values and ways to make the stakeholders comfortable in the business. A business has more than the three employer,employee,supplier as stakeholders .The stakeholder model thus looks to balance out all these stakeholders in order to reduce any conflict that may arise from the all-inclusive environment. It is important for any company to recognize its social obligation in society in order to abide and custom its operations in the same line. Figure 5.23 presents the different dimensions of social aspect of community such as pollution, health care to employees among other societal obligations. In order to measure a company’s social and environmental performance, the triple bottom- line accounting caters for...
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...Group Coursework Submission Form Specialist Masters Programme Please list all names of group members: (Surname, first name)1.Brinkmann, Justus2. Nkwam, Samuel3.Ohanele, Uchenna | 4.Sjohaug, Julie5. Stennicke-Roensholdt, ShaneA5 A5 6.7. GROUP NUMBER: | MSc in: Management | Module Code:SMM880 | Module Title:Strategy Analysis | Lecturer: Dr Kamuriwo, Dzidziso | Submission Date: 12/10/2015 | Declaration: By submitting this work, we declare that this work is entirely our own except those parts duly identified and referenced in my submission. It complies with any specified word limits and the requirements and regulations detailed in the coursework instructions and any other relevant programme and module documentation. In submitting this work we acknowledge that we have read and understood the regulations and code regarding academic misconduct, including that relating to plagiarism, as specified in the Programme Handbook. We also acknowledge that this work will be subject to a variety of checks for academic misconduct. We acknowledge that work submitted late without a granted extension will be subject to penalties, as outlined in the Programme Handbook. Penalties will be applied for a maximum of five days lateness, after which a mark of zero will be awarded. | Marker’s Comments (if not being marked on-line): | % % Deduction for Late Submission: Final Mark: TSURU Strategy Analysis Group A-5: Justus Brinkmann, Samuel...
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...Integrative Case Analysis – Competitive Strategy eHarmony Industry Structure and Value Creation/Capture From times immemorial, with the possible exception of Adam and Eve (whose marriage was probably made in heaven anyway), finding a life partner on Earth has been a difficult task. Wars have been waged, monuments erected and kingdoms won and lost, in partner-acquisition endeavors. People have used numerous techniques, institutions, practices and systems over time to try to perfect the art of finding a partner that they could be happy with. Yet no system is universally accepted as a formula for success. The Internet in the mid-to-late 1990’s offered the promise of making the partner search process more efficient, quicker (for some), less onerous, and less emotionally draining than other means. This led to the creation of a new Industry – the Online Personals Industry – which I would define as “a collection of online services built specifically to cater to the needs of those looking online for a relationship partner, whether for marriage or long-or-short-term companionship”. By leveraging the power of faster communication, access to a large number of candidates and intelligent learning systems to suggest possible matches, online personals sites had an opportunity to carve out a non-trivial share of the matchmaking or partner-finding “market”. Technology had the additional benefit of bringing together people from distant geographies (I have a Chinese-American friend who met...
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...sculptures and installations. Donovan, whose work is composed of everyday objects like pencils and toothpicks, has explained, "It's all about perceiving this material from a distance and close up and how the light interacts with it." View more of the artist's work at pacegaUery.com. S R T G IS STUCK. For too long the business world an inflection point. Thefieldof strategy needs to acT AE Y has been obsessed with the notion of building a sus- knowledge what a multitude of practitioners already tainable competitive advantage. That idea is at the know: Sustainable competitive advantage is now the core of most strategy textbooks; it forms the basis exception, not the rule. Transient advantage is the of Warren Buffett's investment strategy; it's central new normal. to the success of companies on the "most admired" lists. I'm not arguing that it's a bad idea—obviously, The Anatomy of a Transient Advantage it's marvelous to compete in a way that others can't Any competitive advantage—whether it lasts two imitate. And even today there are companies that seasons or two decades—goes through the same create a strong position and defend it for extended...
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...burden. Online automobile sales could deteriorate while CarMax grows to become a major player in the industry. For example, customers will purchase books for cheaper on Amazon after they view the price at Barnes & Noble. A wide range of vehicles can be taken for a test drive at CarMax and then bought online at a lower price, due to the lower overhead costs which is associated with dealerships having to buy and rent their lots. CarMax is capable of earning substantial returns which are considered above average in a depressed industry, and the only company to make profits in the automotive industry during the economic decline of 2008. This fact paints the company an image by showing they possess several competitive advantages. Although, these advantages are questionable as to whether the company will be able to sustain this kind of success, due to the accessibility of substitutes, and the cultural and social change which favors economical modes of transportation. CarMax can remove the danger of substitutes by revealing possible compromises which companies have made in the industry. Also, the automotive industry can unite by lobbying for supportive legislation which prevents creation of substitutes. While companies like Tesla attempt to sell straight to consumers, CarMax and other...
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...their information with their competitors. The information they receive will help them to make improvements on the stores that are not doing so well. The finance department will also make future targets for the business to achieve. Tesco finance department collect information about their sales/profit figures and put it in a report for end of the year, this is also can be used to compare with their previous years to improve. A way a business would obtain financial information is through deducting the cost by the profit in order to find out the operating costs. It will also be used to set budgets. Analyse sales, and also predict profits. Tesco financial information will help them to plan future budgets and spending’s. The information will also help them on how well their stores are doing. The advantage for Tesco is they can make improvements on which areas their business is not doing well and they can compare their previous year to make improvements on. Another disadvantage is Tesco can check their competitors finance reports to help with information to improve. When you manage your finances well, you know exactly what you're spending and what you're earning. You also know when funds will be available. The Financial managers forces you and everyone else in the business to make a case for everything on which they're spending. You also can prevent fraud. The disadvantage is Tesco competitors will be able to access Tesco finance reports and have an advantage to beat Tesco another disadvantage...
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...and a deeply entrenched culture of good work ethic. This is the foundation of GPC’s strength and is felt on every level of the organization. These are the companies values and they work from them. This newfound information could potentially ruin the prestige reputation of the company and the Parker name. Given the situation that their founder was a theif, must make the correct decision. Ethically, they should go public with the new information, accept the damage to the reputation and accept the lighter punishment. The ethics of the company were core to this dilemma. Obviously, GPC’s competitors would utilize this situation to punish them and try to take the upper hand. The name GPC would be subject to bad publicity, as well as its image. Sales could potentially drop if there are many close substitutes causing lay offs and potentially further decline until the end of GPC’s existence. Competitors have the potential to gain sales and new customers. However, given how long ago this situation occurred, some rational people may overlook the fact that it happened long ago. Loyal customers may in fact remain loyal as they know that the current generation had nothing to do with being dishonest if the information is brought to light. In my opinion, I believe GPC should not go public with the...
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...stimuli they tried it at the beginning on animals for example the racing dogs and horses then athletes started to use it after seeing its crazy effect on the performance and the shape of the body. In the first place, according to researches and surveys about the advantages and disadvantages of Performance Enhancing Drugs on health some people think that “If each of us ought to be free to assume risks that we think are worth taking, shouldn't athletes have the same freedom as anyone else? In particular, if athletes prefer the gains in performance allegedly provided by the use of steroids, along with the increased risk of harm to the alternative of less risk and worse performance, what gives anyone the right to interfere with their choice? After all, if we should not forbid smokers from risking their health by smoking, why should we prohibit track stars or weightlifters from taking risks with their health in pursuit of their goals” but, “Performance enhancers, like steroids and other forms of doping, have a negative effect on long-term health. For then users of these enhancers are hurting themselves in the long run without on the average improving their short-term rewards from athletic competition, as long as competitors also use harmful enhancers. This is the main rationale for trying to ban...
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...are well placed in the market. Also understanding the fact that they have a very strong promotional strategy, by using different tools they tempt their customers towards an exciting era of innovation. The fact that Motorola has been involved in the venture of Telco TV services by Verizon and this has provided the advantage to be placed in the rapidly growing market. One of the analysts has also instructed that Motorola has such products that can allow it to easily enter the mature market where risk is extensively high then in comparison to its competitors. Motorola has also expanded its products worldwide and to different other foreign countries where it has started to penetrate it into new markets. Thus this will allow them to enter in to a diverse area and thus will also help them to enhance their expertise. However, it’s not always good news Motorola is operating in a very dynamic market which makes it highly possible for increasing threats to occur. Thus, the biggest threat to Motorola is from Japan which is producing high quality products and flooding them abroad attached with it a cheap price. Also we cannot say that Motorola is the only firm with an advantage of wireless technology because we have other firms like ADB which has provided us a huge success and scope in the area of IP-DTT-STD arena. Thus this company is also getting very much attraction from the Western Europe where it has created it has created a small exclusive market. Also Motorola’s...
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...decided to do this the best option would be to introduce new technology into the production process as even though it would cause job loses it would improve overall efficiency greatly by making processes be completed quicker. Burkinshaw needed to improve its efficiency as the productivity of the workforce was lower than that of competitors therefore competitors had an advantage, if competitors continued to have an advantage they would start taking Burkinshaw’s customers and Burkinshaw would lose its’ 3% market share. He held a meeting with the union to explain the reasons for the need to improve efficiency but they were not happy with the job losses that would come with it so held multiple one day strikes that disrupted the business greatly for multiple days and meant that efficiency dipped even further. Therefore Andrew decided to move all the production processes into purpose-built factories in China as these will help bring efficiency back up. The UK unions were never going to be happy with Andrew’s choice of the new technology and many workers would continue striking, he had to somehow increase efficiency otherwise Burkinshaw would ‘fall’ to their competitors and if the unions and the workers would not get ‘onboard’ for that plan Andrew had to think of a new feasible one. As the new factories in China are purpose-built it means Burkinshaw does not have to spend as much on new technology or getting old(er) factories mended to meet their requirements. Also as all the technology would...
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...Explain what is meant by sustainable competitive advantage..(SCA or just CA) A CA can be described as ‘an advantage a firm has over a competitor or over a group of competitors within the same market or industry’ (Kay 1993). It must be however, a relative advantage, which is to say that it should be compared to the competition. For example, Apple’s brand image is an advantage, because the logo is instantly recognisable, and could call itself more recognisable than competitors such as Blackberry or Nokia. Jack Welch (formerly of GE) said that ‘if you don’t have a CA, then don’t compete.’ This quote highlights the importance of a CA in business terms, and shows how it can be the difference between surviving in a market, or dominating in a market. The development of the CA is interesting; and it can be split into three main stages. Initially, the development of a CA was thought to be down to leadership; if a firm had a successful leader, then they would make successful decisions that would benefit the firm. However, in 1980, Michael Porter developed a theory which toppled this. Using his ‘5 Forces Model’, Porter believed that a firm could create a CA through differentiation (thus nullifying the threat of substitutes and the bargaining power of consumers) and/or through low costs (nullifying the threat of new entrants and suppliers.) Porter believed that by analysing the external environment, a firm could pick a good industry to enter and succeed in. This strategy in...
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