1 Take an organisation with which you are familiar and identify its distinctive capabilities, using the key guidelines to assist the process. Compare the organisation with its competitors and comment on the strategy implications.

2. Identify the core competencies of fashion companies in general and Louis Vuitton in particular. What do your observations mean for strategic management development at Louis Vuitton?

3. Can core competencies be bought in as a short-term strategic solution or do they have to be developed over the long term? Use an example to support your answer.