Competitive Advantage Strategy

Activity Context

This discussions help you to develop the skills to master the following course competencies:

• Critically evaluate information from core business functions and the value chain to enhance organizational knowledge of strategic position and direction.

Activity Instructions

In this discussion, you will further your knowledge of strategic development by:

• Identifying strategic issues that affect the sustainability of a firm's competitive advantage.

• Conducting a competitive analysis of the firm, using resource-based theory or value chain model.

In Foundations of Strategy, review Case Insight 4.5: Singapore Airlines: Reconciling Differentiation With Low Costs, on page 141. Porter argues that a competitive advantage strategy of both cost leadership and differentiation is impossible to sustain.

Describe your project firm's competitive strategy and mount an argument in favor of or against Porter's assertion as it relates to your project firm. Does your critical thinking about the firm's competitive advantage bring to mind concerns, or opportunities for how the firm could exploit its competitive advantage? Do you have actionable insights about exploiting strengths of the firm or insights about how the firm should defend against its weaknesses?