Read the article 'Competitive Advantage or Flexibility' also called 'The End of Competitive Advantage'.
Briefly describe the Theory of 'sustainable competitive advantage'.
Briefly describe the environment in which this theory would be effective.
Why does Rita Gunther McGrath believe that 'Companies are successful, McGrath wrote, because they are "exploiting temporary competitive advantages, not sustainable ones"'.
Briefly describe the environment in 'exploiting temporary competitive advantages, not sustainable ones' would be effective.
How does the shortening of the 'strategy life cycle' and the shortening of the 'product life cycle' contribute to the change described by Rita Gunther McGrath.
Identify a company that has been successful by 'exploiting temporary competitive advantages'. Discuss the key factors contributing to this success. What strategy recommendations would you make for this company.
This is a group assignment. Every member of the group is expected to be able to discuss all areas of the report.
You should meet many times and discuss the issues identified in the report.
Each member of the group will be responsible for bringing two journal articles to the discussion. Each student will be identified in an appendix to the assignment along with the two journal articles this student brought to the discussion and a short paragraph about why these journal articles are relevant to the assignment. The ideas from these journal articles will be captured and discussed in the main body of the report.
All ideas in the report must be referenced using Harvard Referencing.
In the first half of the report you introduce ideas, then in the second half of the report you will discuss and evaluate these ideas to identify what is most relevant and significant.
This is a short report, so fill it with ideas and discussion.
Descriptive material has negligible value and should be avoided. We are seeking analysis, discussion and recommendation, enriched by ideas found in journal articles.
In business you will be expected to produce short well-argued reports. This is where you both develop and demonstrate that skill.