An athlete discovers that certain vitamins taken during training increases is ability to withstand fatigue. A military organization applies stealth technology within in its weaponry making its aircraft invisible to current detection techniques. An enterprise discovers that a public Internet can be leveraged as a new commercial channel for its goods and services. A salesperson masters Spanish and realizes increased achievement. In each case mentioned there is a competitive advantage; that particular knowledge, ability or technology that makes success a product of design, not a random event.
The concept of competitive advantage spans the wide spectrum of human activity. It follows, therefore, that in the competitive world of business, special knowledge, abilities and technologies have the potential to provide the edge necessary for success. However, the concept of differentiation is quite elastic, and the concept could be expanded to cover wide range of activities, products and services related to customer value. The concepts of cost leadership and business speed are more narrowly focused. The evidence shows that both clearly can provide a competitive edge. But are not cost leadership and business speed also distinct manifestations of differentiation? Perhaps all competitive advantage can be reduced to the art and science of activity, product and service differentiation.
Is your company caught in the middle with no marketable, distinct competitive advantage? Let our business consultants wor with your strategic planning team and develop a winning strategy that will position you within the marketplace for success. We can provide the structure and tools for honest, objective strategic planning. Services we provide include the following:
I. Assessment of Current Strategy
A. Corporate Strategy
B. Business-level strategies
C. Functional Strategies
1. Marketing
2. Finance
3. Production
4. Human Resources
5. IT Alignment
>II. SWOT Analysis
A. Internal Analysis
1. Marketing
2. Finance
3. Production
4. Human Resources
5. IT Alignment
B. External Analysis
1. Industry Environment and Competitive position
2. Macroeconomic Environment
3. Social/Political Environment
4. Stakeholders
>III. Development and Evaluation of Strategic Alternatives
>IV. Selection of Strategic Alternatives
>V. Strategy Implementation
A. Availability of Resources
B. Monitoring Environmental Change
C. Monitoring Performance
D. Stakeholder Reactions
E. Evaluation of Strategy Effectiveness