PERSONAL THOUGHTS ON SUSTAINING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE

Sustainable competitive advantage (SCA) is the key to a successful strategy in an organization. The firm is able to acquire SCA when the firm is able to have high levels of performance than other companies in the same industry (Grant, 2016, p. 165). The implementation of strategies results in the simultaneous value of the organization such as creating customers loyalty, production of unique merchandise, good relation with the vendors, brand reputation, quality customer services, great distribution channels and other multiple sources. For example, Coca-Cola has been able to have a great competitive advantage over other companies such as Pepsi in soft drink manufacturing (Labitan, 2012, p. 85). There are both internal and external forces that have made the company sustain a great competitive advantage (Hill & Jones, 2010, p. 242). This can be described as a secret recipe, the continuous development of new products and re-investing of the older ones, global comprehensive distribution channels and production techniques that result to high-profit margin (Grant, 2010, p. 211)

Dell is a company that has also been able to maintain a competitive advantage of other companies in the same industry as it has been able to explore the web distribution channel (Hill & Jones, 2013, p. 273). In the telecommunication industry, the production of mobile phones has continued to evolve due to the high levels of technology. Apple has greatly maintained a competitive advantage other the companies due to its core capacity in the electronic gadgets that is unmatched (Thompson & Martin, 2005, p. 797). The fame of Lady Gaga has been attributed by the unique market concoction that has attracted sensational journalistic reflections that are based on her career of pop music brand that can be said to be valuable best described as speculative at best and suspect at nastiest (Grant, 2016, p. 9).

Leadership is an important aspect of sustaining competitive advantage in an organization. This is because leaders take up the most critical roles in an organization. Good leaders engage their employees in the objectives of the organization that results in productivity, performance, and quality customer satisfaction (GröNfeldt & Strother, 2006, p. 143). When leaders engage with the employees, the employees feel valued hence motivated to do better creating organizational success. Employees feel the pride as they are respected as their great opinions are put into consideration. Leadership also puts into consideration of the employees training in order to advance their skills. The automobile giants Toyota is a good example that has invested heavily in training and qualification of its employees as they have understood the success it has on quality and cost (Singh, 2008, p. 55). It has heavily invested in human resources and positioned its scarce assets in the very core areas which can effectively provide and sustain the competitive advantage (Sanchez & Heene, 2010, p. 114).

The House of Windsor comes out as a good example of strategic success as it was able to overcome the challenges that affect a family owned business. The key issues that it has been able to address included control and power, family inclusiveness, perceived fairness and rewards and compensation. As a way of sustaining competitive advantage, Windsor knew that the strategy will play well for his people as it had little to do with the precedent of Queen Elizabeth II but had a lot to do with the public opinion thus creating soft power that was more influential than command (Pearson, 2012, p. 2). Therefore sustaining competitive advantage involves various strategies to work together as well as proper management. This is because the organization will be able to strengthen its position within the business environment.

In conclusion, sustaining competitive advantage over other organization requires organization strategies to work together. In all the companies that have maintained competitive advantage the leadership of the organization plays a key role in ensuring that all the strategies put in place are executed in the right way. The giant companies have also been able to keep up with technology as a way of enhancing their strategy implementation as well as productivity. It is, therefore, important for an organization to sustain its competitive advantage to enhance its success.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reference

Grant, R. M. 2010. Contemporary strategy analysis and cases: text & cases. Hoboken, N.J., Wiley.

Grant, R. M. 2016. Contemporary strategy analysis. Chichester, West Sussex, UK ; Hoboken

GröNfeldt, S., & Strother, J. B. 2006. Service leadership: the quest for competitive advantage. Thousand Oaks, SAGE Publications.

Hill, C. W. L., & Jones, G. R. 2010. Strategic management theory: an integrated approach. Boston, MA, Houghton Mifflin.

Hill, C. W. L., & Jones, G. R. 2013. Strategic management theory. Mason, OH

Labitan, B. 2012. Moats: the competitive advantages of Buffett & Munger businesses. United States, [Lulu.com].

Pearson, J. 2012. The ultimate family: the making of the royal House of Windsor. London, Bloomsbury Reader. https://www.overdrive.com/search?q=19BE6ADE-5343-43DD-B41C-8D46063756C7.

Sanchez, R., & Heene, A. 2010. Enhancing competences for competitive advantage. Bingley, UK, Emerald Group.

Singh, M. 2008. Strategic management and competitive advantage. New Delhi, Global India Publications.

Thompson, J. L., & Martin, F. 2005. Strategic management: awareness and change. London [u.a.], Thomson Learning.