competitive strategy Flashcards
(213 cards)
What varies among buyers in an industry according to their use of a product, value attached to product attributes, and other impacts on their value chain?
Relative Value Proposition (RVP) of a substitute
What can cause the threat of substitution to vary dramatically among buyers?
Differences in buyer resources, orientation, etc.
What is a key example of substitution threat varying by buyer segment?
Adoption of personal computers by small businesses
What factors cause changes in the threat of substitution?
Changes in relative price, relative value, buyer perception of value, switching cost, and propensity to substitute
What can lead to changes in relative price of a substitute and the product?
Changes in relative costs or profit margins
What are common reasons for changes in relative profit margins of a substitute and a product?
Industry’s response to fight the substitute, entry barriers, market penetration strategies, rivalry, and threat of backward integration
What are important sources of change in buyer value?
Technological change, development of infrastructure, and institutional factors
What is the significance of the S-shaped substitution curve?
It represents the typical path of substitution, including informing and testing phase, takeoff, and reaching an upper bound
What are potential competitive advantages of shared brand name in business units?
Lower advertising costs and reinforcing product images/reputations
What are risks of pursuing interrelationships involving value activities that are small or have little effect on differentiation?
Overemphasis on insignificant interrelationships leading to ineffective strategy
What are the steps in formulating horizontal strategy?
Identifying tangible interrelationships, examining value chains, identifying specific characteristics for sharing
What can be the result of illusory interrelatedness between business units?
Failure of shared activities or altered strategies due to lack of actual compatibility
How can the threat of a substitute change over time?
Through predictable sources like changes in relative price, value, buyer perception, switching cost, and propensity to substitute
What happens when a business unit lowers its margins to fight a substitute?
It can lead to reduced profitability and possibly industry exit if not sustainable
What role does technological change play in the threat of substitution?
It can significantly alter the relative value of the substitute and the original product
What is a typical characteristic of a substitute in its early market stages?
Higher prices and initial adoption by high-income buyers
How do larger companies differ from smaller ones in adopting substitutes like personal computers?
Larger companies have more complex needs and greater resources for automation
What is the impact of shared marketing departments on competitive advantage?
Lower marketing overhead and enhanced bargaining power with channels
What is the challenge in transferring know-how among business units?
Natural reluctance and differing incentives among units
Why is understanding the economic factors behind an S-shaped substitution curve important?
It helps forecast the rate and pattern of substitution
What are the dangers of business units forming alliances outside the firm for interrelationships?
Sharing benefits with partners, strengthening future competitors, and technology diffusion
What can inhibit the transfer of know-how within a firm?
Lack of systematic mechanisms and differing unit incentives
Why might business units ignore potential or existing competitors?
Due to a narrow perspective limited to their own strategies
What is the impact of pursuing interrelationships with insignificant competitive significance?
Wasted resources and efforts on unproductive strategies