Sustainable Competitive Advantage Essay Example for Free

Sustainable Competitive Advantage EssayA sustainable competitive emolument occurs when an organization acquires or develops an attribute or combination of attributes that allows it to outperform its competitors. These attributes merchant ship include access to natural resources or access to highly trained and mean personnel human resources. It is an advantage (over the competition), and must have some life the competition must not be able to do it right away, or it is not sustainable. It is an advantage that is not easily copied and, thus, can be maintained over a long period of time. Competitive advantage is a detect determinant of superior performance, and ensures survival and prominent placing in the market. Superior performance is the ultimate, desired goal of a firm competitive advantage becomes the foundation. It gives firms the ability to put up ahead of present or potential competition and ensure market leadership. Resource-Based View of the firm.In 1991, Jay Barney established four criteria that determine a firms competitive capabilities in the marketplace. These four criteria for judging a firms resources are1. argon they valuable? (Do they enable a firm to devise strategies that improve efficiency or effectiveness?) 2. atomic number 18 they rare? (If many other firms possess it, then it is not rare.) 3. Are they imperfectly imitable (because of unique historical conditions, causally ambiguous, and/or are socially complex)? 4. Are they non-substitutable? (If a ready substitute can be found, then this condition is not met?) When all four of these criteria are met, then a firm can be said to have a sustainable competitive advantage. In other words, the firm willing have an advantage in the marketplace which will last until the criteria are no longer met completely. As a result, the firm will be able to earn higher profits than other firms with which it competes. growth Sustainable Competitive Advantages1. Customer Loyalty Customers must be committed to buying merchandise and services from a particular retailer. This can be constituted through retail branding, positioning, and loyalty programs. A loyalty program is like a orient bank note. Now, when the customer uses the card as a credit card, tush can track all of their transactions and store it in their data warehouse, which keeps track of the customers needs and deprivations outside of Target. This will entice Target to offer products that they do not have in stock. Target tracks all sales done on their cards. So, Target can track customers who use their card at other retailers and compete by providing that merchandise as well.2. Location Location is a critical factor in a consumers selection of a store. Starbucks coffee (shown here Figure 1) is an example. They will conquer one area of a city at a time and then expand in the region. They open stores close to one another to let the storefront promote the company they do little media advertising due to their loc ation strategy. 3. Distribution and information Systems Walmart has killed this part of the retailing strategy. Retailers try to have the most effective and efficient way to get their products at a cheap price and sell them for a reasonable price. Distributing is extremely expensive and timely.4. Unique Merchandise Private label brands are products developed and marketed by a retailer and available only from the retailer. For example, if you want Craftsman tools, you must go to Sears to purchase them. 5. Vendor Relations Developing strong relations with vendors may gain exclusive rights to sell merchandise to a specific region and receive popular merchandise in short supply. 6. Customer Service This takes time to establish but once its established, it will be hard for a competitor to a develop a comparable reputation. 7. Multiple Source Advantage Having an advantage over multiple sources is important. For example, McDonalds is known for fast, clean, and sizzling food. They have che ap meals, nice facilities, and good customer service with a strong reputation for always providing fast, hot food