Introduction:

To ensure you earn maximum points, your professionally written postings should provide substantive depth that demonstrates your proficiency to address topics and advance the Discussion at a graduate school level. Your postings should represent your own experience and the knowledge you have gained through learning, by communicating clearly through the written word. Correct use of grammar, spelling, descriptive explanations, and logical flow of thought are important in all assignments. (Note: Discussion responses are submitted to Turnitin to confirm originality and correct citation of references). Post a main response plus at least two additional conversational responses in the Discussion forum. There must be postings on or before Saturday and on three different days during the unit.

Topic: The Dimensions of Competitiveness

An effectively and efficiently managed value chain supports competitive advantage and achievement of profitability goals. The textbook identifies four core dimensions by which companies can choose one, some, or all of the dimensions to compete. The four core dimensions are cost, quality, response time, and flexibility. The purpose of this Discussion is to apply these four dimensions of competitiveness to real-world examples.

Directions

1. Choose four different companies (choose examples that are not mentioned in your textbook) that represent each of the four dimensions of competitiveness. It is fine for a company to be an example representing more than one of the dimensions, but there must be examples of four different companies and each of the four dimensions of competitiveness must be covered.
2. Use the Library for articles/company profiles providing information related to determining how you categorize each of the four company dimensions of competitiveness strategies. Once you have made your choices, you may use the chosen company’s websites as references. No other internet resources are allowed as applied and cited references for this Discussion, although you may use the internet to support your own research and learning. Apply no more than one APA formatted reference and citation per paragraph. Support your response’s content by applying and citing at least three separate sources (for example, from a Library article, your textbook, and a company website). APA formatting resources are available in the Academic Resources area titled, “APA Style Central.”
3. The response should use first person perspective.
4. Compose a response of at least four paragraphs of 4–5 sentences per paragraph.
5. The response should clearly address how the company achieves competitive advantage by providing value to customers. Include the following in your response: Identify four examples of companies who compete based upon the four dimensions of competitiveness. How does each company use one or more of the four dimensions of competitiveness? How is their strategy evident? How does this competitive strategy differentiate the company from their competition? Explain.
6. Proofread your response, run spell check and grammar check, and proofread again.