Question: 300-500 words.
Evaluating a company's external environment is critical to developing sound strategies. Identify a large public company that has one or more distinct competitive advantages over its competition.
Using the Five-Forces Model of Competition, and the company's current SEC 10K report, discuss the advantages the company has over it competition while addressing the following issues:
- The key success factors (KSFs) possessed by the company.
- Any rivals the company has and how and why they are a threat to the company;
- The "weapons" the company has and whether they are used effectively;
- Short term and long term threats the company expect to face;
- The likelihood of new competition and substitute products entering the company's market; and
- Any actions the company's Operations and Logistics management can take to improve the company's value chain through, changes, competitive pressure and bargaining power.