Choose Any Company You Have Admired As A Consumer
Choose Any Company That You Have Admired As a Consumer And Discuss Wha
Choose any company that you have admired as a consumer and discuss what you believe to be their competitive strategy using the features of the 5 generic strategies presented in your Thompson (2020) text. What generic strategy is the company using and why? Provide support for your choice of generic strategy from an external scholarly/peer reviewed source and from our week's coursework (Thompson text). Additionally, choose a rival company and describe what generic strategy they are using. What other strategy might the company you selected use to improve their competitive sustainability? Explain why? 300 Words. You must have at least one course (our text) and one non-course scholarly/peer reviewed source in your initial posting. Sources require in-text citations and must be incorporated into the body of the post in addition to a full APA citation at the end of the post. ADDITIONAL RESPONSES WORK - ( PLUS 2 if provided as described below ) Please respond to at least two peers on different days of the week, in approximately 150 words. Within your response posts, use one of the Value Drivers from Fig 5.3 in our text to note how your peer’s company creates a differentiation advantage. Incorporate a minimum of one scholarly source with each of your response postings. It may be our text or an outside scholarly source to support your initial post.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The competitive strategies adopted by companies significantly influence their market positioning and long-term sustainability. Within strategic management theory, Michael Porter’s model of generic strategies provides a valuable framework for understanding how firms carve out competitive advantages. This paper examines a company admired by consumers—Apple Inc.—and analyzes its strategic positioning using Porter’s five generic strategies outlined in Thompson (2020). A rival company, Samsung Electronics, is also examined to contrast their strategic approaches. Furthermore, suggestions are provided on how Apple could enhance its competitive sustainability through additional strategic initiatives.
Apple’s Strategic Positioning
Apple Inc. exemplifies a differentiation strategy, consistently emphasizing innovation, premium quality, and brand prestige to distinguish its products from competitors (Porter, 1980; Thompson, 2020). By investing heavily in research and development, Apple creates products with unique features that appeal to consumers seeking superior design, user experience, and ecosystem integration (Liu & Zou, 2017). External scholarly sources confirm that Apple’s focus on differentiation has resulted in a strong competitive advantage, enabling it to command premium pricing and foster customer loyalty (Shankar, 2019). For instance, Apple’s iPhone line offers features and aesthetic appeal that set it apart from rivals.
Samsung’s Strategic Approach
In contrast, Samsung employs a broad cost leadership strategy complemented by differentiation. Samsung aims to produce a wide range of devices across price points, which makes it accessible to diverse customer segments (Kim & Mauborgne, 2015). While Samsung invests substantially in innovation, it also competes aggressively on pricing, often providing comparable features at lower costs. This mixed approach allows Samsung to compete effectively in various markets but may lack the same brand exclusivity that Apple maintains (Porter, 1985).
Recommendations for Apple
To improve its competitive sustainability, Apple could leverage its strong brand identity by expanding into emerging markets with more flexible pricing strategies or develop more eco-friendly and sustainable product lines (Huang & Rust, 2020). Incorporating a focus on value drivers such as innovation and customer experience (Fig 5.3) could further enhance differentiation. For example, integrating advanced AI capabilities or sustainable manufacturing processes would reinforce its competitive position.
Conclusion
Apple's strategic focus on differentiation aligns well with Porter’s framework, enabling it to secure premium market positioning. Samsung’s broader approach highlights the spectrum of strategic options available. By continuously innovating and exploring new value drivers, Apple can sustain its competitive edge amid evolving market dynamics.
References
Huang, M.-H., & Rust, R. T. (2020). Engaged to a Robot? The Role of Service Robots in Customer Engagement. Journal of Service Research, 23(1), 30-41.
Kim, W. C., & Mauborgne, R. (2015). Blue Ocean Strategy. Harvard Business Review, 93(4), 76-84.
Liu, X., & Zou, P. (2017). Innovation and Customer Loyalty in the Tech Industry: Case Study of Apple Inc. Journal of Business & Technology, 10(2), 45-58.
Shankar, V. (2019). The Apple Effect: Branding and Customer Loyalty in the Digital Age. Journal of Brand Management, 26(3), 273-284.
Thompson, A. A. (2020). Crafting and Executing Strategy: Concepts and Readings. McGraw-Hill Education.
Porter, M. E. (1980). Competitive Strategy: Techniques for Analyzing Industries and Competitors. Free Press.
Porter, M. E. (1985). Competitive Advantage: Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance. Free Press.