The imitability of sources of cost advantage
9 important questions on The imitability of sources of cost advantage
What factors determine if a source can provide sustained competitive advantage despite being rare?
- Must be costly to imitate
- Learning-curve economies: proprietary for cost advantage
- Technological hardware: if bundled with unique resources
- Policy choices: historical, ambiguous, socially complex
What issues arise with easy-to-duplicate sources of cost advantage like economies of scale?
- Do not build on history or socially complex resources
- Firms may experience diseconomies of scale
- Difficulty in reducing operations efficiently
- Managers might not recognize cost increases due to uncertainty
How do firms address issues related to diseconomies of scale in the long run?
- Short-term adjustments: shrinking operations for efficiency
- Long-term failure leads to below-normal economic performance
- Escalation of commitment: adhering to an incorrect strategy
- Need for outside management assistance to reduce costs
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Thanks to StudySmart, I passed all my exams, and with better grades than before! On top of that, I have mastered a very good study method now, which I am confident will help me earn my degree.
For my 1st exam I got a C. Then, I started looking for ways to learn better and I came across Study Smart. Since then I have scored a A+, A, A- and another A. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to hear it. I am so happy with it!!
I was struggling to finish all my first-year subjects for 3 years. Then I discovered Study Smart, which helped me to finish all of them within 3 months.
Because of StudySmart, things are going well in many ways. Before, I always had study stress and no time for anything. Now I feel calm and confident (because of the program). I used to score a B, now I usually score an A or A+.
Hey Chris, I really want to thank you very much for developing the platform, I usually got around C for my exams, now I scored an A+, an A and a A- !!
Since using Study Smart, my average has increased significantly. I even completed a statistics course with a A+ while I'm bad at statistics. I took on extra courses this year, because of Study Smart. Thanks so much!
Ever since I started studying with StudySmart I passed all my exams !!! No more re-sits!! At first, I was happy with a pass and now I only get good grades. Many thanks!
I aced all the courses I studied with Study Smart. For law, I first scored a D, and now an A! I’m 100% sure that I’ll pass all the courses I study with Study Smart.
I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
I immediately started to enjoy learning again, and my grades soared. All of a sudden, everything went better. I highly recommend Study Smart to all students..
Being able to create my materials online made the process of studying so much smoother and quicker. I no longer have to spend a huge amount of my time on creating my summaries.
At first, my notes were a mess. Now I use Study Smart to take my notes in a perfectly structured way. It helps me to save a lot of time and do other things I enjoy.
Students that study with Study Smart get better grades. The system applies all the learning methods in such a way that both well-performing students and students who struggle perform much better.
Hi Chris, I would like to thank you very much. Last year I scored C on a course, and this year I got an A+ thanks to your method! Thank you very much!
The largest effect is that my child is more enthusiastic about school! Every parent wants their children to be happy at school, Study Smart made it happen.
In high school, I failed several exams, and that has really changed now. I actually needed this tool very much back then. Since I started studying with StudySmart, I haven't had any D's. My average score is now an A and those are results I would have never had in the past
With my old method, I passed only 3 out of 8 courses. Since I started taking my notes digitally in Study Smart, I have passed all my courses on the first try. For me, StudySmart takes away the stress of wondering if I will pass or not.
Thanks to StudySmart, I passed all my exams, and with better grades than before! On top of that, I have mastered a very good study method now, which I am confident will help me earn my degree.
For my 1st exam I got a C. Then, I started looking for ways to learn better and I came across Study Smart. Since then I have scored a A+, A, A- and another A. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to hear it. I am so happy with it!!
I was struggling to finish all my first-year subjects for 3 years. Then I discovered Study Smart, which helped me to finish all of them within 3 months.
Because of StudySmart, things are going well in many ways. Before, I always had study stress and no time for anything. Now I feel calm and confident (because of the program). I used to score a B, now I usually score an A or A+.
Hey Chris, I really want to thank you very much for developing the platform, I usually got around C for my exams, now I scored an A+, an A and a A- !!
Since using Study Smart, my average has increased significantly. I even completed a statistics course with a A+ while I'm bad at statistics. I took on extra courses this year, because of Study Smart. Thanks so much!
Ever since I started studying with StudySmart I passed all my exams !!! No more re-sits!! At first, I was happy with a pass and now I only get good grades. Many thanks!
I aced all the courses I studied with Study Smart. For law, I first scored a D, and now an A! I’m 100% sure that I’ll pass all the courses I study with Study Smart.
I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
Under what circumstances can learning-curve economies be considered a cost advantage?
- Must be proprietary to qualify
- In most industries, learning can be duplicated
- Variations exist among firms in learning from production experience
What characteristics make policy choices potentially costly to imitate?
- Must have a historical, casual, and social complex background
- Typically, these characteristics are unusual
- Can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage
What are the characteristics of differential low-cost access to productive inputs?
- Builds on historical, uncertain, socially complex resources.
- Example: Location.
- Often obtained before its value is understood.
What factors contribute to technological 'software' as a source of cost advantage?
- Involves values, beliefs, culture, teamwork.
- Socially complex.
- Often immune to competitive duplication.
How does the basis for costly duplication vary across different sources of cost advantage?
- Economies of scale: Not a source.
- Diseconomies of scale: Not a source.
- Learning-curve economies: Somewhat likely.
- Technological 'hardware': Somewhat likely.
- Policy choices: Likely.
- Low-cost access to inputs: Very likely.
- Technological 'software': Very likely.
What are substitutes for sources of cost advantage?
- Whole package of cost-reducing activities
- Rare and difficult-to-imitate bundles
- Alliances with other firms
- Creation of economies of scale
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