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Video Chapter Links

Video Links for Chapter 8: The Nature and Sources of Competitive Advantage

Dave Pelletier Discusses Sustainable Competitive Advantage
http://www.e-clips.cornell.edu/themes.do?id=411&clipID=2731&tab=TabClipPage
Supporting narrative: T Dave Pelletier (CEO of Annalee Mobilitee Dolls, Inc.) discusses the concept of a sustainable competitive advantage and the sources of competitive advantage in the marketplace (approx 4 mins.).

Q) Identify the issues mentioned in the presentation which can provide a foundation for a competitive advantage? What other areas could you identify? Why is it better to have multiple sources of advantage?
Q) To what extent do you agree with the discussion of the limits of an integration strategy as discussed by Dave?

Steve Yu Discusses Analytical Approaches to Identifying Strategic Opportunity for a New Business
http://www.e-clips.cornell.edu/clip.do?id=6698&tab=TabClipPage
Supporting narrative: Steve is the President and CEO of Epic Trip. This clip (3 mins.) talks about how an entrepreneur performed a gap analysis (by considering market opportunities and unsatisfied demand) to launch his new company, and the key resources and capabilities required to achieve this. It can be usefully linked directly to the website of this company to discuss the added value for the identified market segment, of this organization.

Tony Dellamano and Mark Kuperman on Branding, Barriers to Entry and Competitive Advantage
http://www.e-clips.cornell.edu/themes.do?id=411&clipID=6618&tab=TabClipPage
Supporting narrative: The founders of Applestix discuss what competitive advantage means for their business. They address the problems of entry barriers and the risks of imitation. They point to the need for a new start to gain brand visibility and market presence quickly, and to achieve differentiation (e.g. by using local ingredients).

Q) In producing ‘Applestix’, a relatively easy to imitate food product, what are the identified areas in which the speakers feel they can derive a competitive advantage from?

The Value Chain
http://www.e-clips.cornell.edu/search?querytext=value%20chain&id=id&clipID=13166&tab=TabClipPage
Supporting narrative : Brady Sidwell (Rabobank) discusses value chains. A simple overview of value chains  (80 seconds) but this is useful to link with Porters analysis of the value chain and the location and creation of margin, through the linkage of resources and capabilities in the value chain. It can be a useful opening clip leading to greater and detailed discussion of Grant’s text.

Q) What key factors and stages constitute a value chain?
Q) What would a value chain for a plastic writing ball point pen look like?