SWOT Analysis and Competitive Advantage for strategy implementation

SWOT Analysis and Competitive Advantage for strategy implementation

This is an assignment that discusses the SWOT’s Analysis and Competitive Advantage that leads to effective strategy implementation in companies.

SWOT’s Analysis and Competitive Advantage for strategy implementation

Firstly, this assignment is about how a company can use its resources (tangible, intangible, and organizational capabilities) to build and sustain a competitive advantage.

Secondly, SWOT’s analysis is one that determines the OPPORTUNITIES AND THREATS existing in the External Environment that an industry faces. The usage of INTERNAL ANALYSIS is to determine the Strengths and Weaknesses that a company has. Both analyses taken together are used to build an effective company strategy.
Thirdly, an effective strategy is building by taking advantage of the favorable conditions in the general environment. Also, in minimizing the effect of the unfavorable conditions, capitalizing on a company’s strengths, and offsetting its weaknesses. Proper analysis and application of these principles can lead to a company achieving a competitive advantage over its industry rivals, resulting in superior financial performance.
Three companies that have done an outstanding job in developing and maintaining a competitive advantage in their industries are Caterpillar (construction equipment industry), Netflix (entertainment streaming), Zara (clothing industry), and Nucor (steel industry).

Select one of the three companies, do some online research, to determine what their competitive advantage is over other firms in their industry.  Answer the following questions:
1.What do they do better than their competitors?
2.What resources and capabilities do they have to help them achieve their competitive advantage?
3.How does the company compete in its industry (the basis of competition)? [As an example, are they the low-cost provider or do they compete on superior product design or quality, etc.] Explain how you concluded what their basis of completion is.
4.What are some of the measures of their success?