Activity 1:
Analyse the resources of Thermax.
Analyse the capabilities of Thermax. Remember, start with their mission.
Activity 2:
Refer to the list of resources and capabilities. Identify those where there are particular strengths and those that contribute to the vision of Amazon.
Assess their sustainability by completing a row in the following table for each one (adding the rows that are required):
Resource / capability |
Valuable |
Rare |
Inimitable |
Organise |
Type of Competitive Advantage |
Activity 3
Activity 1: Comparing strategic importance with relative strength.
Look at qualities that you have been allocated.
Give each a score out of 10 for relative strength.
Your knowledge of other businesses in the same sector and the sources of Thermax’s competitive advantage can assist.
Give each a score our of 10 for strategic importance.
Industry survival and success factors will guide this.
Ecommerce: Survival and Success factors
Factor | Survival Factor | Success factor |
Emerging new platforms | Compatibility between different systems | Support small suppliers with technology provision |
Rising cost of living | Competitive pricing | Competitive pricing and low delivery costs |
Pace of life | Fast delivery | Same day / next day delivery |
Cyber security | Secure payment system
Constant upgrading of security system |
Advertise state of the art security systems |
Threat of substitutes from the high street | Good web presence | Excellent web presence |
Adequate choice | Wide range of products and choice | |
Accurate representation of goods | Customer reviews of products | |
Dependability | Excellent reputation | |
Returns policy | Returns policy with speedy refund | |
Progressive mature industry | Maintain cost advantages | Seek economies of scale and scope.
Innovate cost saving technologies |
Develop and maintain a good reputation | Foster customer loyalty,
Diversify Become industry consolidator. |
Activity 4: Develop issues
Three issues from the table that the class create
One further issues from any of:
Corporate level strategy
International strategy
Culture, structure and systems.
Remember: They should be posed as questions.
Replicate this activity for your assessment using all you have learned about The Coffee Merchant.