Ashesi University College Competitive Strategy Course Code: BUSA 405 Semester One: 2010/2011 Marking Scheme Mid Semester Exams Lecturers: Anthony Ebow Spio and Robert Ahomka-Lindsay Section A (40 Marks) Provide Short and concise answers 1 Explain the term sustainable competitive advantage and why it is so important to a winning business strategy. (5 marks) Suggested Answer A company achieves sustainable competitive advantage when an attractive number or buyers prefer its products/services
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SCM44 Case Study Cheng Gong 1. What are some key success factors in diamond retailing? How do Blue Nile‚ Zales‚ and Tiffany compare on those dimensions? Blue Nile has an obvious advantage in product variety and product availability since customers can “build their own ring” by choosing from an inventory of about 75‚000 stones online. The Tiffany brand is very strong and well established. It is associated with glamour‚ luxurious‚ trust‚ and customer service. So Tiffany can get higher margins than
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1. What are some key success factors in diamond retailing? How do Blue Nile‚ Zales‚ and Tiffany compare on those dimensions? Key drivers of customer purchases in diamond retailing include quality and range of products offered‚ reputation‚ professional advice offered‚ and customer perception and emotional bonds‚ including a positive buying experience and customer service. Success is also dependent upon obtaining economies of scale through such avenues as preferential access to resources‚ an
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Problems There are several problems that Blue Nile needs to deal with if they wish to remain on top such as: ❖ One of the major problem with web based marketing is maintaining and driving consumer toward the website which will pose blue Nile’s major challenge going into the 21st century so how to attract new consumers. ❖ How should Blue Nile Inc increase consumer awareness and confidence purchasing high value luxury jewelry online? ❖ Blue Nile has very little presence outside of the
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Executive Summary This paper is based on Blue Nile‚ a leading online jewelry retailer’s performance in inventory management‚ supply chain corporation‚ customer service and support. By analyzing the main competitive forces‚ weakness was pointed out. There is a detailed problem statement discussing the weakness and reasons are listed. The analysis of Blue Nile’s competitive forces is also a strong evidence of their negligence in a field of market. The term of generic strategy is used in the analysis
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The key success factors in diamond retailing can be measured by distribution network design‚ product quality‚ luxury‚ customization (personalization) ‚ customer experience‚ high quality of customer service in terms and so forth. Blue Nile has built up its distinct advantages by providing the customers with high quality‚ fine jewelry‚ competitive pricing‚ low-pressure selling tactics‚ customization and inventory choices of 75‚000 stones as an online retailed store. Additionally‚ its online selling
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Case Study - Blue Nile‚ Inc. Zequn Fan (Ford) Executive Summary Google is a well-known technology giant in the IT industry. Motorola is a well-known manufacturer of mobile devices. Blue Nile‚ Inc. is the largest online jewelry‚ mainly diamond‚ retailer around the world. Their business model is pioneer in the industry. However‚ Blue Nile found itself stuck in the middle‚ because of Tiffany’s and DeBeers’ occupation of high end market and Amazon’s and Overstock.com’s occupation of low end. In order
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The Nile was the center of Ancient Egypt. It was the reason the Egyptians developed the civilization. The areas surrounding Egypt are desert land. The Nile keeps it fertile. “It rises south of the Equator and flows northward through northeastern Africa to drain into the Mediterranean Sea‚” said Charles Smith‚ “It has a length of about 4‚132 miles (6‚650 kilometres) and drains an area estimated at 1‚293‚000 square miles (3‚349‚000 square kilometres).”(britannica.com) The Nile river actually has 2
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JetBlue SWOT Analysis Strengths • Low Operating Costs- For the year ended December 31‚ 2007 cost per available seat mile‚ excluding fuel‚ of 5.47 cents was lower than that reported by all other major U.S. airlines • Strong Brand- The JetBlue name is widely recognizable • Strength of People- The continuance of hiring and retaining people that reinforce the companies values Weaknesses • Internal Control of Financial Reporting- It was found in a audit that the company showed signs of
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Blue Nile Case Analysis Overview Founded in 1999‚ Blue Nile has grown to become the largest online retailer of certified diamonds and fine jewelry. At Blue Nile you’ll find high-quality diamonds certified by the most respected independent diamond grading labs. You can create your own jewelry were you choose the diamond and they will set it in your favorite earring‚ pendant‚ or ring design. Every order is shipped free‚ guaranteed and returnable within 30 days‚ so you can be sure you made the
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