Sears Core Competencies
Running head: SEARS CORE COMPETENCIES EXAMINED
Sears Core Competencies Examined
July 8, 2012
Sears Core Competencies Examined
All companies have core competencies that they use to differentiate their company, product, or service from the competition, Sears is no exception. Also, it is common for a company’s core competencies to change, as their industry progresses through phases and shifts its emphasis between product and process innovations (Regis University, 2011), Sears is no exception. Yet, when a company’s core competencies become misaligned and no longer supports their strategic intent the business is in danger of becoming obsolete (Regis University, 2011), as their customers no longer perceive the unique benefits the company has to offer, Sears is no exception. This paper will discuss Sears’s core competencies from inception to present and examine why this writer believes they are misaligned, and explain why Sears needs to go back to their roots and re-embrace innovation as a core competence before they no longer exist.
Core Competencies Defined – General
Before I begin my examination of Sears’s core competencies it is necessary to ensure that the reader understands the general definition of ‘core competencies’. There are three requirements that must be met to quality as a core competence: 1) needs to be relatively unique to the company, 2) needs to be a perceived benefit, and 3) needs to be extendable to other products or services (Regis University, 2011).
Core Competencies Defined - Relative to Service Industries
Further defining core competencies is necessary to ensure the reader understands ‘core competencies’ as they apply to service related industries. Service related industries are separate by two key factors: 1) whether the work is routine or knowledge intensive, or 2) whether the work is accomplished with integrated or decoupled processes (Regis University, 2011, p. 1). The result is four broad categories of service industries: 1) service
Sears Core Competencies Examined
July 8, 2012
Sears Core Competencies Examined
All companies have core competencies that they use to differentiate their company, product, or service from the competition, Sears is no exception. Also, it is common for a company’s core competencies to change, as their industry progresses through phases and shifts its emphasis between product and process innovations (Regis University, 2011), Sears is no exception. Yet, when a company’s core competencies become misaligned and no longer supports their strategic intent the business is in danger of becoming obsolete (Regis University, 2011), as their customers no longer perceive the unique benefits the company has to offer, Sears is no exception. This paper will discuss Sears’s core competencies from inception to present and examine why this writer believes they are misaligned, and explain why Sears needs to go back to their roots and re-embrace innovation as a core competence before they no longer exist.
Core Competencies Defined – General
Before I begin my examination of Sears’s core competencies it is necessary to ensure that the reader understands the general definition of ‘core competencies’. There are three requirements that must be met to quality as a core competence: 1) needs to be relatively unique to the company, 2) needs to be a perceived benefit, and 3) needs to be extendable to other products or services (Regis University, 2011).
Core Competencies Defined - Relative to Service Industries
Further defining core competencies is necessary to ensure the reader understands ‘core competencies’ as they apply to service related industries. Service related industries are separate by two key factors: 1) whether the work is routine or knowledge intensive, or 2) whether the work is accomplished with integrated or decoupled processes (Regis University, 2011, p. 1). The result is four broad categories of service industries: 1) service
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