There are 6 Assignments/short essays to complete. Each assigment has reading involved. Each assignment/essay should NOT be shorter than half a page. So 6 Assignments in total would equal about 3/4 of a page to get 4 pages in total. In other words each assignment/essay should be about 183 words.

Here is the description of the single assignments:

1 – Imitating Differentiators – after lecture BUSPOLweek9+10b

Please read through the text Pretty profitable parrots. After that, think about a highly differentiated brand that you know and that convinces you. Please identify three features of the differentiated product/service that are completely comparable to the offers of competitors. In case you know it, also add: Have they imitated it from others, or have they innovated regarding this feature, and then it was imitated by the rest?

2- Five guys in 2011 – after lecture BUSPOLweek9+10b

First, read through the texts “porterwhatisstrategypart3” and “fiveguys”.
Then, start the assignment:
Porter argues that the real strategic challenge is NOT to do things suggested by sales personnel, customers or R+D engineers, as too many activities make you lose focus. Please describe the differentiation strategy of Five guys, and offer a list of opportunities they intentionally decided to forgo.

3 – Duane Reade in 2005 – – after lecture BUSPOLweek9+10c

Please identify the trade-offs of Duane Reade in 2005. As you have learned, firms with a sustainable competitive advantage often intentionally neglect certain activities of the value chain, to focus on other activities instead (that constitute a certain trade off), thus making it harder for competitors to imitate everything they are doing. Please prove the point by examining the activities of Duane Reade. Identify three trade-offs they are exploiting. What activities and/or resources are they neglecting, and how does this lead to superior skills/competitive advantage in other areas?

4 – Assignment “Outsourcing1” – after it has been addressed in the lecture week 11

While the 1960ies experienced the triumph of doing everything in-house, starting with the 1980ies outsourcing became a business imperative. However, in the last decade, outsourcing initiatives received mixed feedback. Where does the new-found skepticism come from, according to this article (and could YOU suggest additional reasons?).

5 – Assignment “Alliance=Affairs” – after it has been addressed in the lecture week 11

The Economist article The end of the affair compares strategic alliances and joint ventures with human relationships. According to this article, what are the most likely problems that such partnerships might experience?.

6 – Assignment “Apple1+2” – after it has been addressed in the lecture week 11

Please read through the text Apple1 to understand why Apple relies on outsourcing. If you had to rank the motives (Capabilities/Opportunism/Flexibility), which ranking makes most sense to you?
Reading through the text Apple2, which of the three motives should Apple have paid more attention to, with hindsight?

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The additional reading which is required for these assignments are all attached. To make it easier for you each attached reading begins with a number corresponding the assigment. So the attachment that begins with a “1” is related to assignment 1 and so on.

The writing should be at a college level.
No sources needed but very much recommended to cite the texts that you have to read.. “As so and so mentions in the article it is clear that… ” but no proper citations are needed.