3 and 4 please

3,4 please

Case #1 Given Microsoft's lackluster performance since 2000, the once dominant company is now in turnaround mode. Over time, its competitive advantage turned into a competitive disadvantage, lagging behind Apple by a wide margin. Satya Nadella's strategic focus is to move Microsoft away from its Windows-only business model to compete more effectively in a "mobile-first, cloud-first world," the mantra he used in his appointment email as CEO. Under his leadership, Microsoft made the Office Suite available on Apple iOS and Android mobile devices. Office 365, its cloud-based software offering, is now available as a subscription service starting at $6.99 (270R) per month for personal use and $69.99 (266QR) for business use. Software applications can be accessed on any device, any time with online storage, combined with Skype's global calling feature. Yet, Nadella needs to work hard to ensure Microsoft's future viability since Windows and Office were cash cows for so long. They are still generating almost half of revenues and some 60%, but both continue to decline. The problem he faces is that the grow margin of "classic" PC based Office is an astronomical 90% (due to Microsoft's "monopoly position), while the gross margin for Office 365 is only around 50%. The cloud computing space with Google, Amazon, Apple, IBM, and others is fiercely competitive 1. Why is it so hard to gain a competitive advantage? 2. Why is it even harder to sustain a competitive advantage? 00:26 a | 55 % Module 5 - Exercises - Saved nth for personal use and $69.99 (266QR) for business use. Software applications can be accessed on any device, time, with online storage, combined with Skype's global calling feature. Yet, Nadella needs to work hard to sure Microsoft's future viability since Windows and Office were cash cows for so long. They are still generating host half of revenues and some 60%, but both continue to decline. The problem he faces is that the grow margin "classic" PC based Office is an astronomical 90% (due to Microsoft's "monopoly" position), while the gross rgin for Office 365 is only around 50%. The cloud computing space with Google, Amazon, Apple, IBM, and others iercely competitive. 1. Why is it so hard to gain a competitive advantage? 2. Why is it even harder to sustain a competitive advantage? IN 3. Looking at different ways to assess competitive advantage in this module, does Apple have a competitive advantage over Microsoft using any of the approaches? Why or why not? 4. How much longer do you think Apple can sustain its competitive advantage? (not just over Microsoft, but in general). Explain. se #2 work as a supervisor in a manufacturing firm. The company has implemented a balanced-scorecard formance-appraisal system and a financial bonus for exceeding goals. A major customer order for 1,000 units eds to ship to a destination in India by the end of the quarter, which is two days away from its close. This pment, if it goes well will have a major impact on both your customer-satisfaction goals and your financial goals. th 990 units built, a machine breaks. It will take two days to get the parts and repair the machine. You realize re is an opportunity to load the finished units on a ship tomorrow with paperwork for the completed order of