This case is the most comprehensive and complex case we will do this quarter. It has two interesting perspectives:

Explore the firm's sources of competitive advantage along with how changes in the firm's environment, an increase in competition or the emergence of new technologies - can threaten the sustainability of the firm's advantage

Consider "where to play" in a complicated value chain when the choices go beyond products, to include vertical integration. It also considers the issues of the trade-offs a firm faces when adopting a platform. This includes the advantages of the platform in terms of costs and greater product appeal for customers, as well as the tendency for platforms to commoditize products leaving most of the profits to the platform owners.

Here are the three case questions to explore:

1. Evaluate HTC's performance to date. What are it's competitive assets and liabilities?
2. Is HTC's competitive position sustainable? What are the main challenges HTC faces? How do they affect HTC's competitive position?
3. Peter Chou and Cher Wang led HTC's transformation from a small player to a top-five producer of smartphones. What strategic actions would move HTC into the top three? Specifically
   • How can HTC differentiate its products as more handset manufacturers enter the Android market?
   • Should HTC abandon the tablet market?
   • What should be HTC's Operating System strategy?