1. What is the difference between operational effectiveness and strategy, and why can't operational effectiveness be used for long-term profits?
2. Does Southwest have a strategy? What is it (be sure to describe the strategic position it takes)? Do the same for IKEA.
3. What is strategic fit, and how does it lock out imitators?
4. What is Operational effectiveness?
5. Who benefits from the gains realized when the productivity frontier expands, and why? Who is hurt, and why?
6. What are some of the drawbacks of increased operational effectiveness?
7. Entrants often have the advantage in strategic positioning. Why is that?
8. List and describe the three types of strategic positioning discussed in the reading.
9. "Competitors can copy every market position; there is no impediment to imitation." Comment on/critique this statement.
10. Give an example of a true, imitation-limiting trade off, as well as a false trade off.
11. What does it mean for a firm to have a competitive advantage? What two things are required, and explain what happens if either of these two things are not present.