Examine the Business Strategy of a Company.

1. Identify a company you would like to learn more about that seems to have a competitive advantage (earns above-average profit returns).

2. Gather data about the strategy of that company, using public sources such as the company website or its annual reports, public articles, and your own experience.

3. Identify the mission statement of the company, if it has one. How does this mission statement guide the behavior and actions of people in the company?

4. What markets or industries does the company focus on? Does this differ from competitors in any particular way?

5. What unique value does it try to offer to customers? Why do most of its customers pick its products over those of competitors?

6. Try to identify any resources or capabilities this company has that help it offer unique value. This is the most difficult step in the assignment, because companies often try to hide their sources of competitive advantage.