1.In the book What I Didnt Learn in Business School, a team of consultants is studying what HGS, a maker of chemicals for the oil & gas and packaging industries, should do with a new technology code-named Plastiwear. Based on what you have read so far, do you have an opinion about whether Plastiwear can bethe basis for a new core competence that will contribute substantially to sustained profitability at HGS? If you believe Plastiwear can be the basis for an important new core competence, tell what you think the consultants and HGS need to do to determine the business model that will deliver success with Plastiwear. If you are not yet convinced, tell what the consultants and HGS need to do to determine what to do with this technology.
2.Justin Campbell in the book What I Didnt Learn in Business School isa recent graduate of an MBA program. What do you think of his performance so far? Both Justin and his bosses believe he has made some mistakes. Do you think the way Justin has behaved is reasonable considering that he is new to the consulting business? What do you think he should work on from here?
3.What are corecompetences of IKEA? Why do you believe those distinctive competences emerged and gave IKEA competitive advantage? Do you think other firms will be able to imitate these competences? Do you think IKEA will be able to sustain its performance in the future? What events might make IKEA lose its competitive advantage? Should IKEA be doing anything to address competitive dangers it is likely to face in the future?
4.Analyze the furniture industry as an environment for profit seeking. (Consider both furniture manufacturers and furniture retailers. You may wish to discuss the two separately, or to examine other segments of the industry separately.) Discuss where the industry is (or the separate segments are) in industry evolution and the threats to profitability that firms in the industry face. Do you believe that any firm can remain highly profitable in the industry in the long run? Can you suggest a strategy that might allow a newcomer to become solidly profitable in either furniture manufacture or furniture retailing? Can IKEA continue to be more profitable than other firms?
5.Based on the facts in the text, our class discussion, and any other information you have, do you believe Tesla can gain and sustain a competitive advantage in the automobile (or electric automobile) industry? In conducting your analysis, try to use a concept or concepts studied sinceour discussion of Tesla.
