Value Chain Analysis
Many organizations do not achieve the profits they anticipate by using incorrect methods or models to determine the true costs of products and services. This failure to correctly assess the costs associated with business not only affects the profit margin, but the organizations competitive advantage as well. In order to asses whether the organization is failing to realize optimum resource allocation, the organization should look at the methodology first popularized by Michael Porter titled the Value Chain Analysis (VCA). "VCA seeks to define the entire chain through which goods are supplied to a customer" (Booth, 1997, 2). The VCA can be a powerful tool in increasing an organization's competitive advantage; by
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Stabell and Fjeldstad (1998), stated that inbound logisitics can even even apply to technology as inbound logistics can be "
receiving, storing, and disseminating inputs to the product" (p 417). Inbound logistics could be simplified by stating that it is the most basic requirement to begin the organization's processes; be it raw materials, patients, customers, or inputs. Let us assume that the organization is going to develop a new technology for physicians. The organization is going to develop a form of wireless PDA that is about the size of a clipboard. Instead of carrying a paper file into every patient appointment, the doctor will have this smart-pad that they can use to input patient data. Throughout the day, the physician hooks up the smart-pad to his office PC through a USB cable, and the information is transmitted into the patient history. Inbound logistics would include identifying what materials will be needed as well as what software will be needed to support the new technology. Inbound logistics would need to determine what components will be outsourced, which will be built in-house, and what software will be needed to support the new technology.
Once all steps of inbound logistics have been completed, the next step in the value chain is Operations. Operations involves the activities used in transforming the
The value chain is one of the critical elements of a company’s strategy in today’s competitive world, because company’s profit depends on how the successful and efficient it runs its operations and how the end product appeals to the customers at a price that covers all the expenses of the company.
yielding two equal peaks, as observed in some more complex models (Fig. 2A, scenario 2). If two unequal peaks recruit GTPase equally, then the two unequal peaks would simply coexist (Fig. 2A, scenario 3).
Effective value chain as a competitive advantage can contribute significantly to the prosperity of a firm in the competitive arena, but it can cause dire situations if not operated properly (Guy, 2011). However, there are conflicts among companies as to how stakeholders think they gain competitive advantage. Porter (1996) suggests: A company can outperform rivals only if it can establish a difference that it can preserve. It must deliver greater value to customers or create comparable value at lower cost or do both.
Value Chain analysis evaluates each step business goes through from inception to finality. The goal is to maximize the value for the total cost. Costco's mission is to provide their members with quality goods and services at the lowest possible prices. The company’s mission, values and strategies suggest Costco uses a broad enterprise strategy which fits in the societal framework. To ensure employee motivation, Costco offers them a unique banquet of benefits. This include; paying health benefits for them, 50% higher wage, employee retention of over 90 percent, and maintaining employees even during recession periods (Costco, 2010). The Company’s strength is its primary value chains which split into two distinct functions: Demand fulfilment and Demand generation. Demand fulfilment includes input logistics, operations, and output logistics. Demand generation involves sales, marketing, and service department which breaks down into sub-tiers. Costco’s support activities include HRM, technology development, firm infrastructure and procurement. Costco’s weaknesses are difficult to pinpoint; one weakness is persistent low operating profit margins. Bigger profits can occur by not paying employee benefits and with demanding higher returns from their suppliers. The problem would be at what cost? Costco receives cost advantages from value adding major (brand items) activities. However, it continues to experience a challenge
A significant strategic tool is the Value Chain Analysis, organizations can use this to articulate competitive strategies. It allows organizations to understand the foundation of competitive advantage and to recognize and create
According to the theory of Jim Riley, Value chain analysis describes the activities that take place in a business and relates them to an analysis of the competitive strength of the business. Influential work by Michael Porter suggested that the activities of a business couold be grouped under two headings: Primary and Support activities.
Keane (2008) stated to design, manufacture, promote, offer and facilitate its product or services, all organization engages in some activities. All of these activities of an organization are shown through the use of value chain process. The manner in which organization performs its varying activities along with the firm’s value chain mirrors the organization’s background, strategy along with the way in which the organization executes its strategy. Ponte (2008) stated that the analysis of value chain of an organization is used to develop the organization’s competitive strategies along with formulation the connected and interconnectedness between all the organizational activities that formulate value. Francis, Simons, and Bourlakis (2008) stated that value chain analysis is a helpful tool as an organization looks to attain competitive advantage. Furthermore, Rieple and Singh (2010) stated that a value chain is a useful tool in conceptualizing the varying activities
In order to analyse the various types of activities which would help in the creation of competitive advantage he use of Porter’s Value Chain Analysis are done. The value chain analysis will help in order to perform two main activities such as primary & support activities. The primary activities in the value chain analysis takes into consideration inbound and outbound logistics, marketing and sales & after sales service. Whereas the support activities takes into consideration, procurement of raw materials, use of up to date technology, infrastructure of the firm & managing the resources. Both the activities in the value chain analysis are interlinked to one another. It shall be taken into consideration that, technology has been referred to
Michael Porter published the Value Chain Analysis in 1985 as a response to criticism that his Five Forces framework lacked an implementation methodology that bridged the gap between internal capabilities and opportunities in the competitive landscape. This framework focused on industry attractiveness as a determinant of the profit potential of all companies within that particular industry. However, significant differences in performance exist between companies operating within the same industry that can be explained either by the company 's participation in a successful strategic group or by a firm 's specific competitive advantages.
The value chain, made by Michael Porter, is really important to see how a company structure is created. The value chain is constituted by two parts: support activities (firm infrastructure, human resource management, technology development, procurement) and primary activities (inbound logistic, operations, outbound logistic, marketing and sales, service). (Johnson et al. 2011, p.97-99)
“Competitive Advantage introduces the concept of the value chain, a general Framework for thinking strategically about the activities involved in any business and assessing their relative cost and role in differentiation”. Michael Porter, (1985).
Value chain analysis looks at every step a business goes through, from raw materials to the eventual end-user. The goal is to deliver maximum value for the least possible total cost. It is a systematic approach to examining the development of competitive advantage. The most basic breakdown of primary functions includes inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, sales and marketing and service. People should use the other models and frameworks within this software to further differentiate between, and add to, these domains. Product Innovation is one area that is not normally included in the de jure model but is often included in the de facto model. Value Chain Analysis describes the activities that take place in
The idea of the value chain has been proposed by Michael Porter in his book "Competitive Advantage" to identify the sources of competitive advantage through analysis of certain types of activity of the company. In foreign economic literature makes a clear distinction between the chains, initiated by producers and buyers. Value chain "divides the company 's operations in the strategically important activities to examine the costs and existing and possible means of differentiation." The competitive
Now a day, many companies are trying to improve their value chain in order to use the value chain as a strategy in the manner of meeting the customers need and satisfaction. One of the strategies they are using with value chain is to gain competitive advantages for rival among their competitors. Value chain actually can discover and fulfil what customers want and the identification of customer needs will hence become one of the ways to surpass their competitors in term of competitive advantages. Customers can have the best satisfaction of the things that they really want, at an acceptable price level. In other words, a company overall competitive advantage derives from the difference between
It is the wish of every business to be able to achieve and maintain a competitive advantage. A competitive advantage can be considered to be an advantage, a condition or even a position that will make a firm to be able to operate efficiently and also be able to produce products or services that are of a higher quality than the previous ones or than the other competing firms. When a firm is able to achieve increased earnings as compared to the costs it incurred, then it can be said to have achieved a competitive advantage according to Michael Porter, a