GB570 Assignment 2

Professor Name

Date (Month, ##, 201#)

Competitive Advantage and the Value Chain

This first section is a one or two paragraph (s) introduction to your paper. APA formatting does not use a section header named “Introduction”; instead the first section after the main header assumes the content is introductory information. The first header is not bolded. This first introductory area is good place to set the tone for the subsequent content. It is important the paper’s content demonstrates original thought and exhibits appropriate judgments, conclusions and assessment based on evaluation and synthesis of information. The main points of the paper should be developed clearly. Supportive arguments should be logical. Content should be appropriate to the assignment, interesting, accurate, and concise. The paper should be proofread more than once. Any item listed on the references page must also be applied and cited within the paper. All papers in this class require APA formatting. This Unit 2 paper should not include content posted in the Unit 2 discussion.

This Unit 2 Assignment requires a 4–6-page paper, not including Title and References pages, making a compelling argument as to why an effective value chain (including customer delight and profitability) creates competitive advantage. This paper’s focus is different than the topics covered in the Unit 2 Discussion (related to the four key dimensions of competitiveness).

The purpose of this Assignment is to confirm your understanding of the direct correlation between an effective value chain and a firm’s competitive advantage by examining the relationship between:

· Effective value chain management

· Customer delight

· Profitability

· Competitive advantage

Write your paper using third person perspective (do not use first or second person pronouns; (e.g. do not use “I,” “me,” “you,” “we”).

This template is already APA formatted: 1” margins, ½” new paragraph indents, 12 pt. Times New Roman font, title page, one line page headers with page numbers, double line spaced and a separate references page. When you use references in your paper to support your content, be sure to apply the APA in-text reference citation format. Any item listed on the references page must also be applied and cited within the paper. If you use verbatim quotes, place the words within quotation marks, cite the reference and include a page number. If the quote ends a sentence, place the period after (and not before) the in-text reference citation parentheses.

When you use section headers after the main section header above, center and bold them. Note that this paper’s header (page headers are limited to no more than four words per APA), the title of the paper on the title page, and the main header above use the same words.

Support your response’s content with at least three separate applied and cited references. Accepted sources are: Library articles, the textbook and the chosen example companies’ websites. No other internet references are acceptable for the Unit 2 Assignment. Apply and cite no more than one referenced sentence per paragraph. Not every paragraph requires use of a reference; originality is appreciated. Use APA in-text citations within the response and list the applied reference(s) at the end of the response using APA formatting.

Correlation Review: Competitive Advantage

In this section, describe the correlation between an effective value chain and a firm’s competitive advantage by examining the relationship between (1) effective value chain management, (2) customer delight, (3) profitability, and (4) competitive advantage. Discuss each of the four elements. Describe the interrelationship between the four elements. You may use the following three sentences in your own paper (no reference needed). The following elements lead organizations to creating a competitive advantage: effective value chain management, customer delight, and profitability. These elements are all interrelated and together create a competitive advantage for organizations. The elements will be discussed further to identify how they interconnect to form a competitive advantage.

NOTE: sub-section headers should be left justified, bolded but not italicized and not underlined. Paragraph content in the sub-sections should remain the same (1” margins, left justified with ½” new paragraph indentations).

Effective Value Chain Management

In this section, in one or two paragraphs, explain what leads a value chain to be an effective value chain. This is a good section to cite a sentence from the textbook related to why value chain management supports the ultimate goal of earning and maintaining competitive advantage.

Customer Delight

In this section, in one or two paragraphs, explain what types of value chain activities earn customer delight. This is a good section to cite a sentence from the library related to why customer loyalty supports the ultimate goal of earning and maintaining competitive advantage.

Profitability

In this section, in one or two paragraphs, explain how the Contemporary Value Chain Model considers profitability as a crucial component for ongoing success. This section focused on why a value chain must be profitable in order to maintaining competitive advantage.

Competitive Advantage

In this section, in one or two paragraphs, explain the correlation between the previously described three aspects as related to achieving competitive advantage. This is a good section to cite a sentence from the textbook or a Library article related to why firms must hold competitive advantage in their industry in order to survive long term and how these elements integrate to make it happen.

Examples

This section will describe and explain examples of companies who have been successful, and who have not been successful, integrating effective value chain management, profitability, and customer delight to achieve competitive advantage.

Succesful Integration

Describe two examples of companies that have been successful in this integration (they have an effective value chain, are profitable, earn customer delight and therefore hold competitive advantage in their industry). Include explanations for your choices.

Unsuccessful Integration

Describe two examples of companies that have not been successful in this integration. Include explanations for your choices.

Conclusion

In this section, summarize the paper’s content without introducing any new information. This is the last section of the paper. There is a subsequent page break included so the next page appears as a new page listing the applied and cited references.

References

Presutti, Jr., W.D., & Mawhinney, J. R. (2013). Understanding the dynamics of the value chain. New York: Business Expert Press, LLC.

-----

Note: at least three separate applied and cited references are required for this Unit 2 Assignment. Accepted sources are: Library articles, the textbook and the chosen example companies’ websites. No other internet references are acceptable for the Unit 2 Assignment.

Note: when you apply and cite references within your paper, use a separate References page. The word “References” should not be bolded. How to format the textbook source using APA is included above. Refer to the Writing Center APA resources regarding how to correctly format Library materials and internet sources or select “APA Style Central” in the Academic Tools area.

Note: References should be listed in alphabetical order.

Note: When you include more than one reference, do not add an extra line space between the references.

Note: the formatting for margins on this page indents the word wrap ½ inch.

Note: all APA line spacing for all content of all papers must be set as follows:

Go to Page Layout

Go to “Spacing”

See the settings area:

Before = 0

After = 0

Check the box “Don’t add space between paragraphs of the same style”

----

Delete all of the red font and the directions included within this template before you submit your own paper into the Dropbox. Be sure to run spell check, grammar check, and proofread your paper.

The university’s Writing Center is available to review papers and if you tell them you are in the MBA program, you will receive priority turnaround.