Analysis of Competitive Advantage in Business

This assignment provides a comprehensive analysis of competitive advantage in business, highlighting its importance for companies to succeed in today's market. The document reviews various studies and research papers on the topic, including the impact of sustainability, supply chain management, innovation, and corporate social responsibility on competitive advantage. It also examines the role of green human resource management in achieving sustainable competitive advantage.

CASE STUDY

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
1. Fundamental reason for the success of the company. .......................................................1
2. Way in which competitive advantage is maintained by company....................................2
3. Effect on other companies. ................................................................................................3
4.Sustainability for the success of the company.....................................................................4
RECOMMENDATION ..................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES ...............................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Supply chain is considered as one of the significant management activity for the
organisation (Alias, Z. and et. al., 2014). It helps in maintaining the sales of company. Effective
supply chain maximises the growth and profitability of firm. Therefore, it is considered as one of
the essential factors on which success rate of organization depends. This report is based on the
case study of John Lewis Partnership: Semi-automated National distribution system. On the basis
of this case study, logistic management approach is analysed (Beusch, P. and et. al., 2016).
Along with this, various other factors are also identified that are essential for the success of
company. Further, role of sustainability in the success of organisation is also determined.
1. Fundamental reason for the success of the company.
John Lewis is considered as one of the leading retail companies of UK. They are having
more than 70000 permanent staff along with 240 wait-roes and supermarket. They are popular
for their high quality services. They are providing a wide range of services such as furnishing,
clothing and household (Brown, A., 2014). The fundamental reason behind their success is
considered as effective supply chain. Through this, they are able to provide direct services to
their stores to maintain the stock of products. In order to enhance the performance of supply and
distribution chain, they have implemented Semi-Automated National Distribution System
(Jabbour, C. J. C. and de Sousa Jabbour, A.B.L., 2016).
Through this step, they are able to manage various components effectively such as
dispatch of services, providing direct services to their customers and maintaining data of their
customers with the help of advanced warehouse management system, etc. It helps in dispatching
more than 10 tons of services with the help of automated system (Jones, P., Comfort, D. and
Hillier, D., 2014). It reduces the complexity of process and increases the processing speed.
Along with this, various other factors are also available that are affecting the success of
company. Some of them are like objective, mission, values, strengths and weaknesses of the
business group (Lin, H. F., 2014).
The John Lewis is providing services from the last 70 years by implementing their values
and purpose. FedEx Australia is one of the successful company however, Alpha is unsuccessful
organisation of Australia (Luthra, S., Garg, D. and Haleem, A., 2015). The biggest reason behind
success and failure of any system is their services and the way they are presenting. Purpose and
objective is considered as one of the important elements with the help of which companies are
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able to develop strategies to achieve their targets. Along with this, effective planning and
strategies are equally important for the growth of company. It helps in identifying their
weaknesses and strengths (Muduli, K. and et. al., 2013).
It supports in improving the performance of company and increases profitability as well.
Suitable planning methods are important for analysing the competitive advantage of company
(Sarkar, B., 2013). Along with this, it determines the effectiveness of logistics management
approach. This is considered as considered as an essential factor for controlling the elements like
marketing, manufacturing, sales and accounting as well as information technology (Alias, Z. and
et. al., 2014). Through maintaining the effectiveness of this step, company is able to achieve its
set targets effectually. It helps in the success of company (John Lewis Partnership. 2017).
In order to generate effective logistics management, John Lewis has implemented an
automated structure. This process is distributed into four steps i.e. strategies, structuring,
functionality and implementation (Beusch, P. and et. al., 2016). On the basis of these steps, they
are able to apply effective supply management system. It helps in increasing the sales of
company and supports in maximising growth and profitability of firm. There are certain elements
on which functionality of the process depends such as transportation, outsourcing and
information management, etc (Jabbour, C. J. C. and de Sousa Jabbour, A.B.L., 2016). For this,
John Lewis has considered an automated system that helps in maintaining faster dispatch system,
huge warehouse for storing information of maximum number of customers and direct services
are also being provided by company. It creates a positive impact on the success of the business
group.
2. Way in which competitive advantage is maintained by company
Competitive advantage is considered as an essential step through which company is able
to maintain unique position in the market (Darnall and Milstein, 2014). It depends on various
factors such as communication strategies, innovation and creativity of company along with
effective segmentation. It helps in attracting customer’s towards firm, which leads to the
competitive advantage of the company (Grimstad and Burgess, 2014). It can be maintained by
considering seven steps. Like collaborating various working environment, maintain environment
of work place, effective communication, publishing annual report of company, client concentric
services and so on (Holm, Holmström and Sharma, 2015).
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This is important for the success of company. John Lewis is providing services from the
last 70 years. They are one of the leading retailers and offering a wide range of services. It helps
in maintaining the growth and profitability of company (Karunaratna and Crouch, 2016). Also,
they try to catch various opportunities in order to maintain competitive advantage in the market.
In order to maintain competitive advantage. With the help of Semi-automated National
Distribution System, John Lewis is able to effectively maintain the balance with all activities.
The automated system is able to collaborate with various functionality such as transportation,
navigation, loading and storing (Mao and et. al., 2016). It helps in minimising the processing
time and also increases effectiveness of process.
Through this system, they are able to deliver services directly to the customers. For this,
various online shopping portals are being considered by company. It helps in attracting
customers by providing huge variety of services (Veerendrakumar and Narasalagi, 2015). With
the help of this platform, users are free to place their order 24*7. It provides flexibility and
comfort to the users while doing shopping. There are various types of payment options provided
by company such as debit, credit, online and cash on delivery due to which customers are able to
make payment according to their choice (Darnall and Milstein, 2014).
The Semi-automated National distribution system also helps in maintaining huge records
of users through data warehouse. In this, various software and hardware systems are required in
order to maintain the details of users (Grimstad and Burgess, 2014). Thorough maintaining the
details of users, they are able to implement effective marketing strategies. With the help of this,
step they are able to effectively determine through and prospective of employees. Also, it helps
in handling the risk and improving performance. These help in implementing strategies
effectively through which they are able to achieve the target and maintain competitive advantage
in the market (Holm, Holmström and Sharma, 2015). With the help of these steps, John Lewis is
able to maintain competitive advantage in the market and able to influence maximum number of
customers.
3. Effect on other companies.
The above mentioned steps for maintaining competitive advantage are equally effective
for all the companies (Darnall and Milstein, 2014). With the helps of this approach they are able
to implement this and maintain performance of the processing. In this process corporation has to
consider elements like employees, customers, strategies, work environment and so on. All the
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organisation consider these factors importance for the growth and development of the institute.
Along with this it helps in generating effective services. With the help of this step companies are
able to maintain unique image at international platforms (Grimstad and Burgess, 2014). It helps
in attracting customers and maximising profitability of administration.
With the help of this company is able to determine competitive advantage on the basis of
that necessary strategies can be deployed (Holm, Holmström and Sharma, 2015). Companies are
able to effectively implement this by identifying their strengths and weakness. Along with this
proper use of pricing should be done for increasing customers. Promising services should be
provided for attracting maximum clients (Karunaratna and Crouch, 2016). Variety of services
can be also considered for influencing users towards their services. It helps in increasing sale of
the products and results into maximised profitability. It also provide unique image into the
market (Mao and et. al., 2016). Therefore, this approach is suitable for all the companies. It helps
in increasing growth and success.
Through this approach firm are able to enhance marketing strategies and apply new and
innovative promotional plans (Veerendrakumar and Narasalagi, 2015). It helps in maintaining
brand image. Through this firms are able to connect with their existing customers and retain new
consumers. It also helps in targeting new markets and helps in increasing the growth of
organisation (Darnall and Milstein, 2014).
4.Sustainability for the success of the company.
Sustainability is considered as one of the essential element for the development of the
group (Syarif, A. E. and Hatori, T., 2017). With the help of this step they are able to remove or
reduce negative impact and risk factors on the company. It helps in maintaining growth and
profitability of firm. Through this step the system are able to minimise the adverse impact at
local as well as global platform. On the basis of given case study John Lewis has implemented
Semi-automated National distribution system. It helps improving logistic management system of
the institution (Tamošaitien, J., and et. al., 2014). Through applying this step they are able to
enhance performance of various functional units of the company.
Through this step management is able to increase dispatch number of services. It supports
various elements such as loading, transportation and navigation (Taticchi, P. and et. al., 2015). It
increases the effectiveness of the dispatching process and also reduces the processing duration.
With the help of SANDC system company is able to provide online shopping services by using
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the internet. For this they are collaborating with various internet service provider, such as
Amazon, filpkard and so on. Along with this they have launched various apps and website
interfaces also. It helps in attracting maximum number of customers (Tseng, M. L., 2014). They
are able to considering various payment options it provides flexible payment options to the users.
It helps in balancing both the internal and external factors of the firm, for this they are
interacting with employees and customers (Wenzel, F., 2017). In external factors needs and
requirements of users can be identified. On the other hand internal helps in determining and
employees are able to present issues (Syarif, A. E. and Hatori, T., 2017). In order to maintain
sustainability into the organisation, effective decisions should be implemented. It helps in
achieving profitability of company. For this John Lewis considers thoughts and prospective of
their employees. It helps in identifying the risks and opportunities through which corporation is
able to maintain effectiveness of their process, along with this also helps in maximizing
profitability (Tamošaitien, J., and et. al., 2014). They are also maintaining data ware house
through which they are able to maintain records of their customers.
Through this step they are able to categories users on the basis of their needs and
demands. With the help of this they are able to target customers and implement effective
marketing strategies (Taticchi, P. and et. al., 2015). Along with this it helps in helps by providing
feedback and reviews of the users. This helps in implementing effective steps for providing
promising services. On the basis of given case study, it is analysed that John Lewis has
implemented Semi-automated National distribution system into their firm (Tseng, M. L., 2014).
It is considered as one of the automated system through which they are able to handle various
segments of their process. It helps in maintaining the sustainability into the organisation. It plays
significant role in increasing success rate of the company. It also helps in attracting maximum
number of users by providing promising services (Wenzel, F., 2017).
RECOMMENDATION
According to ( Ellram, Tate and Feitzinger, 2013), supply chain management increases
the implementation of innovation and creativity. Through this process companies are able to
increase their productivity and maximise their profitability.
As it is mentioned into the research ( Mena, Humphries and Choi, 2013) that it helps in
maintaining the performance of various units of the process. Along with this it is creating
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positive impact on the growth of the company. In order to maintain effectiveness of the process
certain recommendations are provided, it helps in maintaining the effectiveness of the services.
As per research ( Martínez-Jurado and Moyano-Fuentes, 2014), it is applied into the hierarchical
structure, due to which effectiveness of the process get increased. While applying this method
into the group the processing speed get reduced, performance is increased and so on.
According to ( Oke, Prajogo and Jayaram, 2013), it helps by providing competitive advantage to
the company. This helps in maintaining unique image into the market and helps in expanding
their business. However, certain issues are also arise that are need to be handled such as
marketing and processing cost should be effectively handled, maintenance of technologies
should be done properly. It provides the competitive advantage to the firm and maintains the
success graph.
Question 1. Alternative for demand pattern?
John Lewis has implemented automated logistic management system. For increasing the
capabilities of their demand pattern, they can implement robotic transportation system, device
based on artificial intelligence. It provides grater production and also reduces the processing
time.
Question 2. Key element and issues related to SANDC.
John Lewis are considering online platform for providing services at large platform. For
this they have developed SANDC in 2013. There are certain key elements are associated with
this process such as users are able to purchase groom their home. All the small distributors are
collaborating with the organisation and reduce service duration. While this processing various
issues are analysed related to the software. For this operating system should be capable of
handling huge interface, along with this cloud services can be also used for storing.
Question 3. Steps for improving services of SANDC.
SANDC is able to provide online shopping experience to their users. During the huge
crowd of users, the service of the portal is get affected due to system crash. It happens due to
more number of user interface that the capacity of the system. Therefore, the organisation needs
to make necessary into the hardware and software configuration of the services, such as by
providing effective GUI, operating system. In order to handle maximum number of customers at
a time the cloud services can be considered. It helps in enhancing the performance and increases
service quality.
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CONCLUSION
From the above report it is inferred that John Lewis has implementation an automated
system named as the Semi-automated National distribution system. It helps in maintaining the
quality of their services and also gradually increases the production of administration. With the
help of this step company is able to maintain growth and profitability. It also provides
competitive advantage to the organisation. Thorough which they are able to maintain success
graph of the firm. With the help of effective logistic management practice they are able to
maintain effectiveness of production and manufacturing unit. It provides services such as
dispatching, collaborate, direct connection, data ware house and so on. Though all these steps
they are able to maintain effectiveness of the process.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Alias, Z. and et. al., 2014. Determining critical success factors of project management practice:
A conceptual framework. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences. 153. pp.61-69.
Beusch, P. and et. al., 2016. Management Control for Sustainability: The Development of a
Fully Integrated.
Brown, A., 2014. Organisational paradigms and sustainability in excellence: from mechanistic
approaches to learning and innovation. International Journal of Quality and Service
Sciences. 6(2/3). pp.181-190.
Darnall, N. and Milstein, M. B., 2014. Damaí Lovina Villas: can eco-standards and certification
create competitive advantage for a luxury resort?. Case Research Journal. 3. pp.1-20.
Ellram, L. M., Tate, W. L. and Feitzinger, E. G., 2013. Factor‐market rivalry and competition for
supply chain resources. Journal of Supply Chain Management.49(1). pp.29-46.
Grimstad, S. and Burgess, J., 2014. Environmental sustainability and competitive advantage in a
wine tourism micro-cluster. Management Research Review. 37(6). pp.553-573.
Holm, U., Holmström, C. and Sharma, D., 2015. Competence Development through Business
Relationships or Competitive Environment?–Subsidiary Impact on MNC Competitive
Advantage. Knowledge, Networks and Power: The Uppsala School of International
Business. p.344.
Jabbour, C. J. C. and de Sousa Jabbour, A.B.L., 2016. Green human resource management and
green supply chain management: Linking two emerging agendas. Journal of Cleaner
Production. 112. pp.1824-1833.
Karunaratna, A. R. and Crouch, R., 2016. Can Country of Origin Branding be a Competitive
Advantage for Agri-Products from Emerging Countries?. In Making a Difference
Through Marketing (pp. 167-183). Springer Singapore.
Mao, H. and et. al., 2016. Information technology resource, knowledge management capability,
and competitive advantage: the moderating role of resource commitment. International
Journal of Information Management. 36(6). pp.1062-1074.
Martínez-Jurado, P. J. and Moyano-Fuentes, J., 2014. Lean management, supply chain
management and sustainability: a literature review. Journal of Cleaner Production.85
pp.134-150.
Mena, C., Humphries, A. and Choi, T. Y., 2013. Toward a theory of multi‐tier supply chain
management. Journal of Supply Chain Management.49(2). pp.58-77.
Oke, A., Prajogo, D. I. and Jayaram, J., 2013. Strengthening the innovation chain: The role of
internal innovation climate and strategic relationships with supply chain partners. Journal
of Supply Chain Management.49(4). pp.43-58.
Syarif, A. E. and Hatori, T., 2017, June. Corporate social responsibility for regional
sustainability after mine closure: a case study of mining company in Indonesia. In IOP
Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 71, No. 1, p. 012029).
Tamošaitien, J., and et. al., 2014. Selecting Suppliers in Green Supply Chain Management.
Taticchi, P. and et. al., 2015. A review of decision-support tools and performance measurement
and sustainable supply chain management. International Journal of Production
Research. 53(21). pp.6473-6494.
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Veerendrakumar, M. and Narasalagi, S. K., 2015. Exploratory Study on Achieving Sustainable
Competitive Advantage through Supply Chain Innovation for Strengthening
Organizational Performance. Int J Econ and Manage Sci. 4(236). p.2.
Online
John Lewis Partnership. 2017. Internet Marketing. [Online]. Available through:
<https://www.johnlewispartnership.co.uk/about.html>. [Accessed on 17th August 2017].
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