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Identify two companies—one that you believe pursues a lowest-cost strategy and another that pursues a differentiation strategy. Relying on
personal knowledge, company annual reports, or articles in newspapers and
business periodicals, discuss their competitive strategies.
Please respond in short to theses students comments:
Ian
A company that
operates with a lowest cost strategy would be Amazon. One of Amazon’s
strategies is to produce products that are similar to their competitors at a
lower cost. Since they are able to mass-produce products at a lower cost it
allows them to gain greater profits. The low price point also makes it
difficult for competitors to compete for business. Amazon has also been known
to sell their competition on their website only to mass-produce a product of
equal quality at a lower price point.
A company that
operates with a differentiation strategy would be Nike. This company offers
products with a higher average cost than the marketplace dictates but they are
also the only company that produces the Jordan brand which is a multi-billion
dollar brand. Their strategy is to offer luxury at luxury prices to make the
customer feel unique with the product they purchased. I believe their strategy
is to convince the consumer that their quality has no equal.
Drake
Greetings
professor/class,
I choose Aldi and
Apple Inc. to make my comparison. Aldi and Apple Inc. are two companies
that operate in very different industries and have distinct business models and
strategies. I will compare them in terms of their strategic approaches.
Aldi is a global
discount supermarket chain known for its low-cost strategy. The company focuses
on offering high-quality products at significantly lower prices compared to its
competitors by keeping operating costs low. Aldi achieves this through various
means such as limited product selection, private labeling, cost-effective store
layouts, and efficient supply chain management.
Apple Inc., on the
other hand, does not primarily compete on a lowest cost strategy. Apple Inc. is
known for its premium pricing strategy, positioning itself as a provider of
high-quality, premium products with a focus on design and innovation. While Apple
Inc. products are generally priced higher than competitors, the company
justifies this through product differentiation, brand value, and customer
loyalty.
While Aldi’s primary
strategy is based on a low-cost model, the company also differentiates itself
through its unique product offerings, especially in the realm of private-label
products. Aldi focuses on offering quality products that are exclusive to its
stores, creating a differentiated shopping experience for customers.
Apple Inc. is a prime
example of a company that excels in differentiation strategies. Apple Inc.
products are known for their distinctive design, user-friendly interfaces,
seamless integration across devices, and ecosystem of services like the App
Store and iCloud. Apple’s focus on innovation, product design, and customer
experience sets it apart from competitors.
Aldi competes in the
retail industry by offering a combination of low prices, quality products, and
a unique shopping experience. The company focuses on cost leadership,
efficiency, and constantly improving its product offerings to attract and
retain customers.
Apple’s competitive
strategy revolves around innovation, product differentiation, brand loyalty,
and ecosystem lock-in. The company invests heavily in research and development
to create cutting-edge products that set industry standards. The seamless focus
on creating a seamless ecosystem of hardware, software, and services enhances
customer loyalty, and drives repeat purchases.
In summary, while both Aldi and Apple Inc. have distinct
strategies and business models, Aldi primarily focuses on the lowest cost
strategy with elements of differentiation, while Apple Inc. excels in
differentiation strategy and premium pricing. Their competitive strategies
reflect these core approaches, with Aldi emphasizing cost leadership and
efficiency, and Apple Inc. prioritizing innovation, design, and customer
experience.
2. Consider
a job you previously held or your current job.
Review the textbook chapters assigned for this week paying particular attention
to the staffing components model in chapter 1 to assist you in thinking through
and analyzing the staffing process that led to your getting hired for the job.
Trace and describe the process from your own perspective as a job applicant and
from the organization’s perspective. 
Considering the Applicant Perspective
Why did you identify
and seek out the job with this organization?
How did you gather
information about the job’s requirements and rewards?
Why did you decide to
continue on with the staffing process, rather than drop out of it?
Considering the Organization Perspective
(Even if you are unsure of the answers to the following
questions, try to answer them or guess at them.)
How did the
organization identify you as a job applicant?
What techniques
(application blank, interview, etc.) did the organization use to gather KSAO
information about you?
(KSAO: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics)
Why did the
organization continue to pursue you as an applicant, rather than reject you
from further consideration
Reactions to the Staffing Process
What are your
reactions to the staffing process? What were the strong points? What were the
weak points? What changes would you like to see made in the process? Why?
Please respond to the following students:
Dominique
Considering the Applicant Perspective
Why did you identify and seek out the job with this
organization? I currently work as a customer service representative for
the state, and I identified with this job because it is a work from home job,
and it has so many opportunities for advancements.
How did you gather information about the job’s requirements and
rewards? Before completing the application, the job requirements are
posted on the page. I saw that I had all the skills requested so I went ahead
and applied. I googled the rewards that come with the job, and I asked a friend
because she currently works for the state. The perks of this job are the best
compared to previous jobs.
Why did you decide to continue on with the staffing process,
rather than drop out of it? I decided to continue with the staffing
process because of the perks of working with the state. You get bonuses, paid
time off, and holidays off. It was the best thing I have done in a while.
Considering the Organization Perspective
(Even if you are unsure of the answers to the following
questions, try to answer them or guess at them.)
How did the organization identify you as a job applicant? I
think that I met the requirements of the job.
What techniques (application blank, interview, etc.) did the
organization use to gather KSAO information about you? I think the
reviewed my resume to get the information about my skills, abilities, and my
capability to do the job.
(KSAO: Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics)
Why did the organization continue to pursue you as an applicant,
rather than reject you from further consideration? I think the
organization was in dire need of people because they are still hiring people
back-to-back.
Reactions to the Staffing Process
What are your reactions to the staffing process? What were the
strong points? What were the weak points? What changes would you like to see
made in the process? Why? My reactions to the staffing process was that
I couldn’t believe how long it took to get hired. It took over three months to
start working after I was told I had the job. Strong points were that you had
an interview with down to earth people who judged you off your abilities and
not your interviewing skills. Weak points were that sometimes I felt like they
weren’t really listening to me, and they were just jotting down notes about our
conversation during the interview process. The changes I would like to make
would be speeding up the amount of time it takes to start once you have been
hired for the job. If you are trying to leave a dead-end job and start
somewhere strong, I don’t think it suits the applicant to wait that long. I
could have found another job in that time frame of waiting.
Chrystal
Considering the
Applicant Perspective
Why did you identify and seek out the job with this
organization? 
As a contracts & closings supervisor, my
attention to detail and top-notch time-management skills are essential to
success in the role. Specifically this organization has an impressive benefits
package and promising opportunities to grown within the company.
How did you gather information about the job’s requirements and
rewards?
A portion of this role is dedicated to being the division’s
ambassador, responsible for onboarding new hires and facilitating the company’s
culture. With that is the access to the upcoming improvements to benefits,
rewards programs, and job profile changes. 
Why did you decide to continue on with the staffing process,
rather than drop out of it?
To be honest, the staffing process was pretty extensive and
thorough, but my situation was unique in that I started with the company as a
temp prior to the pandemic. I then became a fully onboarded employee during the
pandemic and I wasn’t willing to start with another company! Overall, very
happy with my choices as the extensive staffing process ensures we have the
right individuals working with us toward the same goals.
Considering the Organization Perspective
How did the organization identify you as a job applicant?
Investing in the best recruiting practices that can be most cost effective
can sometimes lead a company to enlisting the services of a temp company, which
is how I was identified as an applicant with this organization. The basic
skills for the job were already identified through the temp agency, making the
match easy.
What techniques (application blank, interview, etc.) did the
organization use to gather KSAO information about you
After working for a few months as a temp, they were able to
assess that my skills were greater than the role and this was obtained through
performance reviews at a junior level. My efficiency and accuracy with closing
homes allowed the organization to determine I needed to be developed even
further in my career, while my personality proved the hunger for a challenge.
Why did the organization continue to pursue you as an applicant,
rather than reject you from further consideration?
Proving to be knowledgeable, reliable, and with a clean
background check, the organization saw me as an asset rather than a risk and
continued to bring me on full-term.