Opportunities & Obstacles
Fancy term for a company's all-in game plan to stay ahead of the pack and score big over time.
What is strategy?
A company is said to have this when it masters the art of delighting customers while keeping costs in check—all through strategic harmony and a unique value proposition that leaves competitors (and beyond!) breaking a sweat.
What is competitive advantage?
In this S-curve stage, the strategy is all about showing off and teaching customers why they need this shiny new thing—cranking up their excitement (and WTP) for a product they never knew they couldn’t live without!
What is ferment stage?
Our calmest section resident—napping through every session, dreaming sweeter dreams than any case study, and, honestly, the only one your Professor perfectly happy to see snoozing in class!
Who is Sadie?
He swooped in to save the airline from bankruptcy—then fired his own sons and hired a new CEO. Talk about a family reunion gone wrong!
Who is Tony Ryan?
Lesson: Step one: Make sure your business actually makes money. Step two: Hire people who know what they're doing.
In the Five Forces framework, this "surprise guest" force showed up fashionably late but still knows how to shake things up in the industry!
What are complements?
This strategy is all about getting customers so hyped to pay up—widening that wedge like a boss!
What is differentiation strategy?
At this stage, companies are like, "Where’s the growth?!" as they juggle spotting what’s changing, staying steady but shaking things up, and trying to keep a strategy that doesn’t fall apart at the seams. It’s a delicate dance of "Do we stick to the plan or try something wild?".
What is maturity stage?
This section’s very own retro tech enthusiast—who might just be the only one here who could survive a full week on a single battery charge, double as a self-defense tool, and still play Snake!
Who is Tom?
Before Apple was cool, this 90s error had it on the brink of becoming fruit smoothie. What was the blunder?
What is failing to work with complements?
Lesson: Respect your team, work hard to create value, and be fair when it’s time to share the rewards.
The nifty tool that shows how much of their stuff producers are willing to sell, depending on how much cash you are willing to throw their way.
What is industry cost curve?
This concept—essential for long-term success (but not the whole story!)—is like having a squad of value chain moves that vibe together like besties, creating the ultimate support system to keep the company winning.
What is internal consistency?
This concept is like when a company’s riding high, feeling invincible, and then—bam!—the market flips the script. But instead of springing into action, they just sit back, sip their coffee, and watch their glory days fade into the rearview...
What is strategic failure? (Internal barriers to respond will also count!)
This brave section resident dared to channel their inner Nostradamus, predicting that by your 5th reunion, the headline about Tesla would read, ‘Tesla, Apple, and Facebook Overthrow the American Government.’
(Make sure to email me with whatever earth-shattering headline you see coming for your reunion!)
Who is Jasmine?
This is the reason Alphabet initially hesitated to invest fully in generative AI (because, you know, what’s a few billion dollars if it might break the internet!).
What is concern over the potential disruption to its core business?
Lesson: Self-disruption is tough but necessary. Stick to what makes you, you, but don’t be afraid to switch it up before it's too late.
A situation where everyone’s basically saying, 'I’m good if you’re good,' and nobody wants to rock the boat by changing their move solo.
What is Nash Equilibrium?
This tool lets you check if a company’s value proposition really stands out—or if it’s just another fish in the sea—by lining it up against the competition.
What is value map?
This concept kicks in at take-off when a business realizes that cranking out more stuff spreads those pesky fixed costs thinner and thinner—so each widget ends up cheaper, like getting a bulk discount just for showing up!
What are economies of scale?
This section resident has unlocked the ultimate life hack: the perfect pairing of P.F. Chang’s chicken lettuce wraps and a Zen Margarita!
Who is Elinore?
Before our Pixar case, the pre-class songs were Aretha Franklin's 'I Say a Little Prayer' and Nat King Cole's 'L.O.V.E.' Why do you think I chose these songs as the music for that day?
They’re about love and partnership!
Lesson: Stay curious! :-) Remember, class lessons aren’t just for surviving today’s case. Take a sec to let it all sink in—who knows, someday that insight might just save your social life or win an argument!
Bold action where a player says, 'Watch this!' and makes a big, visible thing they can’t undo, to mess with everyone else’s future moves?
What is strategic move?
These two tests are like the ultimate vibe check for a corporate strategy, making sure it’s not just all talk.
What are better-off and ownership tests?
This framework is like the ultimate strategy juggling act: first, the strategist has to dream up a bunch of clever choices, then play detective with all the mystery assumptions, do some deep analysis homework, and finally make a choice—hopefully before the whole thing turns into a strategic circus!
What is options-led approach?
Section J’s finest palates: not only did they ace Coke vs. Pepsi, but they even exposed the rogue generic soda lurking in the lineup!
Who are Alexandra and Carrie?
In a video about Walmart, we heard from someone who attended the grand opening of the second Walmart in Harrison, Arkansas, back in 1964. They called it chaotic and thought Sam Walton didn’t stand a chance at success. Who might that overly confident skeptic have been?
Who is David Glass (Former CEO of Walmart)?
Lesson: Be honest and actually helpful. And whatever happens, keep pushing forward, even when the universe throws you a plot twist or two!