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Republic Services VRIO / VRIN Analysis | Assignment Help
What is VRIO / VRIN Analysis ?
VRIO stands for – Value of the resource, Rareness of the resource, Imitation Risk, and Organizational Competence.
VRIO is a resource focused strategic analysis tool.
To build a sustainable competitive advantage the resources that –casename— needs to be valuable, rare, and difficult to imitate. Secondly the –casename— needs to possess capabilities, organizational structure, and culture to optimize the available resources usage. VRIO analysis can help organizations such as Republic Services to do better resource allocation and build a defensible value and supply chain.
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What is a Valuable Resource for Republic Services? Defining Valuable in VRIO
A resource or capability is considered valuable for Republic Services , if it allows the
Republic Services to exploit opportunities or negate threats
emerging out of both the micro business environment and the macro environment. If a resource does not allow Republic Services to minimize threats or exploit opportunities, than it doesn't contribute signficantly to building a sustainable competitive advantage for Republic Services.
What are Rare Resources for Republic Services? Defining Rare in VRIO
In an industry that Republic Services operates in, valuable resources are held by number of competitors. So valuable resources themselves don’t provide a sustainable competitive advantage. Republic Services require rare resources to compete in the industry. If Republic Services don’t have rare resources that are required to succeed in the industry then Republic Services won’t be able to compete successfully in the marketplace. Secondly holding rare resources can provide Republic Services competitive advantage against players that don’t have those rare resources. HBR Case Study Solution
What is a Inimitable (Difficult to Immitate) Resource for Republic Services? Defining Inimitable in VRIO
A valuable and rare resource can provide a competitive advantage to Republic Services for certain period of time as all the competitors are going to try to imitate or replicate that resource. A sustained competitive advantage emerges, if the resource is difficult to imitate by the competitors. Republic Services can create inmitability by innovating on the product side, reducing pain points on service delivery, and having an effective post sales servicing strategy.
Check out the SWOT analysis of Republic Services
What is a Organization for Republic Services? Defining Organization in VRIO
Even if the Republic Services has all the valuable resources that are both rare and difficult to imitate, it won’t automatically result into a sustainable competitive advantage. The key to build the sustainable competitive advantage is to have organizational capabilities, expertise, and structure to exploit the resources. If Republic Services is not organized based on its strengths then it won’t able to exploit all the resources that it possesses.
Resources | Value | Rare | Imitation | Organization | Competitive Advantage |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Supply Chain Network Flexibility of Republic Services | Yes | Yes | Near competitors also have flexible supply chain and share some of the suppliers | Fully utilized by Republic Services organizational structure and capabilities | Keeps the business running |
Track Record of Leadership Team at Republic Services | Yes | Yes | Can't be imitated by competitors | Yes | Providing Strong Competitive Advantage |
Successful Implementation of Digital Strategy at Republic Services | Yes, without a comprehensive digital strategy it is extremely difficult to compete | No, as most of the firms are investing into digitalizing operations | Can be imitated by competitors | One of the leading player in the industry | Digital strategy has become critical in the industry but it can't provide sustainable competitive advantage to |
Position among Retailers and Wholesalers – Republic Services retail strategy | Yes, Republic Services has strong relationship with retailers and wholesalers | Yes, Republic Services has dedicated channel partners | Difficult to imitate though not impossible | Yes, over the years company has used it successfully | Sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Access to Critical Raw Material for Successful Execution | Yes | Yes, as other competitors have to come to terms with Republic Services dominant market position | Can be imitated by competitors | Yes | Providing Sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Financial Resources of Republic Services | Yes | No | Financial instruments and market liquidity are available to all the nearest competitors | Republic Services has reasonably sound financial position | Republic Services has relatively sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Pricing Strategies of Republic Services | Yes, Republic Services has sound pricing strategies | No | Pricing strategies are regularly imitated in the industry | Yes, firm has a pricing analytics engine | It can only provide Republic Services with a Temporary Competitive Advantage |
Talent to Manage Regulatory and Legal Obligations | Yes | No | Can be imitated by competitors | Yes | Not critical factor |
Vision of the Leadership for Next Set of Challenges | Yes | No | Can't be imitated by competitors of Republic Services | Not based on information provided in the case | Can Lead to Strong Competitive Advantage |
Product Portfolio and Synergy among Various Product Lines of Republic Services | Yes, it is valuable in the industry given the various segmentations & consumer preferences. | Most of the competitors are trying to enter the lucrative segments | Can be imitated by the competitors | The firm has used it to good effect, details can be found in case exhibit | Provide short term competitive advantage but requires constant innovation to sustain |
Alignment of Activities with Republic Services Corporate Strategy | Yes | No | Each of the firm has its own strategy | Yes, company has organizational skills to extract the maximum out of it. | Still lots of potential to build on it |
Brand awareness of Republic Services products and services | Yes, the brand awareness of Republic Services products are high | Yes, Republic Services has one of the leading brand in the industry | No | Republic Services has utilized its leading brand position in various segments | Sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Brand Positioning of Republic Services in Comparison to the Competitors | Yes | No | Can be imitated by competitors but it will require big marketing budget | Yes, the firm has positioned its brands based on consumer behavior | Temporary Competitive Advantage |
Marketing Expertise within Republic Services | Yes, firms are competing based on differentiation in the industry | No, as most of the competitors also have good marketing departments and expertise | Pricing strategies of Republic Services are often matched by competitors | Yes, Republic Services is leveraging both its inhouse marketing department and external expertise | Temporary Competitive Advantage |
Republic Services SWOT Analysis, SWOT Matrix, Weighted SWOT Case Study Solution & Analysis
Books and References
Ahir Gopaldas and Anton Siebert (2022 July August) "What You’re Getting Wrong About Customer Journeys",
Harvard Business Review , 92
Linda A. Hill, Emily Tedards, and Taran Swan (2021) "Drive Innovation with Better Decision-Making", Harvard Business Review 86
Dyer, J. H., & Hatch, N. (2004). Using Supplier Networks to Learn Faster. Sloan Management Review, 45(3), 57–63
Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17, 99–120
Dyer, J. H., Kale, P., & Singh, H. (2004, July–August). When to ally and when to acquire. Harvard Business Review, 109–115
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