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INTL FCStone 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 INTL FCStone to do better resource allocation and build a defensible value and supply chain.
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What is a Valuable Resource for INTL FCStone? Defining Valuable in VRIO
A resource or capability is considered valuable for INTL FCStone , if it allows the
INTL FCStone to exploit opportunities or negate threats
emerging out of both the micro business environment and the macro environment. If a resource does not allow INTL FCStone to minimize threats or exploit opportunities, than it doesn't contribute signficantly to building a sustainable competitive advantage for INTL FCStone.
What are Rare Resources for INTL FCStone? Defining Rare in VRIO
In an industry that INTL FCStone operates in, valuable resources are held by number of competitors. So valuable resources themselves don’t provide a sustainable competitive advantage. INTL FCStone require rare resources to compete in the industry. If INTL FCStone don’t have rare resources that are required to succeed in the industry then INTL FCStone won’t be able to compete successfully in the marketplace. Secondly holding rare resources can provide INTL FCStone competitive advantage against players that don’t have those rare resources. HBR Case Study Solution
What is a Inimitable (Difficult to Immitate) Resource for INTL FCStone? Defining Inimitable in VRIO
A valuable and rare resource can provide a competitive advantage to INTL FCStone 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. INTL FCStone 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 INTL FCStone
What is a Organization for INTL FCStone? Defining Organization in VRIO
Even if the INTL FCStone 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 INTL FCStone 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 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position among Retailers and Wholesalers – INTL FCStone retail strategy | Yes, INTL FCStone has strong relationship with retailers and wholesalers | Yes, INTL FCStone has dedicated channel partners | Difficult to imitate though not impossible | Yes, over the years company has used it successfully | Sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Opportunities in the E-Commerce Space for INTL FCStone - using Present IT Capabilities | Yes, the e-commerce space is rapidly growing and INTL FCStone can exploit the emerging opportunities | No, most of the competitors are investing in IT to enter the space | The AI and inhouse analytics can be difficult to imitate | It is just the start for the organization | In the long run it can provide sustainable competitive advantage |
Opportunities for Brand Extensions for INTL FCStone products | Yes, new niches are emerging in the market | No, as most of the competitors are also targeting those niches | Yes can be imitated by the competitors | Brand extensions will require higher marketing budget | Temporary Competitive Advantage |
Brand awareness of INTL FCStone products and services | Yes, the brand awareness of INTL FCStone products are high | Yes, INTL FCStone has one of the leading brand in the industry | No | INTL FCStone has utilized its leading brand position in various segments | Sustainable Competitive Advantage |
Product Portfolio and Synergy among Various Product Lines of INTL FCStone | 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 |
Global and Local Presence of INTL FCStone | Yes, as it diversify the revenue streams and isolate company's balance sheet from economic cycles | Yes | Can be imitated by competitors of INTL FCStone but at a relatively high cost | Yes, it is one of the most diversified companies in its industry | Providing Strong Competitive Advantage |
Marketing Expertise within INTL FCStone | 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 INTL FCStone are often matched by competitors | Yes, INTL FCStone is leveraging both its inhouse marketing department and external expertise | Temporary Competitive Advantage |
Track Record of Project Execution | Yes, especially in an industry where there are frequent cost overun | Yes, especially in the segment that INTL FCStone operates in | No, none of the competitors so far has able to imitate this expertise | Yes, INTL FCStone is successful at it | Providing Strong Competitive Advantage |
Ability to Attract Talent in Various Local & Global Markets | Yes, INTL FCStone strategy is built on successful innovation and localization of products | Yes, as talent is critical to firm's growth | Difficult to imitate for the current competitors of INTL FCStone | To a large extent yes | Providing Strong Competitive Advantage |
Vision of the Leadership for Next Set of Challenges | Yes | No | Can't be imitated by competitors of INTL FCStone | Not based on information provided in the case | Can Lead to Strong Competitive Advantage |
Alignment of Activities with INTL FCStone 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 |
INTL FCStone Customer Network and Loyalty | Yes, 23% of the customers contribute to more than 84% of the sales revenue | Yes, firm has invested to build a strong customer loyalty | Has been tried by competitors but none of them are as successful as INTL FCStone | INTL FCStone is leveraging the customer loyalty to good effect | Provide INTL FCStone medium term competitive advantage |
Distribution and Logistics Costs Competitiveness | Yes, as it helps INTL FCStone in delivering lower costs | No | Can be imitated by competitors of INTL FCStone but it is difficult | Yes | Medium to Long Term Competitive Advantage |
Access to Cheap Capital for INTL FCStone | Yes, as a leading player in the industry and current macro economic conditions, INTL FCStone has access to cheap capital | No | Can be imitated by the competitors of INTL FCStone | Not been totally exploited | Not significant in creating competitive advantage |
INTL FCStone 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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