Comparative Study of Industry and Resource-Based Approaches to Strategy: the Case of Managerial Education Industry in Sweden
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Stockholm School of Economics Department of Marketing and Strategy Institute of International Business Master Thesis in Strategy Comparative Study of Industry and Resource-Based Approaches to Strategy: The case of managerial education industry in Sweden The primary aim of our research was to compare the results derived from two different approaches to strategy analysis: industry analysis (outside-in) vs. resource-based view (inside-out). We have chosen this topic because all the previous research dealt with this issue only on theoretical level. We have however decided to compare the practical implications of the two approaches. As an instrument to conduct this comparison, we have chosen managerial education industry in Sweden to analyze industry structure, dynamics and long-term profit potential as well as to define the sources of competitive advantage. Even when looking at this from the purely theoretical perspective we have found the interdependence of the two approaches. But after conducting the empirical study of an industry, we can state that the results of the applications of these approaches have even more in common than it was evident on the more conceptual level. We conclude that strategic analysis of the industry requires examination of both industry structure and firm’s resources and capabilities, since they are complimentary tools. “In” in outside-in analysis smoothly progresses into “in” in inside-out and back, rendering the two approaches extremely interconnected. Tutor: Patrick Regnér Authors: Dmitry Titov 19975 Sergiy Protsiv 80313 Discussant: Shantanoo Bhide 80308 Date and time: December 15, 2006. 15:00 Venue: Room C512 Acknowledgements: First of all, we would like to thank our tutor Patrick Regnér for providing us with many insightful comments and extensive feedback. We would also like to express our gratitude to all the people who took time to meet with us for interviews and contributed greatly to achieving our purpose. Finally, we thank people in Institute of International Business for their comments and providing access to IIB facilities and resources. Outline 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................3 1.1. Background......................................................................................................................3 1.2. Purpose.............................................................................................................................4 1.3. Delimitations ...................................................................................................................4 1.4. Outline..............................................................................................................................4 2. Methodology ...........................................................................................................................5 2.1. Research Design..............................................................................................................5 2.1.1. Research Approach – Stepwise Order...............................................................................5 2.1.2. Research Method – Qualitative ..........................................................................................5 2.1.3. Research Strategy – Single-Case Study ..............................................................................5 2.1.4. Choice of Companies...........................................................................................................6 2.2. Data Collection ...............................................................................................................7 2.2.1. Primary Data – Interviews...................................................................................................7 2.2.2. Secondary Data – Documentation and Formal Industry Studies .................................8 2.3. Quality of Research Design...........................................................................................8 2.3.1. Construct Validity .................................................................................................................8 2.3.2. Internal Validity.....................................................................................................................9 2.3.3. External Validity....................................................................................................................9 2.3.4. Reliability ................................................................................................................................9 3. Theoretical frameworks...................................................................................................... 10 3.1. Academic debate on differences of industry analysis and resource-based view. 10 3.2. Outside-in strategy analysis ........................................................................................ 12 3.2.1. Competitive forces model .................................................................................................12 3.2.2. Strategic groups...................................................................................................................14 3.3. Inside-out strategy analysis......................................................................................... 14 3.3.1. The resources and capabilities of the firm......................................................................15 3.3.2. Intangible resources............................................................................................................15 3.3.3. Dynamic capabilities...........................................................................................................17 3.3.4. Putting resource and capabilities to practice ..................................................................17 3.3.5. Isolating mechanisms .........................................................................................................18 4. Industry overview................................................................................................................ 20 5. Strategy analysis ................................................................................................................... 23 5.1. The industry from the outside-in perspective ......................................................... 23 5.1.1. Five forces analysis .............................................................................................................23 5.1.2. Future trends .......................................................................................................................29 5.1.3. Long-term profit potential.................................................................................................30 5.1.4. Key Success Factors ...........................................................................................................30 5.1.5. Strategic groups...................................................................................................................31 5.2. The industry from the inside-out perspective ......................................................... 33 5.2.1. Strategic resources...............................................................................................................33 5.2.2. Capabilities ...........................................................................................................................36 5.2.3. Assessing the relative importance of resources and capabilities .................................38 5.2.4. Key profitability driving forces.........................................................................................40 6. Comparing the results of applying the two approaches in practice............................. 41 7. Conclusion............................................................................................................................ 43 Literature ...................................................................................................................................... 44 Appendix 1. The five forces model.......................................................................................... 47 Appendix 2. The modified VRIO framework ........................................................................ 49 Appendix 3. Interview guides.................................................................................................... 50 Appendix 4. Company profiles ................................................................................................. 51 Appendix 5. Selected financial data on the companies in the industry............................... 55 2 1. Introduction The introduction section is aimed to present the reader with the topic overview. In this part we provide the background of the research, define its purpose and delimitations. The structure of the paper and the content of each chapter are presented in the outline. 1.1. Background Throughout our education at Stockholm School of Economics the issue of strategic analysis has been extensively discussed in many of the courses. We have noticed that many teachers often have their own different preferences concerning which view of strategy to utilize. The most frequently used approaches by far were the industry analysis propagated most notably by Michael Porter (also known as outside-in analysis) and resource-based view introduced by Jay Barney and developed by many other scholars (inside-out approach). These methodologies