Competitive advantage time-based

Within firms, the hybrid or matrix concept has become increasingly fashionable in pharmaceutical companies. Project teams are created that comprise membership from departments with specific technical, organizational, and management expertise. Such teams form and dissolve as the need arises. In principle, advantages of the matrix structure include cross-disciplinary enrichment of the team s activities and crossfertilization of expertise. Disadvantages of the matrix system include a relative lack of professional development for specific technical expertise for each team member, the potential for cross-departmental rivalry, and competition for each team member s time based on the needs of the interdisciplinary project versus those of his/her technical "home" department (Verona and Ravasi 2003). These multi-functional teams have the potential to increase bureaucracy and delay innovation. At least on a small scale, it may be better to solve a problem with two people rather than with ten. 

Although Real Options uses a sophisticated mathematical model to make the numerical calculations, the analysis, an extension of classic financial options theory, is based on the data and opinions provided by the managers themselves instead of having been parachuted in by a consultant-provided ABS study. This method captures the expert judgment of managers and allows it to become a source of competitive advantage over time. 

Du Pout s experience helps to define the path-dependency of long-term corporate financial success. Long-established learned organizational capabilities function as the most durable base for maintaining competitive advantage in existing product lines. At the same time, they provide the soundest base for commercializing new ones. ... 

Value-based competition There is evidently more emphasis on the speed and quality of service than cost or quality. In addition, the competitive advantage is now the delivery time and customer relationship management (CRM). 

The basic idea behind quick response (QR) is that in order to reap the advantages of time-based competition it is necessary to deveiop systems that are responsive and fast. 

Competing on time demands a fast response to customer needs. Time-based approaches to strategy focus on the competitive advantage of speed, which helps a network to cope with variety and product innovation, while also improving returns on new products. Speed also means less reliance on longterm forecasts. 

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