COMPETITIVE STRATEGIES

Competitive Strategies of Two Organizations

Competitive Strategies of Two Organizations

Introduction

As we leap into the twenty first century? it seems as though everyone is on the Internet and more companies are establishing an online presence to maintain their competitive edge. Along with high speed Internet connections? the Internet has become an essential tool for any business to compete domestically or globally (Glennester? 1994? 07-11). In today's high speed environment? one would be hard pressed to find a Fortune 500 company conducting business with either other businesses or consumers to not have its own web site . Businesses are developing web sites to provide their consumers and business partners with information and e-commerce. Large firms who have not adopted e-commerce as part of their strategic initiatives will miss out on opportunities to attain growth and competitive advantage.

Nike and Adidas are two primary footwear companies along with their competitors who have adopted an online e-commerce strategy to increase their sales and product awareness. Most importantly? companies like Nike and Adidas have invested heavily into online brand building and image development. Nike launched the nike.com web site in August 1996 primarily to provide information to its consumers. In 1996? there were no e-commerce capabilities present? however the web site served as a brand building tool for the company. In 1999? Nike redesigned their web site with expanded e-commerce functionality. Adidas launched their web site in the spring of 2000? which was later integrated with e-commerce capabilities during that summer.

Attaining market share is important to both Nike and Adidas (Glennester? 1994? 07-11). In order to maximize their market share? both Nike and Adidas have placed a great importance in developing their branding and marketing strategies on the net through web appearance and user friendly functionalities such as ease of purchase? speed? and navigation.

Nike and Adidas have adopted a merchant model which encompassed three pillars of their e-commerce strategy: pure-play e-tailer? bricks and clicks? and their online store. The main purposes of acquiring relationships with pure-play e-tailers is to promote and market products; focus on the content to create new exposure and; gather? gain and transfer market knowledge to their business counterparts (Taylor? 1994? 33-41).

The Internet has proven to be a useful tool for firms such as Nike and Adidas by increasing sales and reducing cost. But most importantly their web sites have provided them with an intangible asset such as market research and consumer buying behaviors. With the data retrieve from consumers? these firms are able to analyze and monitor the buying behaviors of their consumers. The data can also be used to exploit new marketing campaigns and promotions. Furthermore? the data collected can be used to produce innovative designs and improve their research capabilities.

Although? there are perceived benefits in conducting e-business over the Internet there are also potential barriers. The major barrier of e-commerce with respect to large firms such as Nike and Adidas is the technological barrier ranging from infrastructure to security. An ongoing battle the e-commerce industry faces is ...