Dear all:

Today we will start to see the first 4 steps on how to do a differentiation analysis using the VCA. In parallel to our strategy race, the 6 teams at the Volvo Ocean Race are now trying to avoid to be stuck in the second phase of Doldrums.

The teams Akzo Nobel and SHK Scallywag are trying to avoid zones and turn to your left to find better conditions. If they continue straight,  where the velocity is lower as you can see it here, all the fleet will be stuck again in the middle of terrible conditions of sailing: 

And as far as our strategy race, we also will have to avoid the slow currents and slow wind conditions too. Our aim is to finish the 8 steps of the Differentiation Analysis using the Value Chain, and I have tried to make it by using relatable examples. For the sake of not extending this too much in one bucket of slides, I decided to show you the first 4 steps today, and we will see the next 4 steps in our next post.

Let’s go to see the slides prepared for today:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

If you wish to download it in PDF, so please click here: Eliescalante Leg 6 The Value Chain Analysis F 17feb2018.

In addition, I would like to end this post with an interesting chart of the day from Global Web Index. The input comes from more than 10 thousand internet users with an age between 16 and 20 years. And interesting enough Generation Z prefers fun content over friends on social networks. This chart makes me think that we are not wrong when we try to make good content for the future. Kids and teenagers are looking to learn in social media, what they don´t find in the classrooms. This is an interesting fact, don´t you think? Better we are aware of this trend, and start to upload “good and kind content” instead of “more content without substance“.   I believe when we try to explain MBA things (as this theme VCA), the way we do it has to be understood even by teenagers from the Gen Z. That´s my aim? Still, don´t know if I will be successful. But I am trying.

People must have fun and be entertained when learning. I do hope you also have fun with my posts. I try to make it as such. That is why I share my personal life with you. If we like carrot cake or not, it is just my thought of the day, to make our examples more entertaining.  In addition, every time I can, we will try to recover our childhood beautiful memories and simplicity, even though the emerging technologies will continue growing and will give us painful lessons in the future.    Moreover, I will never forget some of my Cornell and London Business School Professors who always had time to make us laugh with their appreciations or comments in the classroom. At the end of the day, we want to learn better, Don´t we?

This is all for today. Tomorrow we will finally finish the next 4 steps for differentiation analysis using Porter´s book as a reference point.

Thank you for your patience. Have a wonderful week.

16:54 pm – San Salvador.

Source References:

https://www.dagnyc.com/shop#!/?id=6949741

https://www.walmart.com/store/3795/north-bergen-nj/weekly-ads

http://www.foodnetwork.ca/shows/bake-with-anna-olson/

https://www.cnet.com/products/hp-spectre-x360-13-inch-2017/review/

https://www.citibikenyc.com/pricing

http://www.nycbikemaps.com/citi-bike/

https://www.globalwebindex.net/chart-of-the-day

All the material (theory) comes from the book “Competitive Advantage, Creating and Sustaining Superior Performance”, by Michael Porter.  http://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Competitive-Advantage/Michael-E-Porter/9780684841465

Disclaimer: All the content and presentation slides shown on this blog are prepared by me. Nevertheless, all the pictures or videos shown on this blog are not mine. I do not own any of the lovely photos posted unless otherwise stated.