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11 Examples of Competitive Disadvantage

 , December 05, 2016
A competitive disadvantage is a condition or circumstance that causes you to lag the competition in a particular area. The following are illustrative examples.

Technology

An expensive, slow, error prone or unusable technology platform.

Scale

In many cases, a small firm is at a disadvantage to a larger firm simply because they lack the resources to compete in areas such as product development and advertising.

Scope

An online retailer that sells only shoes may be at a disadvantage to a retailer that sells everything because people tend to want to shop at one place.

Location

The coffee shop across the street from a busy train station may outperform the one three blocks from the station.

Brand

An unknown brand is at a disadvantage to a widely recognized and respected brand.

Cost

A more expensive cost per unit or overhead costs can be a dangerous disadvantage in any industry that produces commodities.

Values

In many cases, customers will purchase from firms that align with their values such as respect for people and the environment. If your firm has a poor ethical climate this can be a significant disadvantage and risk.

Productivity

A bloated large firm with a political culture and low motivation amongst employees may be vastly less productive than a small, aggressive firm.

Quality

A reputation for low quality such as low rankings on review sites.

Features

Lacking features in products and services that are in high demand by customers.

Processes

Processes that are error prone, slow or expensive relative to the competition.
Overview: Competitive Disadvantage
TypeCompetition
Definition A condition or circumstance that causes a firm to lag the competition in a particular area.
Related ConceptsDiseconomies Of Scale
Strategy Failure
Competition

Competitive Advantage

This is the complete list of articles we have written about competitive advantage.
Absolute Advantage
Bargaining Power
Barriers To Entry
Brand
Business Cluster
Business Scale
Business Strengths
Capital
Competitive Pressure
Cost Advantage
Cost Innovation
Cost Strategy
Customer Satisfaction
Digital Maturity
Distinctive Capability
Economic Advantage
Economies Of Scale
Economies Of Scope
Information Advantage
Intellectual Property
Know-how
Market Position
Market Power
Marketability
Price Leadership
Productivity
Relational Capital
Relative Advantage
Strategic Advantage
Switching Barriers
Trade Secrets
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Competitive Advantage

A list of common competitive advantages.

Competitive Parity vs Competitive Advantage

The difference between competitive parity and competitive advantage.

Competitive Advantage Examples

A few sources of competitive advantage for businesses.

Competitive Advantage vs Distinctive Capability

The difference between competitive advantage and distinctive capability.

First-Mover Advantage

Why being first to a market has advantages.

Competitive Benchmarking

A definition of competitive benchmarking with examples.

Digital Maturity

The common types of digital maturity.

Business Scale

The common types of business scale.

Business Competition

The common types of business competition.

Marketability

The common types of marketability.

Competitive Map

A definition of competitive map with examples.

Customer Experience

An overview of customer experience with examples.

Satisfaction Metrics

Why satisfaction metrics work so well.

Customer Expectations

A definition of customer expectations with a few examples.

Customer Satisfaction

An overview of a common marketing practice.

Customer Perceptions

An overview of customer perceptions with examples.

Internal Branding

The common types of internal branding.

Experience Sampling

A definition of experience sampling with examples.

Customer Needs

A list of common types of customer needs with examples.

Service Quality

The primary types of service quality.

End-User

A definition of end-user with examples.

Experience Economy

A definition of experience economy with examples.
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