core competence
...primary purpose of adopting this strategy was to have somebody physically "on-site" who understood the language, business customs, and culture. Physical presence meant a lot because shipments could be checked before they left the factory. Also, communication with vendors was made possible in face-to-face meetings rather than alternative means of communication that were less personal. The managerial relationship proved to be a successful core competence because GMs were able to run their individual branches as they saw fit. They were given complete autonomy to make business decisions quickly, which was important for the success of Intercon International. Although they had total control, they were still able to take advantage of benefits that came with being a part of a large conglomerate. The purchasing power of Domestic and International enabled each branch to realize significant cost savings when conducting business with suppliers. Loctite's main core competency can be described as their training and education. Loctite provided more support to distributors than that offered by any other competing supplier. Support included training of the distributor's inside and outside salespeople, demonstrations of new products in Loctite seminars, and extensive merchandising aids such as item selection charts and case histories of applications in different industries. Comparing the core competencies of the companies, the value chain is used to diagnose the position of the business against its major competitors, and defining the foundation for action aimed...