Which of the following is least likely to provide a sustainable competitive advantage?

• A. Patented production process
• B. Access to widely available technology
• C. Exclusive access to scarce resources
• D. Strong brand reputation

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of sustainable competitive advantage: it refers to a firm's ability to maintain an edge over competitors for a long period, often through unique resources or capabilities that are difficult to imitate or substitute.
2. Analyze each option in terms of rarity, imitability, and sustainability: - Patented production process: usually rare and legally protected, making it hard for competitors to copy. - Exclusive access to scarce resources: by definition, scarce and difficult for others to obtain, providing a strong advantage. - Strong brand reputation: built over time and difficult to replicate, often leading to customer loyalty. - Access to widely available technology: since it is widely available, it is neither rare nor difficult to imitate, making it less likely to provide a sustainable advantage.
3. Apply the VRIO framework (Value, Rarity, Imitability, Organization) to each option to assess sustainability: widely available technology scores low on rarity and imitability, reducing its potential for sustainable advantage.
4. Conclude that access to widely available technology is least likely to provide a sustainable competitive advantage because it lacks the key characteristics that protect competitive advantages over time.
5. Summarize that sustainable competitive advantages typically come from unique, hard-to-copy resources or capabilities, which widely available technology does not possess.