.2 topics-- 2 essays 1) Aramark buys Avendra Why? What is in it for Aramark? Is there a winner or loser? What strategic play does this accomplish for Aramark? Again, think about the topic from a mission perspective or how this might round out their business or expand into a new direction...again the WHY? 2) Does McDonald's have a 'true' competitive advantage? Think about our slides and class last night. Justify your YES or NO answer. Consider all 6 questions posed on said slide. Ensure you are not providing personal feelings but objective points that are based on data or fact.

two essays each one about 2 pages. and here the six questions for second essay: 1. Does the resource or capability have value in the market? These types of resources allow a hotel to exploit opportunities and/or neutralize threats. Marriott International, for example, has applied its skill in managing financial assets across a broad range of business segments, giving it a valued capability. 2. Is the resource or capability unique? If a hotel is the only one with a particular resource or capability, then it may be a source of competitive advantage. If numerous hotels possess a particular resource or capability, then the situation is described as competitive parity—no company has the advantage. Note that uniqueness does not mean only one organization possesses a capability or resource—only that few do. The uniqueness dimension also implies that a resource or capability is not easily transferable. That is, it is not readily available in the market for purchase. 3. Is there a readily available substitute for the resource or capability? Sometimes competing hotels may not have the exact resource or capability, but they have easy access to another resource or capability that will help them accomplish the same results. Positive answers to the first two questions and a negative answer to the third question mean that a resource or capability has the potential to lead to a competitive advantage for the hotel. However, that potential is not realized unless two other questions also are answered in the affirmative: 4. Do organizational systems exist that allow the realization of potential? For potential to be realized, the hotel also must be organized to take advantage of it. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, for example, focuses on building a culture of customer care. 5. Is the organization aware of and realizing the advantages? One of the great differentiators between successful and unsuccessful companies is the ability of managers to recognize and tap into resource advantages. Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide has identified economies of scale as one of several capabilities that it sees as contributing to its competitive advantage. It believes by being one of the largest hotel companies, it can use scale to reduce the costs associated with core marketing, reservation functions and purchasing. At this point, a hotel is using its systems and knowledge to take advantage of a unique and valuable resource or capability. However, resource advantages may not be sustainable. A final question determines the long-term value of a resource or capability: 6. Is the resource or capability difficult or costly to imitate? Competing hotels should face a cost disadvantage in imitating a resource or capability. The more difficult or costly a resource or capability is, the more valuable it is in producing a sustainable competitive advantage.