1. BLOGS

Starting from the second module, students should locate a recent news article(no more than six months old please)that is relevant to the subjects/concepts introduced in that module/chapter and prepare a short analysis/summary of the news article. The analysis/summary should be posted onto your blog site on Canvas before the due date. Each blog entry should consist of a link to the article you have found and your analysis as to why and how it is related to the topic introduced in that module (one paragraph with 150-200 words). Please do not use sources such as newspaper columns, commentaries, blogs, case studies, white papers, research reports and the like as your chosen news articles. According to Merriam-Webster, news is a report of recent events. ( follow CH3 ppt)

2. Please read the attached case “Southwest Airlines” and answer the following questions. You are encouraged to comment on others’ answers.

(1) Describe the business model used by Southwest Airlines. (5 points)

(2) Identify Southwest’s internal strengths and weaknesses. (5 points)

(3) How sustainable is the airline’s competitive advantage? (5 points)

3. Answer the following questions. You are encouraged to comment on others’ answers. Answer the following questions in a single Word document. Your answer to each question should be proofread to avoid grammatical and spelling errors, and should not exceed 250 words.

Choose a firm that you are familiar with. What is the firm’s core competency? Does it have a sustainable competitive advantage? Why or why not? (5 points)

Companies use their brand as a competitive advantage. Given your knowledge about the global economy, which brands do you believe have the strongest likelihood of remaining a source of advantage in the twenty-first century? Why? (5 points)

Evaluate and comment on this statement: “No competitive advantage lasts forever.” Give specific examples. (5 points).