An observer may conclude that the organizational culture of Zappos, an online retailer for shoes and clothing, might be the basis for its competitive advantage. However, reverse social engineering to crack Zappos' code of success might be much more difficult for a company trying to exactly imitate its strategy. Thus, the source of Zappos competitive advantage is said to be
A) socially complex.
B) inexhaustible.
C) non-substitutable.
D) nonambiguous.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Although an observer may conclude that Zappos' culture, with its focus on providing superior customer service, might be the basis for its competitive advantage, engaging in reverse social engineering to crack Zappos' code of success might be much more difficult. A firm may be able to protect its competitive advantage (even for long periods of time) when the source of its competitive advantage is causally ambiguous or socially complex.

An Observer May Conclude That the Organizational Culture of Zappos