For each of the following companies, asses the sustainability of its competitive

Question

For each of the following companies, asses the sustainability of its competitive advantage.

a. Analog Devices, which develops specialized applications for analog semiconductors, has invested countercyclically to cash in on business upturns.  The results: 80% faster growth and 50% higher profitability than the rest of the semiconductor industry.

b.  Dupont is a leading producer of titanium dioxide, largely thanks to a production process based on low-cost feedstock that gives it a 20%  cost advantage over competitors' processess.  Mastering the cheaper feedstock technology can be accomplished only by investing $50 million to 100 million and severl years of testing time in an efficiently scaled plant.

c.  Tandem computer pioneered fault-tolerant computers for processing transactions.  Although the cost of adding processing capability once a system is up and running is relatively low, customers must first make sizable and irrecoverable system-specific up front investments in software and training.  

Explanation / Answer

Analog device :-

Analog device is apparatus that measures continuous information. The measured analog signal has an infinite number of possible values. The only limitation on resolution is the accuracy of the measuring device. Such apparatus operates with variables which are constituted by continuously measured quantities. These quantities can be voltage, resistance, rotation and pressure.

Dupont :-

It's a nice area, but I wouldn't call it "posh". Yes, it has a history of being gay-friendly and a hang-out (there used to be a couple of bookstores and bars there that catered to the gay and lesbian community), but it's equally friendly to the straight community (such as myself).

There are a lot of restaurants and stores along Connecticut Avenue, mostly extending up from Dupont Circle. Some are notable, such as Kramer Books. One very casual restaurant I personally like is Teaism. Lots of coffee shops and the like.

There's one exceptional museum a few blocks from Dupont Circle: the Philips Collection, which focuses on modern art.

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