Title: The influence of key capabilities on brand portfolio-based competitive advantage

Authors: Claude Chailan

Addresses: Director of the EMBA Program, IUM - International University of Monaco, 2, Avenue Albert II, 98000, Monte Carlo, Monaco

Abstract: This research aims to clarify the nature of the links between brand portfolio management, competences and competitive advantage. In a series of interviews within four different cosmetics companies, the author explores their approach to managing the brands they own. This work shows that brand portfolio management is enmeshed in an ensemble of competences acquired over time which are part of the companies' history. The reality that emerges is that a brand portfolio strategy once truly established in an organisation, makes replication by a competitor very difficult due to the in determinability of the causes and effects, and also because it takes a long period of time to build the relevant competencies.

Keywords: brand portfolio; competences; brand management; resource-based marketing; strategic marketing; competitive advantage; causal ambiguity; path dependency; branding.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTGM.2013.053005

International Journal of Trade and Global Markets, 2013 Vol.6 No.2, pp.182 - 201

Published online: 29 Sep 2014 *

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