Submission Date : 28th April 2012
Word Count : 1841
Introduction
Strategy is defined as how an organization and individual achieves its goals. The marketing strategies are altered as well as renewed in companies in the effort to survive and also prosper in an increasing demanding and complex business environment (Grant, 2010, p.270). The strategic imperatives have shifted towards a priority emphasis in order to develop a superior capacity to reinvest the business model (Cravens, 2010, p.20). Sainsbury mission and goal is to become the first choice of its customers in terms of food, deliver products which are of outstanding quality and service available at a competitive cost by means of working in a simpler, faster and together. Sainsbury have made fundamental changes which have transformed the business but in the course of action the company has stayed true to its heritage. Sainsbury passion towards food at fair prices and its ethical approach have remained central for their success (J Sainsbury Plc, 2012).
Figure 1: Business Strategy and Objectives
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(Source: J Sainsbury Plc-a, 2012)
Accessing Sainsbury’s strategy using Bowman Strategic Clock
The strategy clock which was coined by Cliff Bowman encouraged the mangers to consider competitive advantage with relation to cost advantage or differentiation (figure 1). It focuses on the price of the customers and their perceived value of the goods and services. It has been argued that Sainsbury pursue a differentiation strategy while others might argue that it has adopted the low cost strategy. It could be however said that the organisation has adopted both differentiation and low cost strategy and can be termed as “stuck in the middle” (Mantle, 2012).
Figure 1: Bowman’s Strategy