Examine the Google’s Key Resources and Competitive Capabilities, and Its Competitive Liabilities and Resource Weaknesses

Question 1: Read the case only. Examine the Google’s key resources and competitive capabilities, and its competitive liabilities and resource weaknesses.

Strengths

In term of strengths, Google has diversified business which means it has a unique management expertise in terms of its special technology, ability and knowledge of management. For example, Google always hire people who are smart and determined, and they favor ability over experience. Hence, Google has built a strong foundation of board differentiation of complementary products such as Google search features, Google tools and web applications as well as Google mobile applications according to the case study (Appendix 1).  

Besides, Google has superior technological capability in enhancing its product developments especially expanding its business from software to hardware. For example, with a good technological information, infrastructures, potential workforce, research and development, Google had launched out its Android operating system for mobile phones in 2008 successfully and it raised its market share to 50.9% in 2012 based on the case study.

Moreover, Google is almost completely vertically integrated in its business managerial practice. It is because, a lot of new Google features were added between 2004 and 2012 due to Google’s advanced technological and skilled management team (Appendix 2). Especially, Google drive for its own Android operating system and cloud storage at the same time take even more control of its destiny by tying all of its products together to cloud based applications and servers based on the case study.

Furthermore, another strengths of Google is free and open source service (FOSS). Since Google’s mission is to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful, Google offered a lot of Android program, software and applications for consumers around the world without a charge. Without a doubt, Google openness is the main key for them to become the number one in many products and services. Besides, Google has also a strong financial support for expanding its every business opportunity and even enhancing its business growth. According to the case study, Google did raise a total of $1 million in venture capital form family, friends and also other angel investors for its business investment in the future.

In addition, another reasons why Google was leading the worldwide search publicity market is the strong brand name. Based on the case study, Google had created alliances with other large companies like Intel, Sony, DISH Network, and Logitech at the same time launched out new high-tech products successfully. By this way, it is not only can help Google in building its strong brand between Google and consumers all the time while also to generate more revenue through collaborating with those popular and potential companies in product development.