Strategic Positioning as a Source of Sustainable Competitive Advantage at the Norwegian Refugee Council, Dolo Ado- Ethiopia
Abstract
Today, the nonprofit sector plays an increasingly important role in the provision of vital services
in fields such as health, social services, and education. However, the sector has been
experiencing dwindling funding in the recent past due to the economic slowdown in the donor
nations and the increased demand from the many organizations that have come up during the
period. The effectiveness of non-governmental organizations as actors in development and
change depends on successful engagement with both internal and external management questions
and also on the successful articulation between issues of internal and external management. The
objective of the study was to determine the role of strategic positioning as a source of sustainable
competitive advantage at Norwegian Refugee Council, Dolo Ado- Ethiopia. The research design
was a case study. The study used primary data which was collected using an interview guide.
Content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. The study found out that product
differentiation involves differentiating wide range of housing units produced by the organization
and other humanitarian providers. NRC was found to have worked with all local institutions,
opinion leaders and beneficiaries as determined by the ever changing situation on the ground.
The study found out that the factors considered by NRC in pursuit of strategic positioning were
the emergencies that occurred in the region of its operations, stakeholders and the strategic
planning process. The study achieve competitive advantage through working relationship with
the local communities in organizational projects to ascertain progress, challenges, successes and
other issues around implementation. NRC was found to have documented organizations strategic
capability which has ensured, resources were examined for their full potential. The study
recommends that for success in strategic position of the organization it should develop further its
ability to marshal resources needed to support its strategies as well as introduction new products
and services to create a sense of value which guarantees better performance.
Publisher
University of Nairobi