Costs and price differences among competing companies can have origins in activities performed by

Multiple Choice

whether the company has a longer or shorter value chain than its close rivals.

the company's internally performed activities $($its own value chain$)$ compared to the cost structure of the internally performed activities of rival companies.

the company's internally performed activities $($its own value chain$),$ but also on costs in the value chain of its suppliers and distribution channel allies.

value chains of the company's suppliers.

value chains of a company's distributors and retail dealers and forward channel allies.