1. The Mini case indicates that Nike's core competency is to create heroes. What does this mean? How did Nike build its core competency? Does it, for example,identify and leverage the potential identified in a VRIO analysis (are its competencies valuable, rare, inimitable, and organized to capture value) in a resource-based view of the firm?
2. What would it take for Nike's approach to turn from a strength into a weakness? Did this tipping point already occur? Why or why not?
3. What recommendations would you have for Nike? Can you identify a way to reframe the competency of creating heroes? Or a new way to think of heroes, teams, or sports that would continue to build the brand?
4. If you are a competitor of Nike (such as Adidas, Under Armor, New Balance, o rLi-Ning), how could you exploit Nike's apparent vulnerability? Provide a set of concrete recommendations.