Which one of the following is not a valid or potentially attractive strategic option for a company that is trying to create a cost advantage over rivals or remedy a cost disadvantage?

a. Outsourcing certain internally-performed activities to vendors or contractors who can perform them more economically than they can be performed in-house

b. Initiating a benchmarking program to identify which specific types of costs to focus on cutting.

c. Collaborating with forward channel allies to identify win-win opportunities to reduce costs

d. Changing to a more economical distribution strategy

e. Pressuring suppliers for lower prices, switching to lower-priced substitute inputs, and collaborating closely with suppliers to identify mutual cost-saving opportunities