Strategic decisions can be divided into two main categories: business strategies and corporate strategies. One of these business strategies, which will be the focus of this work, is the cost leadership strategy with the publishing house Reclam as an example. In the following, therefore, the main question to be clarified is to what extent the success and the acquisition of the competitive advantage of the publishing house Reclam is related to the strategy of cost leadership.
That there has been a book series for well over 100 years that still has the same idea and roughly the same format, is something very special. The book series that is meant by this comes from Reclam and is known in Germany as “Universal-Bibliothek”. It was intended to constitute a canon, indicating what an educated person should have read. In addition to the long-standing existence of the book series, the very high level of awareness of these books stands out in particular. Today it is difficult to find a student who does not know the yellow books from the publishing house Reclam, because everyone read them – out of obligation or even for pleasure. The reason for that is when classics like Goethe’s “Faust” are on the curriculum, teachers usually recommend buying the low-priced books by Reclam. Another important fact is that Reclam’s “Universal Bibliothek” became one of the most important book brands in Germany. But how did the publishing house Reclam gained this competitive advantage? In this context, the strategy of companies and thus also of publishers plays a very important role. Especially the strategic management model helps “to identify potentially superior positions in the market place and to find ways in which firm competencies can be used effectively to assume these positions.“
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 Objective and organization
- 1.2 Current state of research
- 2 Cost leadership as a competitive strategy for companies
- 3 Reasons for cost advantages
- 3.1 Structural cost differences
- 3.2 Cost differences caused by cost management
- 4 Cost leadership strategy at the publishing house Reclam
- 4.1 Structural cost differences
- 4.1.1 Economies of scale
- 4.1.2 Economies of scope
- 4.1.3 Experience
- 4.2 Hybrid competitive strategies at the publishing house Reclam
- 4.1 Structural cost differences
- 5 Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This investigation aims to assess the extent to which the Reclam publishing house's success and competitive advantage are linked to a cost leadership strategy. It examines the cost leadership strategy in general and then specifically investigates its application within Reclam, particularly with regards to their popular "Universal-Bibliothek" series. This analysis focuses on how the publishing house has strategically leveraged cost advantages to achieve a dominant position in the market.
- Cost leadership strategy in the publishing industry
- The impact of cost advantages on competitive advantage
- The role of economies of scale and scope in achieving cost leadership
- Analysis of Reclam's cost leadership strategy, specifically through their "Universal-Bibliothek" series
- Potential hybrid competitive strategies employed by Reclam
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1 introduces the research topic and lays out the objective and organization of the investigation. It also provides an overview of the current state of research on cost leadership strategies, particularly within the publishing industry. Chapter 2 defines the cost leadership strategy and its relevance to companies, particularly those in the publishing sector. It highlights how this strategy involves minimizing costs in various areas to achieve competitive advantage. Chapter 3 delves into the reasons behind potential cost differences between competitors, focusing on structural cost differences and variations in cost management. It outlines how these factors influence a company's ability to implement a cost leadership strategy.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study explores the cost leadership strategy in the publishing industry with a specific focus on the Reclam publishing house. It examines concepts such as economies of scale, economies of scope, and hybrid competitive strategies. Additionally, it analyzes the factors contributing to cost advantages and their impact on competitive advantage within the publishing landscape.
- Quote paper
- Theresa Schüler (Author), 2021, The Reclam Publishing House and its Cost Leadership Strategy. An Investigation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1349524
