Ryanair, WalMart,
Timex, Casio, and Hyundai are all cited as examples of firms pursuing cost leadership strategies, but
these firms make substantial investments in advertising, which seems more likely to be associated with a product differentiation strategy. Are these firms really pursuing a cost leadership strategy or are they pursuing a product differentiation strategy by emphasizing their lower costs?
For the second part of your discussion, do some quick research and find a company that is pursuing a cost leadership strategy. Briefly tell us about the company and give us your overall impression. Would you do business with them? Why or why not? In other words, from a customer perspective, what are the pros and cons of a cost leadership strategy?
