n.
AOL Time Warner justifies its strategic approach of Low-Cost Leadership because of market trends in all of its profit-center operations that emphasize consumer growth as opposed to growth within narrower sub-markets. IBM justifies its strategic approach because of the need in computer and information markets to offer differentiated products in order to assure profit growth.
AOL Time Warner could improve its strategic approach of Low-Cost Leadership if it were better able to integrate the marketing efforts of its various profit-center operations. IBM could improve its strategic approach if it is successful in promoting the open-source code paradigm.
The conceptual framework of Porter's Competitive Strategies fits the operations of IBM somewhat better that it fits the operations of AOL Time Warn
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