MNG3701
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Strategic Planning IIIA
Clicks Group Limited (2023): Internal Analysis, Business-Level Strategy,
Competitor Foresight and Macro-Environment
Introduction
This essay analyses Clicks Group Limited (“Clicks”) using established strategy
frameworks and the company’s Integrated Report 2023. First, the resource-based view
(RBV) is used to assess key tangible, intangible and capability resources. Second, the
business-level strategy is identified, defined, justified and evaluated for suitability using
the SAF/SAFe criteria. Third, a four-corner analysis is applied to a major competitor to
anticipate likely future moves. Fourth, five macro-environmental (PESTEL) factors that
influence Clicks—specifically as evidenced in the 2023 report—are analysed. (Barney,
1991; Porter, 1985; Johnson et al., 2020; Clicks Group, 2023).
1. RBV analysis of Clicks’ internal environment
Theoretical overview (RBV/VRIN/VRIO)
The RBV argues that sustained competitive advantage stems from firm-specific
resources and capabilities that are Valuable, Rare, Inimitable and Non-substitutable
(VRIN), and effectively Organised to capture value (VRIO) (Barney, 1991). Tangible and
intangible assets become strategic when bundled into capabilities that competitors
struggle to copy (Grant, 2019).
Application to Clicks
Physical and network resources (valuable; partly rare): Clicks operates South
Africa’s largest retail pharmacy network—885 stores and 711 pharmacies by FY2023—
plus an e-commerce channel and nurse-led primary-care clinics (203), creating dense
access and convenience advantages. Approximately 50% of South Africans live within
ASSIGNMENT 2 SEMESTER 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 19 SEPTEMBER 2025
, Strategic Planning IIIA
Clicks Group Limited (2023): Internal Analysis, Business-Level Strategy,
Competitor Foresight and Macro-Environment
Introduction
This essay analyses Clicks Group Limited (“Clicks”) using established strategy
frameworks and the company’s Integrated Report 2023. First, the resource-based view
(RBV) is used to assess key tangible, intangible and capability resources. Second, the
business-level strategy is identified, defined, justified and evaluated for suitability using
the SAF/SAFe criteria. Third, a four-corner analysis is applied to a major competitor to
anticipate likely future moves. Fourth, five macro-environmental (PESTEL) factors that
influence Clicks—specifically as evidenced in the 2023 report—are analysed. (Barney,
1991; Porter, 1985; Johnson et al., 2020; Clicks Group, 2023).
1. RBV analysis of Clicks’ internal environment
Theoretical overview (RBV/VRIN/VRIO)
The RBV argues that sustained competitive advantage stems from firm-specific
resources and capabilities that are Valuable, Rare, Inimitable and Non-substitutable
(VRIN), and effectively Organised to capture value (VRIO) (Barney, 1991). Tangible and
intangible assets become strategic when bundled into capabilities that competitors
struggle to copy (Grant, 2019).
Application to Clicks
Physical and network resources (valuable; partly rare): Clicks operates South
Africa’s largest retail pharmacy network—885 stores and 711 pharmacies by FY2023—
plus an e-commerce channel and nurse-led primary-care clinics (203), creating dense
access and convenience advantages. Approximately 50% of South Africans live within
