Which statement best describes the approach to maintaining a durable competitive advantage?

• A. Brand recognition and market share
• B. Number of patents
• C. Durability, risks, and costs
• D. Advertising spending

Answer: (C)

Maintaining a durable competitive advantage is about how long the edge can be defended, the risks that could erode it, and the costs required to keep it going. It’s not enough to have a big brand, lots of patents, or heavy advertising today—the advantage needs to be sustainable in the face of competitors, market shifts, and changing costs. The best statement recognizes that durability depends on the persistence of the advantage and the ongoing effort (and expense) needed to defend it, while also accounting for risks that could undermine it. Other options point to factors that can be temporary or easily imitified, so they don’t capture the ongoing nature of sustaining an edge.