Core Competences.

A Core Competency is a deep proficiency that enables a company to deliver unique value to customers. It embodies an organization's collective learning, particularly of how to coordinate diverse production skills and integrate multiple technologies. Such a Core Competency creates sustainable competitive advantage for a company and helps it branch into a wide variety of related markets. Core Competencies also contribute substantially to the benefits a company's products offer customers. The litmus test of a …

…Prahalad, C.K., and Gary Hamel. "The Core Competence of the Corporation." Harvard Business Review, May/June 1990, pp. 79-91. Quinn, James Brian, and Frederick G. Hilmer. "Strategic Outsourcing." Sloan Management Review, Summer 1994, pp. 43-45. Quinn, James Brian. Intelligent Enterprise. Free Press, 1992. Schoemaker, Paul J.H. "How to Link Strategic Vision to Core Capabilities." Sloan Management Review, Fall 1992, pp. 67-81. Waite, Thomas J. "Stick to the Core--or Go for More?" Harvard Business Review , February 2002, pp. 31-41.