Costs and price differences among competing companies can have origins in activities performed by:
A. the company's internally performed activities (its own value chain) compared to the cost structure of the internally performed activities of rival companies.
B. value chains of the company's suppliers.
C. value chains of a company's distributors and retail dealers and forward channel allies.
D. the company's internally performed activities (its own value chain), but also on costs in the value chain of its suppliers and distribution channel allies.
E. whether the company has a longer or shorter value chain than its close rivals.
Answer: the company's internally performed activities (its own value chain), but also on costs in the value chain of its suppliers and distribution channel allies.