A diferenciaçäo como vantagem competitiva: um estudo de caso / The differentiation as a competitive advantage: a case study

Revisäo bibliográfica sobre a diferenciaçäo como ferramenta na busca da vantagem competitiva, gerando um melhor posicionamento da empresa em seu mercado frente a seus clientes e concorrentes. Apresentam conceitos de estratégia competitiva e abordagens da diferenciaçäo e sustentabilidade de uma vantagem competitiva. Analisa divergências históricas concernentes ao termo diferenciaçäo. Através do estudo do caso Interamericana e OMINT Assistencial, verifica a adoçäo da diferenciaçäo como estratégia para alcançar a vantagem competitiva junto ao mercado de produtos de saúde

Premiums without benefits: waste and inefficiency in the commercial health insurance industry.

The U.S. system of health insurance is wasteful and inefficient. For every dollar the commercial health insurance industry paid in claims in 1988, the industry spent 33.5 cents for administration, marketing, and other overhead expenses. Thus, not including profits, the commercial insurance industry spent 14 times as much on administration, overhead, and marketing per dollar of claims paid as did the Medicare system, and 11 times as much per dollar of claims paid as the Canadian national health system. Had an efficient public program such as Medicare or the Canadian system provided the same amount of benefits, consumers and businesses served by commercial insurers would have saved $13 billion. The sources of waste include excessive marketing costs and administrative costs bloated by discriminatory underwriting practices that segregate the profitable groups and individuals--people who are healthy, young, and in "safe" professions--from everyone else.

MetLife's experience with fitness and wellness programming.

MetLife converted a recreational gymnasium into a fitness and wellness facility designed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in employees. Fitness assessments, customized workouts, and specialized classes were offered. One hundred and fifty-two employees who exercise regularly had initial and six-month fitness tests. This group's evaluation data showed favorable cardiovascular trends with decreases of 3.6 percent in resting heart rate, 6.4 percent in total cholesterol, 3.5 percent in systolic blood pressure, 2.8 percent in diastolic blood pressure and an increase of 2.7 percent in HDL cholesterol. Continuing analysis of the program will establish the efficacy of MetLife's Wellness and Fitness Program.

Supermeds.

The move toward managed health care is causing major reorganization involving insurance companies and the Blues, hospital chains and HMO companies, Mr. Lightfoot points out. He sketches the current activity.