Inimitability

It is difficult to copy or generate ready equivalents for an inimitable (opposite of imitable)

resource. If it's tough for another company to obtain or replace a resource, it's considered

inimitable and non-substitutable. As long as rival enterprises do not obtain control of the

resource or a close equivalent, a valuable and uncommon resource or capability will provide a

competitive advantage (Barney, 1991). If a resource is precious and scarce, it can provide a

market leader with a competitive advantage. In the case of Zamtel, this resource is the fact that it

is a government-owned company.

Being a government organization, Zamtel will have access to valuable and rare resources

that the government can make accessible to it, which may not be economical or easy to imitate

by its competitors. Due to its government ownership, Zamtel has access to resources that can

enable it to train personnel at a minimal cost (Bolton & Drew, 1991). Data-based human capital

management is both costly and difficult to mimic. Companies must build software and invest in

training their HR staff on new technology and strategy (Kaapanda, 2011). For Zamtel, this is

where the government can help. The government owns a lot of different sectors, including the

newly formed information and technology sector, where it can find instructors to come and train

Zamtel's human resource and personnel on how to build and develop software at low to no cost.

References
Barney, J. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management,

17,99-120.

Bolton, R., & Drew, J. (1991). A longitudinal analysis of the impact of service changes on

customer attituds. journal of marketing, 1-9.

Kaapanda, L. (2011). An evaluation of Factors determing the selection of mobile

telecommunications service providers in the Northern region of Namibia. spinnning

rsearch and and practice to create knowlege for new millenium, (30,32-67.