"("Vision and Values," Who we are: About Pfizer, 2006) Notice how people, and a focus on attracting quality people to the company to create a sense of common teamwork and leadership forms the core of this healthcare company's stated focus. The company realizes it cannot develop or sell its product without a human face. Its mission statement and purpose is also short and clear: "We will become the world's most valued company to patients, customers, colleagues, investors, business partners, and the communities where we work and live," and "we dedicate ourselves to humanity's quest for longer, healthier, happier lives through innovation in pharmaceutical, consumer, and animal health products." ("Mission Statement," Who we are: About Pfizer, 2006) Again, people form the fore of its philosophy.

A recent letter by the CEO, Jeffrey Kindler, stressed the company's commitment to people and to patient care, above all other values, showing that this view of humans as invaluable resources of the company, as well as consumers, is a crucial part of the healthcare company's projected image to its employees. (Kindler, 2006) Health care is about people, no matter how sharp the competitive spirit within the company, and caring, people, and competition are all merged within the Pfizer ethos.

Discuss how this practice creates a competitive advantage in the market place for the firm

As described by former sales rep Reidy, Pfizer employees did not simply think that their drugs worked, they thought that, for example, the allergy drug Allegra was superior to competitors Claritin, simply because it was a Pfizer drug, and communicated this with force and clarity, and supported it with statistical evidence when talking to physicians. One independent marketing report noted, regarding the industry in general: "Companies should strive to optimize their competitive strategy capabilities and utilizing head-to-head studies can be a key determinant of success for large and small pharmaceutical companies alike." (MarketResearch.com, 2000) In short, being willing to take on the competition,...

As outstanding as their training has proved, it is also worthy of note that creating such a sense of competitive drive can be fragile, if not supported by continuing company success, financially and in terms of the quality of drugs that are produced.
Works Cited

Blodgett, Mindy. "Prescription Strength." CIO. 1 Feb 2000. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.cio.com/archive/020100/prescription.html

Find a Career at Pfizer." Pfizer Careers. 2006. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/careers/fr_find.jsp

Gaining Competitive Advantage in the Pharmaceutical Market." Market Research.com.

Report. 2000. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.marketresearch.com/map/prod/814569.html

Kindler, Jeffrey B. "Dear Colleagues." 15 Aug 2006. Pfizer Website. [8 Nov 2006]

http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/download/colleague_letter.pdf

Knowledge Management at Pfizer: Starting from the inside out. Exclusive interview

Claire Hogikyan, Worldwide Head of Information Management, Pfizer Global Research and Development." Eyeforpharma. 26 Feb 2002. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/careers/fr_find.jsp http://www.eyeforpharma.com/index.asp?news=26202

Mission Statement." Who we are: About Pfizer. 2006. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/mn_about_mission.jsp

Reidy, Jamie. Hard Sell: The Evolution of a Viagra Salesman. New York: Andrews,

McMeel Publishing, 2005.

Vision and Values." Who we are: About Pfizer. 2006. [8 Nov 2006] http://www.pfizer.com/pfizer/are/mn_about_vision.jsp