Which one of the following is NOT an effective approach to cost-cutting that will aid company efforts to achieve a competitive advantage based on lower overall costs per pair sold than rival companies?

there's 11 people for the 1st position. then, no matter who gets it, there's only 10 left for the second, and then 9 left for the third. 11 x 10 x 9 = 990.   the answer is there are 990 different ways the positions can be filled by these applicants