Acore competence: is a more competitively valuable strength than a competence because of the key role the activities play in the company's strategy. typically has competitive value, the amount of which is reflected in the physical and tangible assets on a company's balance sheet. usually is grounded in the technological expertise of a particular department or work group. is more difficult for rivals to copy than a distinctive competence. refers to a company's lowest-cost and most efficiently executed value-chain activity.