Learn in the textbookBasic Concepts of Competitive Strategy
DefinitionCore competence (コアコンピタンス) is a company's central capability that creates value for customers and that other firms cannot easily copy.
ExplanationExamples include proprietary technology built through years of research and know-how accumulated inside the organization. Another feature is that it is not tied to one product but can be applied across several products and businesses.
AnalogyIt is the roots and trunk of a tree. Even as the products, like branches and fruit, come and go, the same strong roots let new branches grow again and again.
Memory hookIn Japanese it is simply the English "core competence" written in katakana: core is the center, competence is ability.