Final answer:
Harness International provides a competitive advantage to its customers by allowing access to engineering drawings on the extranet, improving time to market and collaboration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Harness International's decision to provide customers with access to engineering drawings on the company's extranet is an example of creating a competitive advantage. A competitive advantage is a condition that allows a company to produce goods or services at a lower price or in a more desirable fashion for customers, relative to its competitors.
By speeding up the design process through the extranet, Harness International can help its clients reduce the time to market, enhance collaboration, and improve productivity, thus gaining an edge over competitors. This strategy aligns with the concept of splitting up the value chain, permitting different stages of production to occur in the most efficient locations, contributing further to the competitive advantage. Opportunity and advantage are closely tied to the effectiveness of these business strategies.