Final answer:
Dippin' Dots possesses tangible resources like specialized freezing technology, and intangible ones like brand recognition. These assets are valuable, rare, difficult to imitate, and non-substitutable, making them core competencies that provide a sustainable competitive advantage.
Step-by-step explanation:
To describe the major resources and capabilities that Dippin' Dots possesses, we need to look at both tangible and intangible assets. Tangible assets include their specialized freezing technology that allows for the creation of their unique beaded ice cream, as well as their physical distribution network. Intangible assets can encompass the brand recognition and proprietary recipes associated with Dippin' Dots.
When using the four criteria of core competencies to determine if any of the resources can provide Dippin' Dots with a sustainable competitive advantage, first they must be valuable which their unique production process and brand are. Secondly, they must be rare, and indeed, the freezing technology and the brand strength satisfy this condition. Third, they must be difficult to imitate; the specialized equipment and secret recipes meet this criterion. Finally, these competencies should be non-substitutable, and in the case of Dippin' Dots, there are few direct substitutes for their patented ice cream products, making their offering unique.
Therefore, Dippin' Dots' freezing technology and brand equity likely represent core competencies that offer the potential for a sustainable competitive advantage due to their value, rarity, the challenge in imitation, and the lack of substitutes.