Final answer:
The strategy 'vertical integration' is not one of the basic competitive strategies typically discussed, which are cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. Vertical integration is a strategy involving expanding into different stages of production.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks to identify which of the listed strategies is not a basic competitive strategy discussed in the text. The basic competitive strategies typically include cost leadership, differentiation, and focus. These strategies are used by companies to gain a competitive edge in the market. Vertical integration, while a management strategy that can give a firm competitive advantages, is not one of the basic competitive strategies discussed in the context of this question. Vertical integration involves a company expanding its operations into different stages of production, which is not the same as focusing on cost, product differentiation, or servicing a niche market.