Strategies of gaining competitive advantage based on focusing on customers and market strategy for Extension and Development of medicinal and ornamental plants Enterprises in Ilam province

Medicinal and ornamental plants are one of the most valuable resources in a wide range of natural resources in Iran in the case of scientific knowledge, cultivation, development and proper utilization, can play an important role in public health and employment and increase of non-oil exports This study explores strategies of gaining a competitive advantage of medicinal herbs in Ilam Province based on the strategy of focusing on customers and markets. This study applied a mix method to achieve the objectives. In the quality section the Delphi method and in a quantity section the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been used. In the quality section, the statistical population was 12 individuals consisting of marketing experts, entrepreneurs and medicinal herbs and ornamental plants experts which have been selected based on using purposing sampling method. In the quantity section, 33 individuals from medicinal herbs and ornamental plants have been studied. The required data were collected using a paired comparison and were analyzed by using the software Expert Choice11. The results showed that solutions in the Medicinal and ornamental plants contribute to competitive advantage. Moreover, Identification of the competitors’ strengths and weaknesses play the most important role in creating the advantage for medicinal herbs and ornamental plants in Ilam province.