At this point, we know that standard deviation is a measure of risk (or volatility) and that the number of standard deviations determines the reliability. So here's how it works in the investing world. Let's say you own a mutual fund that has a standard deviation of 21% and an average annual return of 8%.
Core Laboratory. The Core Laboratory is a full-service facility serving both adult and pediatric patients 24 hours a day. The test menu includes general chemistries, hematology, coagulation, blood gas analysis, therapeutic drug testing, endocrine testing, and comprehensive emergency toxicology and psychotropic drug testing services.
According to management consulting firm Bain & Company, the litmus test for a core competency is that it is hard for competitors to copy or develop. For example, the core competency of a technology company could be the design of high-speed microprocessors or efficient Internet search algorithms, both of which are difficult to replicate. Businesses can develop core competencies by identifying key internal strengths and investing in the capabilities valued by their customers.