The study looked at how different strategies can help banks in Iraq's Kurdistan area stay competitive. They found that focusing on cost leadership is the best way to gain a competitive advantage. This means that banks that focus on offering lower prices than their competitors are more likely to succeed. Differentiation strategy, which means offering unique products or services, also helps but not as much as cost leadership. Lastly, focusing on a specific market segment, known as focus strategy, can also help banks gain a competitive edge, although to a lesser extent.