Which of the following best identifies the reluctance to adapt to changing market conditions?

The best choice for identifying the reluctance to adapt to changing market conditions is the concept of competitive inertia. Competitive inertia refers to a company's tendency to continue its current strategies even in the face of new market trends or changing competitive landscapes. This often occurs because firms become comfortable with their existing practices and may resist changes due to a variety of factors, such as the fear of risk, attachment to traditional approaches, or simply the challenge of shifting towards new strategies.

In contrast, strategic inertia generally refers to a broader unwillingness to change strategy as a whole, but may not directly connect to competitive contexts specifically. Strategic alignment focuses on ensuring that a company’s resources and actions are in line with its goals and objectives, rather than the hesitation to adjust in response to market dynamics. Strategic dissonance, on the other hand, deals with a disconnect between a company's strategy and its execution, which implies a mismatch rather than an outright reluctance to adapt. Thus, competitive inertia most accurately captures the essence of the reluctance to change in the face of evolving market conditions.