Exam 10: Managing Strategically

In a short essay,discuss the Boston Consulting Group (BCG)matrix and explain its usefulness in segmenting businesses.Include a discussion of the characteristics for each of the four categories based on the BCG matrix.

A competitive tool that can be applied to any organizational work problem by thinking outside existing alternatives and creating new alternatives is called ________.

Clubhouse Gourmet -A- (Scenario) Imagine that you are the president of Clubhouse Gourmet, a successful chain of fast-food restaurants with 60 locations across Canada. The success you have experienced in the last five years has you considering various options about what to do next with the business. Should you continue to expand the business at the current rate? Or perhaps open new and different restaurants? What should you do? -You are earning good profits but are fearful of growing too fast,so you decide to keep Clubhouse Gourmet in the same business and do not change the menu,hoping to retain the same market share and return-on-investment record.This would be considered a ________ strategy.

An organization that has been able to excel in product research and design,manufacturing,marketing,and managing its human resources to reach a leadership position in the marketplace is taking advantages of its ________.

Megabyte Centre (Scenario) Your old friend Ariel Eskenazi is the owner and general manager of Megabyte Centre, a computer reseller and systems integrator located in Panama City, Panama. Since leaving IBM Canada to start a business in his home country, Ariel has watched his company grow steadily, due in large part to the business partnerships he's established over the years with large foreign computer and software firms, such as Goldstar and Microsoft. These relationships have helped his company win considerable market share in Panama, as well as in other parts of Latin America. However, in recent years, there has been a huge influx of foreign capital into Panama. For example, several large Asian firms have established subsidiaries in Panama to launch their North American operations. Tourism is also on the rise, and dozens of new hotels have been built in the metropolitan area over the past three years. As a result, demand for Megabyte's products and services has increased dramatically, but so has the level and diversity of its competition. While Megabyte's customer base has remained fairly loyal, many longtime customers are beginning to demand price concessions and enhanced service levels in return for their continued business. Ariel has recently learned that several of his former suppliers and business partners are considering establishing their own local sales offices in Panama City to sell direct to market rather than distributing through Megabyte. Ariel knows you are very knowledgeable about competitive strategy and asks for your advice. You begin by telling him a little about Michael Porter's competitive strategies framework. -Ariel is thinking about closing down the retail side of his business and concentrating his resources on reselling hardware,software,and systems integration services to Latin American governments and public sector agencies.This is an example of which of Michael Porter's competitive strategies?

The AFV (Alternative Fuel Vehicle)division of General Motors produces gas-electric hybrids and other automobiles that run on ethanol,natural gas,and hydrogen.While current market share is small,GM is anticipating dramatic growth in the next few years as demand for alternative fuel vehicles skyrockets.Using the BCG matrix,GM would classify the AFV division as a ________.

The cost leadership strategy requires a firm to ________.

When an organization attempts to grow by merging with or acquiring firms in different and dissimilar industries,the strategy is known as a(n)________ strategy.

In a short essay,describe in detail the concept of first mover in business strategy and relate it to being an innovative organization.Give examples of specific companies pursuing this strategy as well as advantages and disadvantages of first movers.

Personal SWOT Analysis (Scenario) University students in their last year are focused on getting information about the situation in the job market on graduation. As a process of self-examination during her senior year of college, Casey decides to develop a SWOT analysis of her prospects relative to getting a job. -Casey realizes that she has a personal characteristic that suggests she is not comfortable interacting with strangers.She interprets this as a(n)________ if she is to get a job as a salesperson.

A cost leader might use e-business techniques to ________.

Michael Porter proposes that some ________ are inherently more profitable than others.

Elegance Chocolatier supplies premium chocolates to five-star hotels and restaurants that cater exclusively to wealthy customers.Which of the following is the primary source of Elegance's competitive advantage?

Discuss how managers can formulate e-business strategies that contribute to the development of a sustainable competitive advantage in today's environment.

A strong organizational culture may act as a significant barrier to accepting any changes in the organization's strategies.

"At HBC,we have a tremendous sense of responsibility,not only to the continued growth and success of our company,but also to the nation that we have been instrumental in building.Our culture is grounded in a commitment to take into account the social needs and issues impacting the communities where we do business." This statement relates most closely to which component of a mission statement?

When aluminum manufacturer Alcan purchased a mining company that mines bauxite,a key input in aluminum production,it was pursuing which corporate strategy?

A trucking company that grows by purchasing a chain of gasoline stations is engaged in horizontal integration.

Concentration and diversification are two types of renewal strategies.

Which of the following provides a framework for understanding diverse businesses and helps managers establish priorities for allocating resources?