Exam 3: Strategic Planning for Competitive Advantage

Marketing plans should be written to do all of the following EXCEPT:

What is a SWOT analysis? How does it relate to strategic planning?

The four Ps of the marketing mix are product,planning,promotion,and price.

Which of the following is a type of strategic alternative that tries to increase market share among existing customers?

Ocean Spray's development of Craisins sweetened dried cranberries to compete against raisins most directly affected the _____ element of the company's marketing mix.

Delta Faucet Company Masco is the name of a well-recognized company in the construction industry. It produces cabinetry, furniture, lighting, and plumbing fixtures for the upper-end homeowner and builder. One of the divisions of Masco is the Delta Faucet Company, which is the leader in the faucet industry. Delta was founded in 1955. Over the decades, it has developed a legacy based on well-crafted, high-quality products. Since the 1970s, Delta has focused its energies on building loyalty with the builder marketplace. Research in 2002 showed that while builders respected the Delta faucet for its quality, durability, and dependability, household consumers were not enamored with Delta products. Due to the number of new magazines and television programs devoted to home style, homeowners wanted faucets that were chic and stylish. This was not the image of the Delta faucet. To change its image, Delta began a marketing program in which it committed itself to developing new products to appeal to homeowners. It adopted a new slogan--"Beautifully Engineered." -Refer to Delta Faucet Company.Since Delta was already marketing to homeowners (although not very successfully),its development of new styles of faucets to appeal to this underserved market would be an example of a _____ strategy.

DeFeet International DeFeet International started as a cyclist sock company. The founder, Shane Cooper, said that the existing socks for cyclists were just not of great quality, so he made socks for his cycling team by knitting them inside out. The socks were of special materials aimed at giving the cyclist the most comfortable fit. These socks were not the traditional white socks but were bright, bold, and flashy colored socks with cool graphics. These high-tech socks were priced around $10 a pair. Their Web site says "DeFeet Is Made for Driven Soles." Soon, cycling elites like Lance Armstrong and Greg LeMond were sporting the DeFeet brand. The company branched into running, hiking, and snow gear. Products include socks, armskins, calfskins, boxer briefs, gloves, and shirts for the serious athlete. DeFeet has a custom department where socks, armskins, and gloves can be personalized with any motif, including sponsor types of logos like Michelin, Pabst Blue Ribbon, or BP. Even kids can enjoy DeFeet's high-quality socks. DeFeet's products can be found in retailers across the world--in more than 20 countries like Israel, Australia, Belgium, and the United States. More than two dozen online retailers also carry DeFeet products. -Refer to DeFeet International.If you were to define DeFeet's mission,which would be most appropriate?

The company that manufactures Molson beer,which is typically consumed by males,launched an alcoholic lemonade beverage to attract more females.This launch of a new product to attract a new market for Molson's products is an illustration of a _____ strategy.

An essential part of marketing strategy is target market strategy.Selection of target market(s)drives marketing objectives and selection of the marketing mix (the four Ps).What are the three general strategies for selecting target markets?

Novartis Novartis, a Swiss drug maker, is planning to purchase a majority stake in Zhejiang Tianyuan Bio-Pharmaceutical Company, a Chinese vaccine maker. Novartis has agreed to pay $125 million for the company, which holds a 3 percent share of China's $1 billion vaccines market. The market for vaccines is growing 20 percent or more in the developing nations of Asia, Africa, and Australasia. In the past, vaccine use has been limited to basic shots against diseases such as polio, tuberculosis, and measles, but as the economies of these countries grow, government and private healthcare spending focuses on preventing diseases such as hepatitis B, cholera and rotavirus, tetanus, and others. Some critics are against the acquisition, claiming that prices will increase. Novartis claims it is not interested in raising prices but rather in expanding Tianyuan's product offerings. -Refer to Novartis.Tianyuan has a relatively small market share of a high-growth market in China.How would this company be classified in the Novartis portfolio matrix?

In order to expand its sales into the U.S.market,BRL,an Australia-based winemaker,agreed to a merger with a U.S.-based wine distribution company.According to Ansoff's strategic opportunity matrix,BRL would be implementing a _____ strategy.

_____ is defined as the collection and interpretation of information about forces,events,and relationships that may affect the organization.

The SBU acronym refers to:

A market penetration strategy entails the creation of new products for current customers.

The typical starting point of any firm's marketing mix is the:

List the four basic strategies used once an organization has identified its strategic business units in terms of the portfolio matrix.Describe when each is used.

A firm's mission statement should answer the question,"What products do we produce best?"

Golden Valley Microwave Foods,Inc.is the manufacturer of ACT II popcorn.In its early years,the company had trouble financing the development and marketing of products for the microwave,so it chose to participate in a financial arrangement in which it agreed that it would not sell ACT II popcorn in supermarkets or grocery stores.Which element of the marketing mix was most influenced by this arrangement?

Which of the following represents a business unit that shows rapid growth but poor profit margins?

The marketing mix refers to a unique blend of marketing variables known as the four Ps.Name and briefly describe each of the 4 Ps.