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Indicate whether the statement is true or false.
1. Analyzing the internal environment enables a firm to determine what it might do by identifying what opportunities and
threats exist.
a.
True
b.
False
2. Resources must be combined to form capabilities, as illustrated by Chipotle, which linked fresh ingredients with several
other resources, including the marketing and training of employees, as the foundation for customer service as a capability.
a.
True
b.
False
3. Older employees are less valuable resources to firms than younger employees, because older employees have lower
levels of knowledge. Consequently, employee layoffs should begin with early-retirement inducements.
a.
True
b.
False
4. Firms should seek to continually develop new core competencies because all core competencies guarantee above-
average profit.
a.
True
b.
False
5. At IBM, human capital is critical to forming and using the firm’s capabilities in customer relationships, scientific and
research skills, and technical skills in hardware, software, and services.
a.
True
b.
False
6. Apple has combined some of its tangible resources (such as financial resources and research laboratories) and
intangible resources (such as scientists, engineers, and organizational routines) to create a capability in R&D that creates a
core competence in innovation.
a.
True
b.
False
7. One criterion for a resource or capability to be a source of competitive advantage is that it must allow the firm to
perform a value-creating activity that competitors cannot perform.
a.
True
b.
False
8. The foundation of many capabilities lies in the unique skills and knowledge of a firm’s employees.
a.
True
b.
False
9. Firms achieve strategic competitiveness and earn above-average returns by acquiring, bundling, and leveraging their
resources for the purpose of taking advantage of opportunities in the external environment in ways that create value for
customers.
a.
True
b.
False
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10. Understanding how to leverage the firm’s unique bundle of resources and capabilities is a key outcome decision
makers seek when analyzing the internal organization.
a.
True
b.
False
11. Costly-to-imitate capabilities are those which other firms cannot easily develop as they have no strategic equivalent.
a.
True
b.
False
12. The value of tangible assets, such as the firm’s borrowing capacity and its physical plant, is high because these assets
can be easily leveraged to derive additional value.
a.
True
b.
False
13. Capabilities are usually developed separately from specific functional areas such as manufacturing, R&D, and
marketing.
a.
True
b.
False
14. Value is measured by the variable and fixed costs associated with the production and marketing of a particular product
compared with the revenue and profits the product generates.
a.
True
b.
False
15. Interpersonal relationships, trust, friendships, and a firm’s reputation are all examples of complex social phenomena
that make capabilities easy to imitate.
a.
True
b.
False
16. Valuable capabilities allow the firm to exploit strengths or neutralize weaknesses in the internal environment.
a.
True
b.
False
17. Firms should never outsource a primary activity because of the danger of the activity being imitated by rivals.
a.
True
b.
False
18. Analyzing the internal environment enables a firm to determine what it can do by identifying resources, capabilities,
and core competencies in the internal organization.
a.
True
b.
False
19. Capabilities of an organization emerge spontaneously through the interaction of tangible and intangible resources.
a.
True
b.
False
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20. By themselves, resources can allow firms to create value for customers as the foundation for earning above-average
returns.
a.
True
b.
False
21. Creating customer value is the source of the firm’s potential to earn above-average returns.
a.
True
b.
False
22. “Motivating, empowering, and retaining employees” is an example of a capability that resides within the human
resources functional area.
a.
True
b.
False
23. Core competencies are capabilities that serve as a source of competitive advantage for a firm over its rivals.
a.
True
b.
False
24. At Southwest Airlines, the complex interrelationship between its culture and human capital adds value for customers
in ways that other airlines cannot, such as jokes on flights by flight attendants and cooperation between gate personnel and
pilots.
a.
True
b.
False
25. Resources are the source of capabilities, some of which lead to the development of core competencies. In turn, some
core competencies may lead to competitive advantage.
a.
True
b.
False
26. Walmart uses core competencies, such as information technology and distribution channels, to create value for its
customers through its “everyday low prices.”
a.
True
b.
False
27. Any core competency has the potential to lose its value-creating ability.
a.
True
b.
False
28. Capabilities may be costly to imitate if firms have unique and valuable organizational cultures, are causally
ambiguous, and socially complex.
a.
True
b.
False
29. The firm with the most capabilities wins.
a.
True
b.
False
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30. A company can earn above-average returns only when the value it creates is less than the costs incurred to create that
value.
a.
True
b.
False
31. The learning generated by making and correcting mistakes is generally unimportant to efforts to create new
capabilities and core competencies.
a.
True
b.
False
32. Compared to tangible resources, intangible resources are an inferior source of core competencies.
a.
True
b.
False
33. Technology has made it more difficult for companies to find ways to develop competitive advantages.
a.
True
b.
False
34. The need to meet quarterly earnings results causes managers to accurately examine the firm’s internal organization.
a.
True
b.
False
35. A firm should outsource only activities where it cannot create value or where it is at a substantial disadvantage
compared to competitors.
a.
True
b.
False
36. Value chain activities in the value chain create value, whereas support functions generate costs.
a.
True
b.
False
37. Two concerns about outsourcing are the potential loss of a firm’s innovative ability and the loss of jobs within
companies that decide to outsource some of their work.
a.
True
b.
False
38. Although an organization’s good reputation is a valuable resource that takes years of superior marketplace competence
to achieve, it is not a good basis for building a competitive advantage because it can be destroyed almost instantly by bad
publicity.
a.
True
b.
False
39. In today’s global economy, some resources that were traditionally critical to firms’ efforts to sell goods are now less
likely to be a source of competitive advantage.
a.
True
b.
False
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Indicate the answer choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
40. Firms that achieve competitive parity can expect to:
a.
earn below-average returns.
b.
earn average returns.
c.
earn above-average returns.
d.
initially earn above-average returns, declining to average returns.
41. Gamma, Inc., has struggled for industry dominance with Ardent, Inc., its main competitor, for years. Gamma has
gathered and analyzed large amounts of competitive intelligence about Ardent. It has observed as much of the firm’s
internal functioning and technology as it can legally, yet Gamma cannot understand why Ardent has a competitive
advantage over it. The source of Ardent’s success is
a.
impregnable.
b.
causally ambiguous.
c.
rationally obscure.
d.
elusive.
42. Charmed by Claire is a successful retail boutique that sells women’s accessories. Claire, the owner/manager, knows
that women have many options when buying jewelry. When customers enter her store they are greeted by name and given
prompt, friendly attention. Customers return to the store because the service is excellent. Claire says the most important
decision she makes is hiring the best staff because customer service is vital to her business. Customer service is:
a.
a human resource.
b.
an organizational resource.
c.
a rare resource.
d.
a core competency.
43. Compared to tangible resources, intangible resources are ______ and ______.
a.
less visible; more difficult to copy.
b.
less visible; less difficult to copy.
c.
more visible; more difficult to copy.
d.
more visible; less difficult to copy.
44. Judgment is the capacity for making a successful decision when:
a.
there are multiple decision criteria.
b.
no obviously correct model or rule is available.
c.
cognitive biases create barriers to rationality.
d.
there are contradictions between the firm’s vision and its implemented strategy.
45. A food bank in Florida was struggling to serve its customers. It asked Walmart for help. Walmart sent a team of
managers who reorganized storage and transportation. The food bank was able to increase the number of clients served
by tenfold. Walmart shared its expertise in:
a.
distribution.
b.
human resources.
c.
marketing.
d.
manufacturing.
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46. In the airline industry, frequent-flyer programs, ticket kiosks, and e-ticketing are all examples of capabilities that are
______ but no longer _____.
a.
rare; valuable
b.
valuable; rare
c.
socially complex; rare
d.
valuable; causally ambiguous
47. When firms lay off employees, they are:
a.
treating employees as an intangible resource.
b.
recognizing the reduced value of labor in the value chain.
c.
eroding the organization’s knowledge resources.
d.
temporarily sacrificing a tangible asset that is easily replaced.
48. The critical executive skill of the current business age is the ability to:
a.
manage technological innovation.
b.
manage human intellect.
c.
initiate change and overcome inertia.
d.
coordinate tangible and intangible resources.
49. Which of the following is NOT an external event that reveals the “dark side” of core capabilities?
a.
A new competitor figures out a better way to serve the firm’s customers.
b.
New technologies emerge and replace those used by the firm.
c.
A firm changes its focus to a new core competence.
d.
Political or social events shift the foundation of current core capabilities.
50. Subscriptions to the New York Times have been decreasing as more customers receive their news through other
media. At the same time, advertisers have shifted portions of their spending to other media. The NYT’s managers are
making decisions under:
a.
certainty.
b.
uncertainty.
c.
intraorganizational conflict.
d.
interorganizational conflict.
51. A firm’s core competencies, integrated with an understanding of the results of studying the conditions in the external
environment, should:
a.
guarantee profits.
b.
lead to a first-mover advantage.
c.
drive the selection of strategies.
d.
increase the firm’s market share.
52. Several months ago, a restaurant developed a new appetizer that is a hit with customers. Many customers go to the
restaurant just for the appetizer, and it was at the center of a recent highly positive review by a food critic. Preparation
involves common ingredients and average culinary skills but requires a very high oven temperature, which significantly
increases utility costs. Several competing restaurants have since added their own version of the appetizer to their menu.
Which criterion for assessing capabilities/core competencies is met?
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a.
The restaurant has the capability to develop something that is valuable.
b.
The restaurant has the capability to develop something that is rare.
c.
The restaurant has the capability to develop something that is costly to imitate.
d.
All of these criteria are met.
53. To build social capital whereby resources such as knowledge are transferred across organizations requires ______
between the parties.
a.
a contract
b.
determination
c.
confidence
d.
trust
54. Value chain analysis is a tool used to:
a.
analyze a firm’s external environment for value-creating opportunities.
b.
analyze a firm’s value chain activities and support functions in isolation from its competitors’ value chain.
c.
understand the parts of the firm’s operation that create value and those that do not.
d.
identify the firm’s core competencies in each of the primary activities of the firm.
55. A veterinary practice has added a pet boarding and grooming facility. Most of the practice’s competitors also provide
these services. The veterinary practice is gaining competitive:
a.
advantage.
b.
parity.
c.
disadvantage.
d.
neutrality.
56. Which of the following is NOT a component of internal analysis leading to competitive advantage?
a.
Tangible and intangible resources
b.
Analysis of supplier power
c.
Capabilities
d.
Core competencies
57. A product’s value is created by each of the following EXCEPT:
a.
high cost and highly differentiated features.
b.
low cost.
c.
highly differentiated features.
d.
low cost and highly differentiated features.
58. The key to achieving competitiveness, earning above-average returns, and remaining ahead of competitors in the long
run is to manage current core competencies:
a.
in a way that uniquely bundles and leverages the firm’s existing resources.
b.
while simultaneously developing new ones.
c.
and imitate the core competencies of successful competitors.
d.
in order to preserve and enhance them against the firm‘s competitors.
59. Value chain activities include all of the following EXCEPT:
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a.
supply-chain management.
b.
operations.
c.
management information systems.
d.
distribution.
60. Compared to intangible resources, tangible resources are ______ constrained because they are ______ to leverage.
a.
less; easier
b.
less; harder
c.
more; harder
d.
more; easier
61. Organizational culture is:
a.
amorphous and changeable.
b.
not easily imitable.
c.
so difficult to analyze that most firms should choose to ignore it.
d.
typically fragile in the face of changes in the external environment.
62. Outsourcing is the:
a.
spinning off of a value-creating activity to create a new firm.
b.
selling of a value-creating activity to other firms.
c.
purchase of a value-creating activity from an external supplier.
d.
use of computers to obtain value-creating data from the Internet.
63. It is increasingly difficult for a firm to develop and sustain a competitive advantage because of the effects of
globalization and:
a.
the rapid development of the Internet’s capabilities.
b.
extensive use of outsourcing within the borders of the United States.
c.
the declining number of inventions and patents developed by U.S. citizens.
d.
the simultaneous erosion of the U.S. work ethic and the U.S. education system.
64. Capabilities typically come from:
a.
individual resources.
b.
one unique resource.
c.
several outstanding resources used independently.
d.
combining resources.
65. The owner of a store that sells fine-quality fabrics for home seamstresses bemoans the fact that few young women
know how to do fine tailoring, much less simple dressmaking. Many potential customers are unable to appreciate the
premium quality of the fabrics and are deterred by the high prices, as well as the complexity of fine sewing. In the past,
the store had a strong demand for fabrics, large classes for women learning the fine points of sewing, and a reputation for
excellent service and technical advice. Now the store is earning lower-than-average returns. This case is an example of:
a.
the hazard of competitors being able to imitate a firm’s core competency.
b.
the need for firms to stick to their core competencies through temporary downturns in market demand.
c.
the lack of intangible resources undermining the core competencies of the firm.
d.
core competencies that have become core rigidities.
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66. One reason executive judgment can be a particularly important source of competitive advantage is that judgment:
a.
allows a firm to build a strong reputation.
b.
gains the loyalty of shareholders.
c.
increases human intellectual capacity.
d.
allows for superior bundling of resources.
67. Tangible resources include:
a.
assets that are people-dependent, such as know-how.
b.
assets that can be observed and quantified.
c.
organizational culture.
d.
a firm’s reputation.
68. A person who has made a successful decision when no obviously correct model or rule is available or when relevant
data are unreliable or incomplete has exercised:
a.
foresight.
b.
judgment.
c.
effective strategic thinking.
d.
decisiveness.
69. The capabilities used to create the sustainability/green initiatives at Walmart and Target are ______ but less likely to
be ______.
a.
rare; valuable
b.
valuable; rare
c.
socially complex; rare
d.
valuable; causally ambiguous
70. Capabilities that other firms cannot develop easily are classified as:
a.
costly to imitate.
b.
rare.
c.
valuable.
d.
nonsubstitutable.
71. Compared to tangible resources, intangible resources are:
a.
of less strategic value to the firm.
b.
less likely to be the focus of strategic analysis.
c.
a superior source of capabilities.
d.
more likely to be reflected on the firm’s balance sheet.
72. The challenge and difficulty of making effective decisions are implied by preliminary evidence that ______ of
organizational decisions fail.
a.
one-fourth
b.
one-fifth
c.
one-tenth
d.
one-half
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73. Acme Auto Repair has a thriving business based on its reputation for high-quality work, honesty, and skilled
employees. For continued long-term success, Acme’s owner should:
a.
concentrate on maintaining Acme’s current core competencies.
b.
focus on developing Acme’s future competitive advantages.
c.
place more emphasis on tangible resources, which are less vulnerable to obsolescence than intangible
resources.
d.
recognize that core competencies derived from human resources are more subject to becoming core rigidities
than are core competencies based on other types of resources.
74. Value chain activities are:
a.
the activities most likely to be imitated by competitors.
b.
activities or tasks the firm completes in order to produce products and then sell, distribute, and service those
products in ways that create value for customers.
c.
the core competencies of the organization.
d.
the activities most crucial to implementing the firm’s business strategy.
75. ______ are the source of a firm’s ______, which are the source of the firm’s ______.
a.
Resources; capabilities; core competencies
b.
Capabilities; resources; core competencies
c.
Capabilities; resources; above-average returns
d.
Core competencies; resources; competitive advantage
76. ______ can be viewed as the capacity to take action.
a.
Strategic assets
b.
Human capital
c.
Core competencies
d.
Functional capabilities
77. Innovation, consumer understanding, brand-building, go-to–market, and scale are activities that P&G performs well
and are examples of the company’s:
a.
tangible resources.
b.
intangible resources.
c.
core competencies.
d.
capabilities.
78. A major reason outsourcing is effective is that:
a.
it increases the innovative potential of the firm.
b.
few firms possess superior capability in all primary and support activities.
c.
it permits unlimited access to capital resources.
d.
competitors do not have access to the same external sources.
79. ______ is an example of a capability that is based in the functional area of distribution.
a.
Effective use of logistics management techniques
b.
Effective control of inventories through point-of-purchase data collection
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c.
Effective organizational structure
d.
Product and design quality
80. To provide a sustainable competitive advantage, a capability must satisfy all of the following criteria EXCEPT:
a.
be technologically innovative.
b.
be hard for competing firms to duplicate.
c.
be without good substitutes.
d.
be valuable to customers.
81. The proper matching of what a firm can do with what it might do:
a.
balances the internal characteristics of the firm with the characteristics of the external environment.
b.
overcomes the rigidity and inertia resulting from a history of success.
c.
yields insights the firm requires to select its strategy.
d.
develops core competencies based on human knowledge.
82. A financial management firm has existed for more than 70 years. Some of its original clients’ grandchildren are now
clients of the firm themselves. The partners and staff of the firm have spent most or all of their careers with the firm.
Many have even married into each other’s families. This firm has capabilities that would be costly to imitate because of its
a.
access to large amounts of financial capital.
b.
causally ambiguous core competencies.
c.
social complexity.
d.
unique historical conditions.
83. Tools such as ______ help the firm focus on its core competencies as the source of its competitive advantages.
a.
marketing
b.
manufacturing
c.
outsourcing
d.
imitation
84. Costly-to-imitate capabilities can emerge for all of the following reasons EXCEPT:
a.
lack of scientific transference.
b.
social complexity.
c.
unique historical conditions.
d.
causal ambiguity.
85. A local restaurant, Farm Fresh Ingredients, has become highly successful through its menu, based solely on
organically raised chicken and beef, and organic seasonal produce. It has opened new locations in other cities, and these
new locations are becoming highly profitable. Farm Fresh can expect that, at best, its competitive advantage will be:
a.
permanent.
b.
sustainable.
c.
temporary.
d.
defensible.
86. Which of the following is TRUE about outsourcing?
a.
Outsourcing allows firms to be more flexible and requires minimal coordination.
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b.
Outsourcing allows firms to concentrate on those areas in which they can create value.
c.
Outsourcing strengthens the creative and innovative functions within the firm.
d.
Outsourcing is effective only when it includes all support activities.
87. By emphasizing core competencies when formulating strategies, companies learn to compete primarily on the basis of:
a.
intangible resources.
b.
their primary activities.
c.
firm-specific differences.
d.
efficiency of production.
88. Internal analysis enables a firm to determine what the firm:
a.
can do.
b.
should do.
c.
will do.
d.
might do.
89. If a firm offers a service that is valuable, rare, and costly to imitate, but a substitute exists for the service, the firm will:
a.
achieve competitive parity.
b.
have a competitive disadvantage.
c.
have a temporary competitive advantage.
d.
gain a sustainable competitive advantage.
90. Amazon is building a new distribution facility in Robbinsville, New Jersey. It is immediately off the exit of a major
road. This is an example of a(n) ______ resource.
a.
financial
b.
organizational
c.
physical
d.
technological
91. Which of the following is NOT a reputational resource?
a.
Customers’ opinions that the firm’s products are high quality
b.
Employees’ opinions of the firm as a terrible place to work
c.
Suppliers’ opinions that the firm pays its bills in a timely manner
d.
Customers’ opinions that using the firm’s products makes them attractive
92. A major U.S. manufacturer of children’s toys believes its main competitive advantage lies in its continuing
development of innovative toys and games. The company is facing increasing competition on price, and it is strongly
considering outsourcing to offshore firms as a means of reducing costs. The LAST function this firm should consider
outsourcing is:
a.
operations.
b.
research and development.
c.
supply-chain management.
d.
distribution.
93. Examples of support activities include all of the following EXCEPT:
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a.
finance.
b.
human resources.
c.
follow-up service.
d.
management information systems.
94. Which of the following is a true statement about capabilities?
a.
Capabilities are often developed in specific functional areas such as manufacturing, R&D, and marketing.
b.
Valuable capabilities are based almost entirely on tangible resources.
c.
Capabilities based on human capital are more vulnerable to obsolescence than other intangible capabilities
because of the tendency for employee knowledge to become outdated.
d.
The link between firm financial performance and capabilities is dependent on whether the capabilities are
based on tangible or intangible resources.
95. Southwest Airlines has a complex interrelationship between its culture and staff that adds value in ways that other
airlines cannot, such as jokes on flights or the cooperation between gate personnel and pilots. These examples illustrate
which of the following criteria for sustainable competitive advantage?
a.
Valuable
b.
Rare
c.
Costly to imitate
d.
Nonsubstitutable
96. An investor is considering buying a restaurant that has been in operation for a number of years. The restaurant has a
highly regarded chef and many long-term kitchen and wait staff who work together smoothly. It has a reputation for
dishes of consistently high quality and an appealing dining atmosphere. What should the investor consider when making a
decision?
a.
The investor will find that the success of this restaurant is so heavily based on human resources that the
business will likely be subject to inertia in the future.
b.
The investor will find that the restaurant’s financial statements undervalue the true value of its resources.
c.
The investor should be aware that intangible assets are difficult to leverage into additional businesses.
d.
The investor should search for a firm that has competitive advantages based on tangible resources.
97. The three conditions that characterize difficult managerial decisions concerning resources, capabilities, and core
competencies are
a.
complexity, rarity, and human intellectual capital.
b.
uncertainty, complexity, and intraorganizational conflicts.
c.
imitability, complexity, and interorganizational conflicts.
d.
imitability, comparability, and human intellectual capital.
98. All of the following are true about the strategic decisions managers make about their firm’s internal organization
EXCEPT that:
a.
they are directly correlated to executive compensation.
b.
they are non-routine.
c.
they have ethical implications.
d.
they significantly influence the firm’s ability to earn above-average returns.
99. All core competencies have the potential to become core:
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a.
rigidities.
b.
stagnations.
c.
inefficiencies.
d.
weaknesses.
100. Knowledge transfer and access to resources within the value chain are enhanced by:
a.
guidelines for sharing knowledge and resources.
b.
social capital.
c.
penalties for not sharing knowledge and resources.
d.
training employees on how to cooperate.
101. A decision that results in failure:
a.
is a career-ending event because it is so unusual.
b.
often results from lack of accountability.
c.
fosters organizational inertia.
d.
allows for learning.
102. McDonald’s culture, with an emphasis on cleanliness, consistency, service, and the training that reinforces the value
of these characteristics, illustrates which of the following criteria for sustainable competitive advantage?
a.
Valuable
b.
Rare
c.
Costly to imitate
d.
Nonsubstitutable
103. Valuable capabilities:
a.
allow the firm to exploit opportunities in its external environment.
b.
allow the firm to neutralize threats in its internal environment.
c.
allow the firm to exploit opportunities or neutralize threats in its external environment.
d.
allow the firm to neutralize opportunities in its internal environment.
104. Value consists of:
a.
a product’s proprietary characteristics and attributes for which customers are willing to pay.
b.
a product’s performance characteristics and attributes for which customers are willing to pay.
c.
a product’s proprietary characteristics and attributes for which customers consider paying.
d.
a product’s performance characteristics and attributes for which customers consider paying.
105. All of the following were traditional sources of competitive advantage EXCEPT:
a.
labor costs.
b.
access to financial resources.
c.
protected markets.
d.
a highly educated labor market.
106. The ______ are those with the potential to be formed into core competencies as the foundation for creating value.
a.
“most” knowledge resources
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b.
“most” capabilities
c.
“right” resources
d.
“dark side” resources
107. ACME Corp. is a leading provider of radios to the commercial market. Its products all rely on printed circuit-board
technology. ACME has protected its market leadership with continued advancements in this technology, which it patents.
A competitor has developed a radio for this market with equal performance but uses a software-based technology instead
of circuit boards. ACME’s technology leadership fails which capability test?
a.
The value test
b.
The rareness test
c.
The substitutability test
d.
The costly-to–imitate test
108. ______ is the ability to analyze, understand, and manage an internal organization in ways that are not dependent on
the assumptions of a single country, culture, or context.
a.
Strategic thinking
b.
A global mind-set
c.
Profit-pooling
d.
Competency-discovering
109. Because firms combine tangible and intangible resources to create capabilities:
a.
these capabilities are fragile and subject to sudden loss of value.
b.
capabilities are often based on developing, carrying, and exchanging information and knowledge through the
firm’s human capital.
c.
capabilities are easily transferred from one firm to another as employees change jobs.
d.
these types of capabilities are considered primary activities in the value chain.
110. All of the following are tangible resources EXCEPT:
a.
production equipment.
b.
distribution centers.
c.
a firm’s reputation.
d.
formal reporting structures.
111. Government agencies are known for having so many layers and rules that decisions are made slowly and
inefficiently. In this case the ______ resource is a detriment to taxpayers using and paying for the bureaucracy.
a.
financial
b.
organizational
c.
physical
d.
technological
112. Firms that have strong positive relationships with suppliers and customers are said to have ______, an essential
ingredient to creating value.
a.
customer value
b.
social capital
c.
effective marketing
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d.
an attractive industry
113. Capabilities:
a.
tend to be developed through firm-wide interactions and reside in the firm as a whole.
b.
tend to be concentrated in the support activities of the value chain.
c.
tend to be concentrated in the primary activities of the value chain.
d.
are often developed in specific functional areas.
114. From a customer’s point of view, for an organization’s capability to be a core competence it must be:
a.
inimitable and unique.
b.
valuable and unique.
c.
inimitable and nonsubstitutable.
d.
valuable and nonsubstitutable.
115. The most numerous of the following organizational characteristics are:
a.
resources.
b.
capacities.
c.
capabilities.
d.
core competencies.
116. A major department store chain has a strict policy of banning photographs or videos of its sales floor or back-room
operations. It also does not allow academics to conduct studies of it for publication in research journals. In fact, some of
its own top managers refer to the management’s policies on secrecy as “verging on paranoid.” These policies indicate that
the top management of the firm believes the organization’s core competencies are:
a.
causally ambiguous.
b.
unobservable.
c.
imitable.
d.
common.
117. Many firms outsource the payroll function of paying employees to firms such as ADP. Payroll is a(n):
a.
value-chain activity.
b.
operation function.
c.
support function.
d.
supply-chain function.
118. Which of the following is NOT required for a firm to achieve strategic competitiveness and earn above-average
returns from its core competencies?
a.
Core competencies must be acquired.
b.
Core competencies must be bundled.
c.
Core competencies must be internationalized.
d.
Core competencies must be leveraged.
119. ______ is measured by a product’s performance characteristics and its attributes for which customers are willing to
pay.
a.
Competitive advantage
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b.
Profit potential
c.
Contribution
d.
Value
120. The corporate research division of Siemens files, on average, 25 patents a day. The patents are a(n) ______ resource.
a.
financial
b.
organizational
c.
physical
d.
technological
121. One capability that can be learned from failure is when to:
a.
repeat with a modification.
b.
add more resources.
c.
dig in.
d.
quit.
122. Which of the following is NOT a factor affecting sustainability of a competitive advantage?
a.
the availability of substitutes for a firm’s core competence
b.
the rate at which obsolescence of the core competence occurs because of environmental changes
c.
the imitability of a core competence
d.
the length of time the core competence has existed
123. All competitive advantages have:
a.
a limited life.
b.
an expiration date.
c.
the ability to earn above-average returns indefinitely.
d.
the ability to lead to more competitive advantages.
124. What are the differences between tangible and intangible resources? Which category of resources is more valuable to
the firm?
125. Define outsourcing. Why do organizations outsource?
126. Why is it important to prevent core competencies from becoming core rigidities?
127. Describe a value chain analysis. How does a value chain analysis help a firm gain competitive advantage?
128. Why is it important to identify internal strengths and weaknesses?
129. Describe the four specific criteria that managers can use to decide which of their firm’s capabilities have the potential
to create a sustainable competitive advantage.
130. Describe the importance of internal analysis to the strategic success of the firm. Should not-for-profit organizations
perform internal analysis? Why or Why not?
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131. Define capabilities and how they affect the firm’s strategic success.
132. What is value? Why is it important?
133. Describe an organization with which you are familiar. Does it have a sustainable competitive advantage?
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