90.
Which of the following is NOT an option for remedying a supplier-related cost disadvantage?
91.
Which of the following is NOT an option for remedying a cost disadvantage associated with activities
performed by forward channel allies (wholesale distributors and retail dealers)?
92.
The means to enhance differentiation through activities at the forward end of the value chain system do
NOT include
93.
A company’s value-creating activities can offer a competitive advantage in one of two ways
94.
For a company to translate its performance of value chain activities into competitive advantage, it must
95.
To build a competitive advantage by out-managing rivals in performing value chain activities, a
company must
96.
When companies engage in value-creating activities, they do so by
97.
The road to competitive advantage begins with management’s efforts to
98.
The value of doing competitive strength assessment is to
99.
Understanding where the company is competitive requires
100.
Assigning a weight to each measure of competitive strength assessment is generally analytically
superior because
101.
Competitive strength can be determined by assigning measures based on perceived importance because
102.
In a weighted competitive strength assessment, the sum of importance weights should add up to
103.
In a weighted competitive strength analysis, each strength measure is assigned a weight based on
104.
Calculating competitive strength ratings for a company and its rivals using the industry’s most telling
measures of competitive strength or weakness
105.
Quantitative measures of a company’s competitive strength
106.
The company with the highest rating on a given measure has an implied competitive edge on that
specific measure, with the size of its edge
107.
Calculating competitive strength ratings for a company and comparing them against strength ratings for
its key competitors helps indicate
108.
A company’s competitive strength scores pinpoint its strengths and weaknesses against rivals and
109.
Which one of the following is NOT something that can be learned from doing a competitive strength
assessment?
110.
Identifying the strategic issues a company faces and compiling a “worry list” of problems and
roadblocks is an important component of company situation analysis because
4-49
111.
Which of the following is NOT part of the task of identifying the strategic issues and problems that
merit front-burner managerial attention?
112.
Which of the following is NOT accurate as concerns the task of identifying the strategic issues and
problems that merit front-burner managerial attention?
Essay Questions
113.
Identify the six questions to consider in evaluating a company’s ability to compete successfully against
market rivals.
114.
Identify at least three indicators of whether a company’s present strategy is working well.
115.
A distinctive competence represents competitively superior resource strength. True or false? Explain
your answer.
116.
Why do a company’s core competencies matter in crafting strategy?
117.
What are the four tests that should be used to measure the competitive power of a company’s resource
strengths?
118.
A company lacking stand-alone resource strength should focus on bundling several resource strengths
into a core competence. True or false? Explain and support your answer.
119.
In conducting a SWOT analysis, is it enough to simply compile lists of the company’s strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats? Why or why not?
120.
Draw a typical company value chain and briefly explain why the proficiency with which a firm
performs the activities comprising its value chain matters.
121.
What is meant by the term “best practices”? Why does it matter whether a company utilizes “best
practices” in performing the activities comprising its value chain?
122.
Assume a firm is at a cost disadvantage with rivals because its internal costs are higher than rivals.
Identify three strategic moves that it can make to restore cost parity.
123.
Assume a firm is at a cost disadvantage with rivals because of higher supplier-related costs than key
rivals. Identify three strategic moves that it can make to restore cost parity.
124.
What are the three main approaches to rectifying a weakness in a company’s customer value
proposition?
125.
Explain why a weighted competitive strength assessment is important.
126.
In determining the various strategic issues that a company needs to address, managers need to consider
BOTH the results of its analysis of the company’s external environment and the results of its evaluation
of the company’s resources and competitive position. True or false? Explain and defend your answer.
127.
Why is it important for company managers to develop a “worry list” of strategic issues and problems
that they need to address and resolve? What should they consider to develop this list?