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Why are generic industry value chains called vertical value chains?

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Industry value chains are also called vertical value chains, because they depict the transformation of raw materials into finished goods and services along distinct vertical stages. Each stage of the vertical value chain typically represents a distinct industry in which a number of different firms are competing. This is also why the movement of a firm backward or forward along the vertical industry value chain is called vertical integration.

Corporate strategy is focused solely on determining the geographic locations in which the firm should compete.

A) True
B) False

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A primary advantage of organizing economic activity within firms is the


A) ability to coordinate highly complex tasks to allow for specialized division of labor.
B) low administrative costs because of reduced bureaucracy.
C) eradication of the principal-agent problem.
D) high-powered incentive to work as salaried employees for an existing firm.

E) B) and D)
F) A) and C)

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Coca-Cola was primarily known for its core competencies in marketing, bottling, and distributing aerated drinks. However, with the success of Gatorade, Coca-Cola developed competencies in the development and marketing of its own sports drink, Powerade. Which of the following is true of Coca-Cola?


A) It is leveraging existing core competencies to improve current market position.
B) It is building new core competencies to protect and extend its current market position.
C) It is redeploying and recombining existing core competencies to compete in markets of the future.
D) It is targeting the chasm between the early adopter and early majority market segment.

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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A firm that decides to stop purchasing components from suppliers and start producing them in-house is pursuing backward vertical integration.

A) True
B) False

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Describe the two types of vertical integration along the industry value chain.

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The two types of vertical integration al...

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Mondo Tacos, a fast food restaurant, operates through a business model in which individuals can buy the rights to set up Mondo Taco stores and sell the company's food in return for a lump sum fee at the beginning of the contract and a percentage of revenues every month. The owners of the stores have to offer a menu approved by the company's headquarters and also maintain consistent customer service as expected in its flagship store. Which of the following alternatives to integration does this best illustrate?


A) crowdsourcing
B) credit rationing
C) franchising
D) bootstrapping

E) All of the above
F) B) and D)

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________ are best described as voluntary arrangements between firms that involve the sharing of knowledge, resources, and capabilities with the intent of developing processes, products, or services to lead to competitive advantage.


A) Embargos
B) Cartel agreements
C) Strategic alliances
D) Corporate acquisitions

E) A) and B)
F) C) and D)

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Beagle Autos is known for its affordable and reliable brand of consumer vehicles. Because its shareholders expect to see an improved rate of growth in the coming years, Beagle's executives have decided to diversify the company's range of products so that at least 40 percent of the firm's revenue is generated by new business units. However, the company's resources, capabilities, and competencies are limited to producing other forms of motorized vehicles, such as motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) . Which type of corporate diversification strategy should Beagle pursue?


A) dominant business
B) related-constrained
C) related-linked
D) unrelated

E) None of the above
F) A) and B)

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ESB Group is the parent company of many related businesses under its banner. Each share of the parent company is quoted at $220. However, if this had to be assessed by adding the stock prices of each of its strategic business units, the value would only be $200 per share. In this scenario, what has ESB Group created?


A) capital liquidity
B) diversification premium
C) diversification discount
D) demand-pull inflation

E) A) and C)
F) None of the above

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Radial Autos currently sources components such as airbags, upholstery, and brake pads from various suppliers in the industry value chain. In order to lower costs and reduce the risk of interruptions in the supply of components, Radial should pursue


A) backward integration.
B) forward integration.
C) product diversification.
D) geographic diversification.

E) B) and D)
F) C) and D)

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Discuss the underlying concepts that help executives make corporate strategic decisions.

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The underlying strategic management conc...

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A drawback of short-term contracting as an alternative to making a component in-house is that


A) it is the most-integrated alternative to performing an activity so the principal company has no control over the agent.
B) the supplying firm has no incentive to make any transaction-specific investments to increase performance or quality.
C) it fails to allow a long planning period that individual market transactions provide.
D) the buying firm cannot demand lower prices due to the lack of a competitive bidding process.

E) None of the above
F) All of the above

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Groundswell Industries, a U.S.-based large conglomerate, competes in the hospitality, education, telecommunications, entertainment, airlines, and chemical industries. It currently operates in about 30 nations, and is planning to expand its portfolio by investing in rapidly developing countries. Which of the following strategies is Groundswell Industries pursuing?


A) zone pricing
B) niche marketing
C) product-market diversification strategy
D) process diversification strategy

E) B) and C)
F) C) and D)

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C

Skylark Sodas has been a market leader in the soft drink industry for several decades. However, its market research shows that consumer tastes have begun to shift to sugar-free flavored seltzer waters, a product that Skylark is capable of producing with minimal changes to its facilities and production processes. Based on your knowledge of the core competence-market matrix, which diversification strategy should Skylark pursue?


A) Leverage existing core competencies to improve current market position.
B) Build new core competencies to protect and extend current market position.
C) Redeploy and recombine existing core competencies to compete in markets of the future.
D) Build new core competencies to create and compete in markets of the future.

E) A) and B)
F) A) and C)

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Discuss the various general diversification strategies available to a firm.

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There are various general diversification strategies available to a firm: -A firm that is active in several different product markets is pursuing a product diversification strategy. -A firm that is active in several different countries is pursuing a geographic diversification strategy. -A company that pursues both a product and a geographic diversification strategy simultaneously follows a product-market diversification strategy.

WJ Group Inc., a large multinational conglomerate, had begun to experience declining revenues over the years. The top management at the headquarters of the company decided that it was important for the company to avoid deviating from its core competencies. Thus, a few of the company's key businesses like energy, telecommunications, and automobiles were centralized, giving the top management more control over them. Also, relatively newer businesses like beverages and food processing were divested. In this scenario, WJ Group is involved in


A) reverse engineering.
B) benchmarking.
C) restructuring.
D) crowdsourcing.

E) All of the above
F) A) and D)

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List the five reasons why firms need to grow.

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Several reasons explain why fi...

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Managers in a firm hired to improve the firm's profitability and ultimately the shareholders' value will add to the overall costs if they pursue their own self-interests. What does this best illustrate?


A) diseconomies of scale
B) principal-agent problem
C) experience-curve effects
D) information asymmetries

E) B) and C)
F) A) and D)

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What must executives decide when formulating a corporate strategy?

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Executives must decide:
1. In what stage...

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