Exam 4: Business-Level Strategy

Flexible manufacturing systems,information networks,and total quality management are three techniques that make it possible for firms to implement the focused differentiation strategy.

Discuss how a cost leadership strategy can allow a firm to earn above-average returns in spite of strong competitive forces. Address each of the five competitive forces.

A flexible manufacturing system is

Companies without the core competencies in their value chain activities and support functions are still able to implement successfully a either a cost leadership or a differentiation strategy,although they cannot implement an integrated cost leadership/differentiation strategy.

One of the benefits of the integrated cost leadership/differentiation strategy is that it is less risky than either the cost leadership or differentiation strategies.

Which of the following is NOT a value-creating activity associated with the differentiation strategy?

The benefit of a flexible manufacturing system is that

An English professor spends her summers writing low-brow romance novels that sell directly to paperback. She writes under a fictional name because she is embarrassed to admit to her colleagues and students how she earns the extra money for foreign vacations. The professor is correct in her concern that she is serving customer needs that are objectively inferior and bad.

In order to meet and exceed customer's expectations,firms must

Firms implementing cost leadership strategies often sell no-frills standardized goods or services (but with competitive levels of differentiation)to the industry's most typical customers.

Ikea offers young customers a selection of home furnishings featuring good design,function,and acceptable quality at low prices. Ikea is using which business-level strategy?

A new generation of lunch trucks in cities such as New York,San Francisco,and Los Angeles serving high-end fare such as hamburgers made from grass­fed cattle,escargot,and crème brulee illustrate the focus cost leadership strategy.

Recently,the only type of car available for Anthony to rent on a business trip was a compact,fuel-efficient Japanese import. Anthony was surprised at the comfort and performance of the car. He is in the market for a new car and had previously considered only buying another luxury SUV. Now,he is thinking about the significant cost savings he would have if he bought the compact vehicle rather than a new SUV. This is an example of the competitive risk that

A river barge company can offer cheaper,although slower,per pound transportation of products to companies when compared with transportation by air,truck,or rail. The river barge company should first target customers whose companies use

Unlike a cost leadership and a differentiation strategy,both focus strategies are less dependent on the completion of various value chain and support activities in order to compete in a superior manner.

The customers.

All of the following are considered generic business-level strategies EXCEPT

The hazard of getting "stuck in the middle" applies to firms using any business strategy.

J.C. Penney attempted the strategy---------. But it couldn't out-------------Walmart,nor could it------------Macy's and

How do focused differentiation and focused cost leadership strategies differ from their non-focused counterparts?