Deck 5: Industry and Competitor Analysis

Question 1

Many firms benefit from an increasing ability to outsource manufacturing or service functions to lower-cost foreign countries. This trend is referred to in the textbook as a(n) ________ trend.

A) business
B) environmental
C) commerce
D) statutory
E) economic

Answer 1

A

Question 2

The Partnering for Success feature in Chapter 5 focuses on three things that are important for startups to become active in to learn the ins and outs of their industries. The three items focused on in the feature are ________.

A) local Chambers of Commerce, trade journals, and networking events
B) Facebook, industry-related e-mail listservs, and trade shows
C) trade associations, trade shows, and trade journals
D) networking events, blogs, and Facebook
E) local Chambers of Commerce, city or university-sponsored incubators, and trade associations

Answer 2

C

Question 3

What is industry analysis? Why is it important for a new venture to complete a thorough analysis of the industry it is entering?

Answer 3

Industry analysis is business research that focuses on the potential of an industry. An industry is a group of firms producing a similar product, such as tires, fitness drinks, or electronic games. Once it is determined that a new venture is feasible in regard to the industry and market in which it will compete, a more in-depth analysis is needed to learn the ins and outs of the industry the firm plans to enter. This analysis helps a firm determine if the target market(s) it identified during its feasibility analysis are accessible and which ones represent the best point of entry for a new firm.

Question 4

A comparison analysis is a detailed evaluation of a firm's competitors.

Question 5

An industry is a group of firms producing a similar product or service, such as tires, life insurance, or smartphone apps.

Question 6

In general, industries are more attractive when the ________.

A) majority of the threats are high
B) majority of the threats are low
C) threat of each of the forces is neutral-neither low nor high
D) threat of each of the five forces is high
E) threat of each of the five forces is low

Question 7

Once a firm decides to enter an industry and chooses a market in which to compete, it must gain an understanding of its competitive environment. This challenge can be undertaken by completing a(n) ________ analysis.

A) business
B) industry
C) competitor
D) strategic
E) market

Question 8

Industry analysis is business research that focuses on the potential of an industry.

Question 9

According to the textbook, the five competitive forces included in the Five Forces model determine the average ________.

A) rate of new business starts in an industry
B) growth rate for the firms in an industry
C) rate of return for the firms in an industry
D) sales for the firms in an industry
E) failure rate for the firms in an industry

Question 10

The two trends that are most important to focus on in an industry analysis are business and environmental trends.

Question 11

Terry Washington recently started a new firm in the financial services industry. Prior to starting his firm, he spent considerable time doing research on the potential of the industry. The research that Terry was doing is called ________ analysis.

A) industry
B) sector
C) commercial
D) business
E) target market

Question 12

In various studies, researchers have found that from ________ percent of the variation in firm profitability is directly attributable to the industry in which a firm competes.

A) 4 to 12
B) 8 to 30
C) 18 to 42
D) 22 to 56
E) 34 to 70

Question 13

Generally, industries are more attractive when the threat of substitutes is ________.

A) high
B) low
C) neutral (neither high or low)
D) high for manufacturing firms and low for service firms
E) high for service firms and low for manufacturing firms

Question 14

Industries that sell products to seniors, such as the eyeglass industry and the hearing aid industry, are benefiting from the aging of the population, which is an important ________ trend.

A) environmental
B) business
C) commerce
D) statutory
E) competitive

Question 15

WriteLab, the company profiled in the opening feature of Chapter 5, believes it has created a barrier to entry to enable it to maintain a leadership position in the education industry. Its barrier to entry is ________.

A) the price-point of its product
B) the strength of its brand
C) its social mission
D) its economies of scale
E) that Donald McQuade, one of its co-founders, is well-established in the writing community

Question 16

The price of prescription medicine is high, partly because when someone is sick there is no real alternative to buying medicine if they want to get better. Which of Porter's five forces explains how this aspect of the prescription medicine industry helps keep profitability high?

A) Rivalry Among Existing Firms
B) Threat of New Entrants
C) Threat of Substitutes
D) Bargaining Power of Buyers
E) Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Question 17

Each quarter, Craig Anderson, who owns a chain of auto repair shops, does a detailed analysis of his firm's competitors. This analysis is called ________ analysis.

A) competitor
B) challenger
C) strategic
D) participant
E) industry

Question 18

Business trends include economic trends, social trends, technological advances, and political and regulatory changes.

Question 19

According to the textbook, how do well-managed firms respond to the five forces that determine industry profitability?

A) They switch industries if the forces are too compelling.
B) They focus on one force intently and excel by overcoming that force.
C) They overcome each of the forces.
D) They ignore the forces.
E) They try to position their firms in a way that avoids or diminishes the forces.

Question 20

A(n) ________ is a group of firms producing a similar product or service, such as soft drinks, airlines, or smartphone apps.

A) cluster
B) division
C) sector
D) industry
E) network

Question 21

If the buyers are concentrated and they buy from a large number of suppliers, then the bargaining power of buyers is increased.

Question 22

Supplier concentration, switching costs, attractiveness of substitutes, and threat of forward integration are factors that have a direct impact on ________.

A) threat of new entrants
B) bargaining power of buyers
C) rivalry among existing firms
D) threat of substitutes
E) bargaining power of suppliers

Question 23

Shelly Brunner owns a sports-themed restaurant which is located in an upscale business district in Chicago. One advantage that Shelly has is that she bought the lot she built her restaurant on 25 years ago when lots in the area were selling for $50,000. Shelly knows that several potential competitors have looked at bare lots near her business but haven't been willing to pay the asking prices, which are as high as $500,000. Which of the six major sources of barriers to entry is causing a disincentive for new firms to enter Shelly's industry?

A) Capital Requirements
B) Economies of Scale
C) Product Differentiation
D) Government and Legal Barriers
E) Cost Advantage Independent of Size

Question 24

Discuss the nontraditional barriers to entry identified in the chapter. Why is it important that entrepreneurial firms utilize one or more of these forms of barriers to entry?

Question 25

The five competitive forces model is a framework for understanding the structure of an industry.

Question 26

Which of Porter's five forces is most closely associated with the concept "barrier to entry"?

A) Bargaining Power of Suppliers
B) Rivalry Among Existing Firms
C) Threat of New Entrants
D) Bargaining Power of Buyers
E) Threat of Substitutes

Question 27

In most industries, the major determinant of industry profitability is the level of competition among the firms already competing in the industry.

Question 28

Which of the following was NOT identified in the textbook as a nontraditional barrier to entry?

A) Strength of management team
B) First-mover advantage
C) Unique business model
D) Product differentiation
E) Internet domain name

Question 29

Tim Rutherford is thinking about starting a firm in the medical equipment industry. In the industry analysis Tim has been conducting, one thing he has noticed is that the medical equipment industry is characterized by buyer group concentration. This factor concerns Tim because it tells him that the profitability of the medical equipment industry is potentially suppressed by the ________.

A) threat of substitutes
B) bargaining power of buyers
C) rivalry among existing firms
D) bargaining power of suppliers
E) threat of new entrants

Question 30

Which of Porter's five forces is most directly influenced by the number and balance of competitors, degree of difference between products, growth rate of an industry, and level of fixed costs?

A) Threat of New Entrants
B) Rivalry Among Existing Firms
C) Threat of Substitutes
D) Bargaining Power of Buyers
E) Bargaining Power of Suppliers

Question 31

If a startup pioneers an industry or a new concept within an industry, the name recognition the startup establishes may create a formidable nontraditional barrier to entry referred to as a(n) ________.

A) unique business model
B) aggressive supremacy
C) competitive superiority
D) first-mover advantage
E) aggressive tactical advantage

Question 32

According to the textbook, the Five Forces model can be used in the following two ways: ________.

A) first, to help a firm determine whether it should enter an industry in an aggressive or a conservative manner, and second, to help a firm determine whether to compete in international markets in that industry.
B) first, to help a firm determine if it should enter a single or multiple niches in an industry, and second, to help a firm determine whether it can be competitive in that industry
C) first, to help a firm determine what industry it is best equipped to compete in, and second, to help a firm determine whether to compete in international markets in that industry
D) first, to help a firm determine what niche to enter within an industry, and second, to help a firm determine whether it can be competitive in that industry
E) first, to help a firm determine whether it should enter a particular industry, and second, to help a firm discern whether it can carve out an attractive position in that industry

Question 33

Brain Sentry is starting a firm in the small industry that helps football teams discern whether a player has suffered a concussion. This industry is still so new that no standard operating procedures have been developed. The industry Brain Sentry is entering is an example of a(n) ________ industry.

A) mature
B) declining
C) emerging
D) global
E) fragmented

Question 34

The primary opportunity existing for startups in emerging industries is to ________.

A) consolidate the industry and establish industry leadership as a result of doing so
B) win customers by placing an emphasis on service and process innovation
C) pursue a niche strategy, which focuses on a narrow segment of the industry that might be encouraged to grow through product or process innovation
D) capture a first-mover advantage
E) pursue a cost reduction strategy, which is accomplished through achieving lower costs than industry incumbents through process innovation

Question 35

The best industry to enter is an industry where the threat of each of Porter's five forces is high.

Question 36

Some industries, like the athletic shoe industry, are dominated by a small number of firms with strong brands. These industries are difficult to break into without spending heavily on advertising. The barrier to entry that the firms in these types of industries have erected is referred to as ________.

A) government and legal barriers
B) capital requirements
C) product differentiation
D) cost advantages independent of size
E) access to distribution channels

Question 37

Identify the five competitive forces that determine industry profitably. Explain the purpose of analyzing these forces.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT one of the major sources of barriers to entry?

A) Product Differentiation
B) Capital Requirements
C) Buyer Group Concentration
D) Access to Distribution Channels
E) Government and Legal Barriers

Question 39

According to the example provided in Chapter 5, www.1800contacts.com possesses a nontraditional barrier to entry referred to as ________.

A) unique business model
B) strength of management team
C) access to distribution channels
D) Internet domain name
E) first-mover advantage

Question 40

There are four factors that determine the threat of new entrants: number and balance of competitors, degree of difference between products, growth rate of an industry, and level of fixed costs.

Question 41

A(n) ________ industry is one that is characterized by a large number of firms of approximately equal size.

A) fragmented
B) mature
C) declining
D) emerging
E) global

Question 42

According to the textbook, the first step in a competitor analysis is to ________.

A) develop a marketing plan
B) develop the strategic plan
C) study the strength of the industry
D) study the external environment
E) determine who the competition is

Question 43

The primary opportunity available to firms in fragmented industries is consolidation. The most common way to do this is through a geographic roll-up strategy, in which one firm starts acquiring similar firms that are located in different geographic areas.

Question 44

Katherine Chapman recently launched a firm in the clothing industry, targeting 13-17 year olds. One thing Katherine thinks she has accomplished is producing products that have universal appeal, so she will not vary her approach from country to country. Katherine is pursuing a ________ strategy.

A) universal
B) multidomestic
C) contemporary
D) global
E) home

Question 45

Opportunities for leadership, niche, harvest and divestment are associated with ________ industries.

A) mature
B) emerging
C) declining
D) fragmented
E) global

Question 46

A(n) ________ industry is an industry that is experiencing slow or no increase in demand.

A) declining
B) global
C) mature
D) emerging
E) fragmented

Question 47

Firms that pursue a(n) ________ strategy compete for market share on a country-by-country basis and vary their product or service offerings to meet the demands of the local market.

A) inclusive
B) universal
C) multidomestic
D) contemporary
E) worldwide

Question 48

According to the textbook, Chipotle Mexican Grill in fast-casual restaurants and 1-800-GOT_JUNK? in junk removal are examples of entrepreneurial firms who are exploiting opportunities in ________ industries.

A) global
B) declining
C) mature
D) emerging
E) fragmented

Question 49

A fragmented industry is a new industry in which standard operating procedures have yet to be developed.

Question 50

What is an emerging industry? What is the primary opportunity available to entrepreneurial firms in emerging industries? Name three examples of firms in emerging industries.

Question 51

A(n) ________ industry is an industry that is experiencing significant international sales.

A) global
B) mature
C) fragmented
D) declining
E) emerging

Question 52

According to the textbook, Nucor in steel, JetBlue in airlines, and Cirque du Soleil in circuses are examples of entrepreneurial firms who are exploiting opportunities in ________ industries.

A) fragmented
B) emerging
C) declining
D) global
E) mature

Question 53

An emerging industry is one that is characterized by a large number of firms of approximately equal size.

Question 54

According to the textbook, the three different types of competitors a business will face are ________.

A) potential, direct, and upcoming
B) indirect, fleeting, and future
C) serious, cautious, and future
D) direct, indirect, and future
E) potential, fleeting, and indirect

Question 55

Firms that pursue a multidomestic strategy use the same basic approach in all foreign markets.

Question 56

The primary opportunity existing for startups in fragmented industries is to ________.

A) pursue a niche strategy, which focuses on a narrow segment of the industry that might be encouraged to grow through product or process innovation
B) win customers by placing an emphasis on service and process innovation
C) capture a first-mover advantage
D) pursue a cost reduction strategy, which is accomplished through achieving lower costs than industry incumbents through process innovation
E) consolidate the industry and establish industry leadership as a result of doing so

Question 57

According to the textbook, Justin's in peanut butter, Rover.com in dog care, and Zagster in bike sharing are examples of entrepreneurial firms who are exploiting opportunities in ________ industries.

A) emerging
B) fragmented
C) declining
D) mature
E) consolidated

Question 58

The two most common strategies pursued by firms in global industries are the ________ strategy and the ________ strategy.

A) inclusive; multidomestic
B) multidomestic; global
C) multidomestic; worldwide
D) inclusive; global
E) home; worldwide

Question 59

Kellen West recently launched a firm in the fruit drink industry, and has already exported his fruit drinks to 11 different countries. One thing that Kellen's firm is doing is that it is varying the tastes of the fruit drinks it sells on a country-by-country basis to meet the demands of the local markets. Kellen's firm is pursuing a ________ strategy.

A) global
B) home
C) universal
D) contemporary
E) multidomestic

Question 60

A fragmented industry is an industry that is experiencing slow increases in demand, numerous repeat customers, and limited product innovation.

Question 61

In the context of competitor analysis, ________ competitors are companies that are not yet direct or indirect competitors but could move into one of these roles at any time.

A) stable
B) roundabout
C) impending
D) approximate
E) future

Question 62

The three types of competitors a business will face are direct competitors, indirect competitors, and future competitors.

Question 63

In the context of competitor analysis, ________ competitors offer close substitutes to the product sold by the firm completing the analysis.

A) potential
B) direct
C) indirect
D) impending
E) future

Question 64

What is competitive intelligence? What are some of the ways that a firm can ethically obtain information about its competitors?

Question 65

In the context of competitor analysis, businesses that offer identical or similar products are referred to as ________ competitors.

A) immediate
B) direct
C) indirect
D) straight
E) urgent

Question 66

Amy has just launched a firm in the sports drink industry. She has decided to complete a grid to see how she stacks up against her competitors. Along the horizontal axis of the grid she lists her firm along with her major competitors. Along the vertical axis of the grid she lists the main competitive factors in her industry. Amy is completing a ________.

A) strategic analysis spreadsheet
B) tactical analysis framework
C) competitive analysis grid
D) strategic analysis grid
E) behavioral analysis spreadsheet

Question 67

One of the firms profiled in the Savvy Entrepreneurial Firm feature is The Muse. The Muse is in the ________ industry.

A) education
B) literary writing
C) competitive recruitment and placement
D) music
E) book publishing

Question 68

A firm's future competitors are its most important ones.

Question 69

The Savvy Entrepreneurial Firm feature in Chapter 5 focuses on three firms that are doing well in crowded industries as ________.

A) they have effectively differentiated themselves from their competitors and have captured a first-mover advantage
B) they have passionate leaders and run savvy promotional campaigns
C) they have captured a first-mover advantage and have unique business models
D) they create meaningful value for customers at a fair price and have differentiated themselves from their competitors
E) they are low-cost leaders and run savvy promotional campaigns

Question 70

A competitive analysis grid is a tool for organizing the information a firm collects about its competitors.

Question 71

The information that is gathered by a firm to learn about its competitors is referred to as ________.

A) a feasibility appraisal
B) a workable appraisal
C) a practical assessment
D) a viable assessment
E) competitive intelligence

Question 72

The information that is gathered by a firm to learn about its competitors is referred to as tactical intelligence.

Question 73

The first step in a competitor analysis is to determine who the competition is.

Question 74

In the beverage industry, soda, fruit juice, and sports drinks are ________ competitors of bottled water.

A) occasional
B) infrequent
C) indirect
D) direct
E) future

Question 75

Aquafina operates in the bottled water industry. The companies that offer identical or similar products and go after the same customers that Aquafina does are Dasani and Zephyrhills. Dasani and Zephyrhills are Aquafina's ________ competitors.

A) direct
B) indirect
C) future
D) impending
E) potential