Deck 2: Analysis of the External Environment: Opportunities and Threats

Question 1

A product that is fundamentally different yet serves the same function or purpose as another product best defines the term ________.

A)threat
B)substitute
C)opportunity
D)rivalry

Answer 1

B

Question 2

_________ can be most accurately defined as conditions in the competitive environment that endanger the profitability of a firm.

A)Integrations
B)Weaknesses
C)Threats
D)Rivalries

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true about concentrated industries?

A)These industries have few competitors and rivalry is less intense.
B)Smaller competitors usually respond aggressively to actions taken by large firms.
C)Few large competitors are aware of each other's presence and therefore more likely to create conflict.
D)If firms are approximately the same size, they tend to be able to respond, or retaliate, strongly to moves by rival firms.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The household appliance industry has few major manufacturers like Nebula Corp., Cook Well Inc., and Mercury Corp. and a few smaller manufacturers. There is not much competition in this industry because the smaller companies cannot afford to compete aggressively with the large firms which do not engage in price wars. This scenario best illustrates a ________.

A)quandary industry
B)fragmented industry
C)quaternary industry
D)concentrated industry

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true about customer needs?

A)Companies that meet the need for communication by manufacturing mobile handsets or mobile ham radios are considered part of the same industry.
B)Understanding them can be very helpful in defining the boundaries of an industry.
C)They should be addressed only when many customers have similar needs that require attention.
D)Two firms cannot be considered part of the same industry even if their products do the same job for customers.

Question 6

The companies LaceThings Inc. and BellePrints Corp. sell the same product. They constantly try to outdo each other in terms of resources, price, and customer satisfaction. The companies try to outperform each other in order to gain customer loyalty and generate more sales. This scenario is an example of ________.

A)integration
B)partnership
C)rivalry
D)switching

Question 7

Competition among firms within an industry best defines the term ________.

A)substitute
B)threat
C)rivalry
D)opportunity

Question 8

Royalz Inc. is an automobile company that requires a lot of raw material to manufacture its cars. Royalz Inc. buys these raw materials from other companies that sell car parts as products. From which of the following does Royalz Inc. source its inputs?

A)Producers
B)Customers
C)Suppliers
D)Employees

Question 9

The ways of taking advantage of conditions in the environment to become more profitable most accurately defines the term ________.

A)opportunities
B)standardization
C)strengths
D)substitution

Question 10

SevenCloud Inc., a soft drink company, provided service to its customers for approximately one year until a new company called Sparkle Inc. came up. Sparkle provided flavored water as a new product in the beverage market. Customers were eager to try out this new product and purchased it because they preferred it over aerated beverages. SevenCloud was afraid that if this trend continued, it would soon run the risk of going out of business. In this scenario, which of the following did SevenCloud Inc. experience?

A)Opportunity
B)Threat
C)Weakness
D)Merger

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true of standardization of products?

A)It is easier to convince the customers to switch brands.
B)They meet customer needs in unique ways.
C)It makes buyers more loyal to a particular brand.
D)These products are usually inimitable and of high quality.

Question 12

The computers of Main Frame Inc., a computer company, are manufactured with in-built operating software. The users of this software have avoided using computers manufactured by other companies because that would entail converting their data to the other software. Also, they would have to get used to working smoothly with the other software. From this scenario, we can infer that ________.

A)the users of Main Frame Inc. have increased power.
B)the switching cost would be higher for the users of Main Frame Inc.
C)the users of Main Frame Inc. have increased industry rivalry tremendously.
D)it is easy for competitors to poach users of Main Frame Inc.

Question 13

Bright Inc. is a toothpaste manufacturing company that is facing intense competition from its rivals. In order to encourage higher consumption of its products as well as minimize brand switching among its existing consumers, Bright introduced sweepstakes as a consumer sales promotion strategy. However, its rivals retaliated by introducing deals such as a discounted price bonus size offers, and buy one, get one free offers. This scenario best illustrates a ________.

A)primary industry
B)secondary industry
C)fragmented industry
D)concentrated industry

Question 14

Zenith Corp., a bag company, produced a lot of high-end leather bags than could be sold in the market for a year. The leather bags eventually wore out and were not fit to be sold, thus causing huge losses for that year. Which of the following did Zenith Corp. most probably experience during that year?

A)Use of full production capacity
B)Unused production capacity
C)High exit barriers
D)Special sales incentives

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true of a fragmented industry?

A)It is characterized by rivalry that is typically less intense.
B)It usually has very few competitors and tends to be dominated by a few large firms.
C)It is difficult to keep track of the pricing and competitive moves of multiple players.
D)It involves companies selling the same brand of products that are scattered in different locations.

Question 16

Which of the following statements is true about rivalry?

A)It is an expensive method that treats other companies amicably.
B)It helps increase losses for an organization to a large extent.
C)It is a force that is best avoided in an industry to increase profits.
D)It is an important driving force to increase profitability.

Question 17

CharmingBells Inc. has been running into a loss gradually, but the board of directors are reluctant to shut the company down because it has invested millions of dollars' worth of equipment which can only be used in that industry. Moreover, the people in CharmingBells Inc. have become emotionally attached to the company and do not want the company completely shut down. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)high fixed costs
B)used production capacity
C)high exit barriers
D)unused production capacity

Question 18

A popular food company, Crunchez Corp., is finding it difficult to retain its buyers as another food company, MidnightSnax Inc., has started to provide the same product with the same taste for a lesser price. Which of the following is a threat to Crunchez Corp.?

A)Cost push inflation
B)Supplier power
C)Switching cost
D)Unused production capacity

Question 19

Pancake Platter Inc. opens a new breakfast deli in the small town of Lakeville. It makes a lot of profit during its first year because it is the only deli in the area. Customers choose to have breakfast at this deli because their only other options for availing this type of service would be to travel several miles to the next town. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)substitution
B)rivalry
C)opportunity
D)integration

Question 20

WillowWorks LLC, a retail clothing store, has been sourcing its raw materials from a supplier named ThreadTym Corp. for the last five years. A change of management at ThreadTym resulted in an increase of the prices of the raw materials. As a result, WillowWorks purchases ThreadTym so that it can produce these products on its own. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)network effect
B)forward integration
C)backward integration
D)switching cost

Question 21

BlockWood Inc. has been providing raw materials to Couches Corp., a furniture company. The management at Couches recently decided to cut the prices it pays for the raw materials. BlockWood Inc. tried to negotiate a price that would be feasible for both companies, but Couches did not agree to pay more than what they had quoted. As BlockWood Inc. was facing similar difficulties with other buyers too, it eventually stopped supplying raw materials and took to manufacturing furniture instead. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)barriers to entry
B)barriers to exit
C)backward integration
D)forward integration

Question 22

Hercules Inc. is a high performing steel manufacturing company. Chang, a stakeholder of the company, believes that it is important to protect the company from threats. Hercules Inc. has often struggled to overcome rivalry and product substitutes. Chang claims that if the company constantly keeps a check on itself by creating power over buyers, paying heed to customers' requests, and strengthening its resources and manpower, the company can maintain competitive advantage. Which of the following statements strengthens Chang's claim?

A)The employees feel that a change in functions will also cause a change in benefits that they currently are enjoying, such as flexible hours.
B)The company has overcome much rivalry just as the way it is currently functioning and need not change its method.
C)The other members of the management feel that the company would require sufficient funds to create this change in functioning.
D)The company can face first-time conflicts if it is not well prepared with a sound method to retain competitive advantage.

Question 23

Satchels Corp. has been in the retail bag business for 10 years. It has created unique value and attained brand loyalty from its customers. Recently, a new bag company started up in the same area as Satchels. In order to retain the reputation that it has established and avoid competition with the new company, Satchels introduced a new line of fashion bags, conducted a sale, and also increased its advertising. This made it difficult for the new company to gain profits. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)forward integration
B)barriers to exit
C)barriers to entry
D)backward integration

Question 24

Leo Corp., an automobile company, experienced an increase in growth rate this year as the company sold its products at a lesser rate due to the economic conditions that the industry recently went through. This has helped the company to attain more investments than before and consequently to invest in new assets, research and development, and new product development. Which of the following macroeconomic forces does this scenario best illustrate?

A)Currency exchange rate
B)Economic growth
C)Inflation
D)Interest rate

Question 25

CoolDrink Inc., a beverage company, had to change its medical insurance policies because of a new federal law. The new law required all companies with over 50 full-time employees to provide health insurance for their employees. In case these companies are unable to do so, they would have to face penalty. CoolDrink Inc. had to implement changes due to ________.

A)global forces
B)regulatory forces
C)demographic forces
D)natural forces

Question 26

Smart Waves Inc., a company that sells computers, provides an external hard disk along with its high-end professional laptops. Customers can store extra data in these hard disks without having to purchase them. The offer that Smart Waves provides is an example of ________.

A)complementary products
B)network effects
C)buyer power
D)substitutes

Question 27

MouseTag Inc. has incorporated a new type of technology that has increased the potential of the company by two-fold. Its machinery can now work faster and produce more products in a day than any of its previous machines ever could. This has also helped increase the profits of the company. Which of the following trends does this scenario best illustrate?

A)Complementary products
B)Demographic change
C)Technology change
D)Global competitive forces

Question 28

The board of directors of August Inc., a company that provides legal services, has been debating over whether to provide its 99 full-time employees with health insurance. The managers of the firm, however, are considering dropping employee health insurance as a benefit. Which of the following statements strengthens the managers' consideration?

A)The fine that August Inc. would face would be cheaper than the current premiums for health insurance.
B)The Affordable Health Care Act requires firms with over 50 employees to provide health insurance for their workers, or face fines.
C)The federal Affordable Health Care Act, enacted in 2009, mandates that health insurers cover even those with preexisting conditions.
D)The revised policy would help August Inc. erect entry barriers in its industry and change the nature of rivalry in the industry with most of the small firms.

Question 29

GetYoung Inc., a cosmetic company, recently launched a beauty bar soap that claims to soften the users' skin, giving it a natural glow, and also make them look up to 5 years younger. A lot of women eagerly tried out this soap and received positive results and thus encouraged their friends to try out the soap. GetYoung Inc. gained profits very fast through this word-of-mouth advertising. This scenario best illustrates ________.

A)backward integration
B)forward integration
C)barriers to entry
D)network effects

Question 30

Summer Corp., a retailer of consumer electronics, has been experiencing high profits because an increasing percentage of the customers have sufficient disposable income to afford its products. Similar companies have also experienced a boom in customer demand. Which of the following macroeconomic forces is Summer Corp. experiencing?

A)Currency exchange rate
B)Economic growth
C)Interest rate
D)Inflation

Question 31

A hardware company named Ace Works Corp. has been going through financial problems because the entire industry experienced a drastic rise in prices. This has made it hard for the company to plan any future investments as it cannot risk the chance of losing more funds. Rather than development, most of the companies in this industry are experiencing an increase in price competition because all of them are competing with each other to gain more market share. Which of the following general economic conditions is Ace Works Corp. experiencing?

A)Inflation
B)Low interest rate
C)Low currency exchange rate
D)Economic growth

Question 32

The management of GNH Corp., a chemical plant in the city of Werkshore, has promised to take care of its surroundings. It assured to dispose its factory wastes in a way that does not affect the habitat. In order to do so, the company had to go through renovations that allow the plant to take up green initiatives. Which of the following is the source of change for GNH Corp.?

A)Complementary services
B)Global forces
C)Regulatory forces
D)Natural environment

Question 33

The residents of the town of Segonon have initiated a campaign to stop the production of aerated beverages by Sip Drink Inc. The community members of Segonon stated that these beverages are causing loss of memory, nausea, and tiredness among the children who consume them regularly, and thus, have urged that the company should be shut down. The community's reaction to Sip Drink's beverages illustrates a ________.

A)regulatory force
B)social force
C)legal force
D)global force

Question 34

SliderPage Inc., a furniture company, has been trying hard to keep its profits going. SliderPage asked its suppliers to reduce the cost of the raw materials that would be needed to create its products and also tried to buy supplies that are less expensive. Which of the following buyer price sensitivity factors is best illustrated in this scenario?

A)Product is significant proportion of buyer's costs
B)Buyers struggling financially
C)Buyers purchase in large volumes
D)Product does not affect buyers' performance

Question 35

Jupiter Bank was one of the first banks to adopt intelligent imaging that helps in classifying, storing, and retrieval of data. It was also among the first to practice virtual banking and transfer data electronically. As such, Jupiter Bank was an early adopter of these new and faster techniques of banking. This helped the bank to gain a large market share which consequently enabled it to generate huge profits. Jupiter Bank yielded such profits because it paid importance to ________.

A)technology changes
B)population demographics
C)legal and regulatory forces
D)general economic conditions

Question 36

A federal act was passed in the country of Arahonia which changed the way many of the Arahonian industries worked. Most of the firms in Arahonia had to restructure their strategic plans accordingly. This resulted in the larger firms acquiring the smaller ones which did not exit the market altogether. This scenario best illustrates a(n)________.

A)technology change
B)regulatory force
C)economic change
D)cultural force

Question 37

Products that can be used in tandem with those from another industry best define the term ________.

A)standardized products
B)cannibalizing products
C)complementary products
D)supplementary products

Question 38

Readmore Publishing House, the publisher of a regional daily, has been slowly losing profits as its readers prefer to get news through the television. A recent study on the readers who made the switch stated that it is more accessible and faster to attain up-to-date news through the television rather than to wait for the next day for an update on current events. Which of the following is Readmore Publishing House is facing?

A)Producer power
B)Network effect
C)Substitute
D)New entrant

Question 39

OneTick Shop Inc. experienced a loss of finances in the small town of Brightland as a lot of people from the town moved to bigger cities in search of jobs. This resulted in a loss of both returning as well as new customers. This scenario primarily reflects ________.

A)regulatory forces
B)global forces
C)environmental forces
D)demographic forces

Question 40

The airline industry is a profitable industry. The firms in this industry create barriers to entry through patents and regulations in order to reduce the threat of new entrants. It also minimizes the threat of substitutes while keeping rivalry to a minimum. The airline industry can be best categorized as a(n)_________.

A)attractive industry
B)unattractive industry
C)fragmented industry
D)concentrated industry

Question 41

In the context of rivalry, which of the following statements is true of products by a firm?

A)Differentiated products engender loyalty in customers.
B)Standardized products make it difficult for people to switch brands.
C)Firms that sell differentiated products often have to compete by offering discounts.
D)Product price wars decrease rivalry and increase profits.

Question 42

The attractiveness of an industry is ________.

A)unregulated by the general environment
B)the extent to which a firm has control over its profitability
C)the degree to which an average firm in the industry can earn good profits
D)dependent on the number of large firms that are operating in an industry

Question 43

A firm that provides products that are inputs to another firm's production process is known as a(n)___.

Question 44

In what way are switching costs a fundamental part of not just rivalry but also the force of new entrants?

Question 45

According to economists, a fragmented industry is an industry which ________.

A)has a lot of competitors
B)produces multiple products
C)competes in different markets
D)has a lot of functional divisions

Question 46

Attractive industries are those where firms ________.

A)faced high rivalry and inefficiency
B)have developed a product-oriented view of the industry
C)have created power over buyers and suppliers
D)created easy entrance for new competitors

Question 47

Identify a true statement about understanding the five forces that shape industry competition.

A)It helps to perceive wider competitive threats and be better prepared to address them.
B)It helps firms have a product-oriented view in defining their industry.
C)It helps a company strategist predict the industry a competitor might enter and hence avoid that industry.
D)It helps a company strategist understand that the five forces are rigid and hence plan the business strategy accordingly.

Question 48

How do switching costs affect industry rivalry?

Question 49

How is buying power related to switching costs?

Question 50

Which of the following statements is true of buyer power?

A)If firms offer differentiated products, then buyers have increased power.
B)If firms cannot switch suppliers easily, then buyers have decreased power.
C)If buyers can easily switch firms, then buyers have increased power.
D)If buyers can switch to substitute products easily, then buyers have decreased power.

Question 51

Identify a true statement about substitutes.

A)Substitutes put upward pressure on the price that firms in an industry can charge.
B)Substitutes give a firm the freedom to charge customers high prices for their products.
C)It is a product with the same basic characteristics and is made using the same general set of inputs.
D)It is a product that is fundamentally different yet serves the same basic function as another product.

Question 52

Identify a true statement about switching costs.

A)The lower the switching costs, the easier it is for competitors to poach customers.
B)The higher the switching costs, the easier it is to convince customers to switch brands.
C)It is the loss in profit incurred by a firm for every buyer who switches to another brand.
D)It is the cost a firm has to pay to each buyer who switches to another brand for superior quality.

Question 53

Identify a true statement about competition among firms within an industry.

A)Moves and countermoves do not affect the profit margins of most firms in an industry.
B)Firms' moves and countermoves primarily take the form of sales and promotions.
C)Each move by a firm provokes countermoves among competitors, resulting in a constantly shifting competitive landscape.
D)Competition among firms in an industry is responsible for a significant reduction in motivation toward profitability.

Question 54

Which of the following statements best describes forward integration?

A)A firm purchases its suppliers in order to make a product itself rather than buying it from another firm.
B)A firm imposes extra costs on customers for changing brands.
C)A firm goes into the business of its former buyers, rather than continuing to sell products to them.
D)A firm joins an alliance with its competitor to share materials.

Question 55

Identify a true statement about network effects.

A)It makes it easier for new entrants to steal business from incumbent firms.
B)It decreases the switching costs for customers, making it easier for them to choose between different brands.
C)It is the growth in demand for a firm's product that results from a growth in the number of existing customers.
D)It is the cumulative effect produced when one firm enters an industry and makes a profit which triggers other firms to enter the same industry.

Question 56

Identify the role of general economic conditions in a firm's profitability.

A)When interest rates are low, many firms can afford to invest in new assets.
B)When an economy slows down, industry growth rates increase and rivalry decreases.
C)Inflation tends to increase overall economic growth, decreasing rivalry and the threat of substitutes.
D)During deflation, many industries experience increases in price competition as a means of gaining market share.

Question 57

Which of the following statements is true about the role of technology in a firm's profitability?

A)Technological change within an industry does not affect a firm's landscape.
B)Technological change can often lower barriers to entry.
C)Incorporating new technology early creates barriers for new entrants.
D)Firms who are late to adopt new technologies benefit more than early adopters.

Question 58

Which of the following statements best describes the term backward integration?

A)A firm imposes extra costs on customers for changing brands.
B)A firm joins an alliance with its competitor to share materials.
C)A firm goes into the business of its former buyers, rather than continuing to sell products to them.
D)A firm purchases its suppliers in order to make a product itself rather than buying it from another firm.

Question 59

Which of the following statements is true of understanding an industry?

A)If managers do not properly define and understand their industry, they may be vulnerable to unseen competitors.
B)Truly understanding an industry often begins by taking a product-oriented view.
C)Firms should avoid choosing to compete in several markets at the same time.
D)Identifying an industry based on the product or service provided is the best way to understand the industry.

Question 60

Barriers that help keep firms using the same supplier or buyer by imposing extra costs for substituting suppliers or buyers are known as ___.

Question 61

Define barriers to entry and briefly mention its characteristics.

Question 62

Identify the five forces that shape the profit-making potential of an average firm in an industry. Discuss the basic steps involved in using the five forces analysis tool.

Question 63

Define switching costs and the forces that it takes into consideration.

Question 64

Mention the general environmental factors that can affect the profit potential of a firm. Briefly explain the factors of technological change and social/cultural forces.

Question 65

Explain the reason why substitute products are taken as a threat by firms.