Functional Strategy in Business Management
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Questions and Answers

What is a key characteristic of a mass-production system?

  • Production of a large number of high-cost goods
  • Production of large numbers of low-cost, standardized goods (correct)
  • Focus on exclusive, luxury items
  • Customization of products for individual needs
  • Which aspect is critical for service-oriented firms to ensure quality?

  • Delivering error-free services that match standard requirements (correct)
  • Offering the lowest possible prices
  • Minimizing customer interactions to reduce errors
  • Providing services at an inconsistent level
  • What is the importance of flexibility in service-oriented operations?

  • To eliminate the need for staff training
  • To enforce strict schedules without alterations
  • To anticipate and adapt to changing consumer preferences (correct)
  • To maintain a rigid service design regardless of customer changes
  • How can service-oriented firms improve their dependability?

    <p>By forecasting problems and implementing preventive measures (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What strategy should service-oriented firms adopt regarding costs?

    <p>Analyze operations costs to eliminate unnecessary expenses (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of financing involves selling company stock to investors?

    <p>Equity Financing (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which operations strategy is best suited for a manufacturing system that handles customized production?

    <p>Job Shop (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What financial strategy provides a competitive advantage through flexibility in raising capital?

    <p>Financial Strategy (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which operations strategy do machines function like a job shop but are arranged in a specific order?

    <p>Connected Line Batch Flow (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which option is NOT a type of equity financing?

    <p>Bond issuance (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of flexible manufacturing systems?

    <p>Production of a wide variety of mass-produced items (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which strategy is characterized by minimal human labor and is designed for mass production?

    <p>Dedicated Transfer Lines (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor does NOT influence a firm's operations strategy?

    <p>Customer demographics (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a functional strategy primarily concerned with?

    <p>Achieving corporate and business unit objectives (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes how functional strategies relate to competitive advantage?

    <p>They help in nurturing distinctive competencies. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of functional strategy might a business unit that emphasizes high quality require?

    <p>Expensive quality assurance processes (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do functional strategies vary according to regional markets?

    <p>They adapt to local consumer preferences and behaviors. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT classified as a type of functional strategy?

    <p>Human resources strategy (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What marketing strategy approach might Mr.Donut have employed when entering Japan?

    <p>Positioning donuts as a snack food for afternoons (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which orientation dictates a functional strategy's development?

    <p>The parent business unit's strategy (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of a marketing strategy as a functional strategy?

    <p>Pricing, selling, and distributing products (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a market development strategy primarily focused on?

    <p>Increasing market share for existing products through saturation (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a product development strategy?

    <p>Nissan introducing the Leaf electric vehicle in response to environmental concerns (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does brand extension refer to in marketing strategy?

    <p>Using a successful brand name to market new types of products (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the aim of a push strategy in marketing?

    <p>To increase the prominence of products in retail through trade promotions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does a pull strategy differ from a push strategy?

    <p>A pull strategy builds consumer demand through advertising while a push strategy promotes to retailers (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common objective of market saturation in a market development strategy?

    <p>To achieve a dominant market share in a product category (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In what way can a company use a product development strategy?

    <p>By introducing new products for both existing and new markets (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best illustrates trade promotion in a push strategy?

    <p>Retailer discounts provided to boost product visibility (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

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    Flashcards

    What is functional strategy?

    An approach focused on maximizing resource productivity to achieve corporate and business unit objectives and strategies.

    How do functional strategies contribute to competitive advantage?

    Functional strategy helps to develop and nurture strengths that provide a competitive advantage.

    How are functional strategies linked to business units?

    Each department in a business unit, like marketing, finance, and operations, has its own functional strategy.

    How are functional strategies aligned with business strategies?

    A company's overall business strategy dictates the direction and focus of its functional strategies.

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    How do functional strategies vary in different regions?

    Functional strategies vary based on the specific needs of different regions or markets. For example, a product's marketing strategy may differ in different countries based on cultural preferences.

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    What is marketing strategy?

    Marketing strategy focuses on how a company prices, sells, and distributes its product or service to reach its target customers.

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    What is financial strategy?

    Financial strategy deals with acquiring and managing the financial resources needed to support the company's overall business strategy. It includes decisions about capital budgeting, debt financing, and dividend policy.

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    What is operations strategy?

    Operations strategy focuses on how a company efficiently and effectively produces its goods or services. It covers areas like production planning, quality control, and inventory management.

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    Market Saturation/Penetration Strategy

    A company aims to capture a larger share of an existing market for its current products by maximizing their reach and presence. This might involve strategies like extensive distribution, intensive advertising, or promotional activities to increase product penetration.

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    Product Development Strategy

    A company develops new products for existing markets or creates entirely new products for new markets. It's about expanding the product portfolio to cater to different needs or tap into new consumer segments.

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    Brand Extension

    A company leverages the success of a well-established brand to market other products under the same brand name. It aims to capitalize on the brand's existing reputation and trust among consumers.

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    Push Strategy

    A company uses promotional activities targeting retailers and wholesalers to encourage them to stock and promote the company's products. It focuses on incentives and strategies to push products through the distribution channel.

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    Pull Strategy

    A company focuses on building brand awareness and creating consumer demand through advertising and marketing campaigns. It aims to make consumers actively seek out and request the company's products or services.

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    Market Development Strategy

    A company uses various tactics to acquire a greater market share for its products. This often involves efforts to increase product penetration through strategies like advertising, promotion, or expanding distribution channels.

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    Product Development Strategy (Existing Market)

    This strategy focuses on creating new products to cater to the same market the company has already served. It leverages existing customer relationships and market knowledge while expanding the product offering.

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    Product Development Strategy (New Market)

    This involves creating entirely new products and identifying new customer segments to serve. It's a strategy for entering a completely different market with a new product.

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    Mass-Production System

    Producing a large quantity of identical goods or services at a low cost.

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    Mass Customization

    Adapting processes and products to meet specific customer needs and preferences.

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    Quality (Service-Oriented Firms)

    Providing error-free services that meet customer requirements and deliver a dependable experience.

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    Flexibility (Service-Oriented Firms)

    Adjusting service designs to handle diverse customer demands and unexpected circumstances.

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    Speed (Service-Oriented Firms)

    Delivering services within a reasonable timeframe based on efficient scheduling and resource management.

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    Financial Strategy

    A business strategy that considers the financial implications of different strategic options, aiming to achieve a competitive advantage by managing costs and capital effectively.

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    Equity Financing

    Raising capital by selling company stock to investors, who then become part-owners.

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    Debt Financing

    Raising capital by borrowing money from institutions like banks or insurance companies, with the promise to repay it with interest.

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    Operations Strategy

    A strategy that focuses on how and where products or services are made or delivered, considering factors like manufacturing processes, supply chains, and technology.

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    Job Shop Strategy

    A manufacturing strategy where small, customized production runs are handled with skilled labor.

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    Connected Line Batch Flow Strategy

    A manufacturing strategy where machines are arranged sequentially based on the order of processing parts, suitable for standardized components.

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    Flexible Manufacturing Systems Strategy

    A manufacturing strategy that uses flexible automation to produce a variety of mass-produced items by grouping parts into manufacturing families.

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    Dedicated Transfer Lines Strategy

    A highly automated assembly line designed for large-scale production of a single product, minimizing human labor.

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    Study Notes

    Learning Objectives

    • Learners will be able to define functional strategy.
    • Explain how companies use functional strategies for competitive advantage.
    • List different types of functional strategies.
    • Apply functional strategies to provide business advantages.

    Functional Strategy

    • Functional strategy is a way to achieve corporate and business unit objectives by optimizing resource usage and developing unique strengths.
    • Each business unit (within a larger corporation) has its own set of departments which have their own functional strategies.
    • The parent business unit's strategy dictates the functional strategy. For example, a company focused on high quality might prioritize expensive quality control in manufacturing over low-cost methods.

    Types of Functional Strategy

    • Marketing Strategy: Deals with pricing, sales, and distribution of products.

      • Market Development: Expanding into new markets or finding new uses for existing products.
        • Example: Consumer product giants (like P&G, Colgate-Palmolive) use market saturation strategies to dominate markets with advertising and promotions.
      • Product Development: Creating new products for existing or new markets.
        • Example: Nissan creating the electric Leaf in response to consumer desire for electric vehicles and rising fuel prices.
      • Brand Extension: Using an established brand name for new products.
        • Example: Dove, initially a soap brand, expanded into various personal care items.
      • Push Strategy: Using trade promotions to encourage product placement/sales in retail, like discounts or in-store offerings.
        • Example: Samsung offering subsidies on handsets to retailers to boost sales volume.
      • Pull Strategy: Using wider consumer advertising to build brand awareness.
        • Example: Brand building campaigns such as YouTube advertisements
    • Financial Strategy: Addresses the financial implications of strategic options.

      • Equity Financing: Raising capital by selling company stock.
      • Debt Financing: Borrowing money from financial institutions.
    • Operations Strategy: Determines manufacturing or delivery processes, vertical integration, technological decisions, and supplier relations.

      • Examples for Manufacturing Firms:
        • Job Shop: Customized production using skilled labor.
        • Connected Line Batch Flow: Standardized parts processed in a specific order.
        • Flexible Manufacturing System: Producing a wide range of mass-produced items.

    Types of Operations Strategies for Service-Oriented Firms

    • Quality: Reliability and meeting customer needs.
    • Flexibility: Designing services that accomodate various demands.
    • Speed: Fast and timely service delivery.
    • Dependability: Consistency in service quality.
    • Cost: Efficient operations with reasonable prices.

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    Description

    This quiz focuses on the definition and application of functional strategies within business units. Learners will explore different types of functional strategies, such as marketing strategy, and understand their role in gaining competitive advantage. Ideal for those looking to deepen their understanding of strategic business management.

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