Strategic Management Concepts - Chapter 3
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Questions and Answers

Which category does the shift to a service economy belong to?

  • Economic forces (correct)
  • Technological forces
  • Social, cultural, demographic, and environmental forces
  • Political, governmental, and legal forces
  • Which aspect is NOT considered in the AQCD Test for external factors?

  • Divisional
  • Descriptive (correct)
  • Comparative
  • Actionable
  • What is an example of a social, cultural, demographic, and environmental (SCDE) force?

  • Inflation rates
  • Stock market trends
  • Consumer spending habits (correct)
  • Interest rates
  • Which force is likely to directly impact strategic decisions regarding product consumption?

    <p>Social, cultural, demographic, and environmental forces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic feature of economic forces?

    <p>Interest rate changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of import/export factors categorized under?

    <p>Economic forces</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following actions demonstrates the impact of competitive forces?

    <p>Adjusting prices in response to market trends</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do GDP trends reflect in the context of strategic planning?

    <p>Economic performance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors does NOT contribute to low barriers of entry in a market?

    <p>Strong customer loyalty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a likely consequence when products are perishable?

    <p>Higher rivalry among firms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which condition is most likely to increase competition amongst existing firms?

    <p>Regular price cuts in the industry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect does NOT play a crucial role in overcoming barriers to entry?

    <p>Non-competitive pricing strategies</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What economic factor can contribute to a decrease in consumer switching costs?

    <p>Simplification of product comparison</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a barrier that could deter new competitors from entering a market?

    <p>Presence of patents by existing firms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these conditions would likely reduce the intensity of rivalry in an industry?

    <p>Product differentiation among firms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What effect do government regulatory policies typically have on market competition?

    <p>Creates additional barriers to entry</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What condition increases the bargaining power of suppliers?

    <p>High switching costs for raw materials</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does consumer power increase in a market?

    <p>When buyers can easily switch suppliers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is not a source of external information?

    <p>Internal meeting minutes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What impact does informed buyers have on market dynamics?

    <p>Increases bargaining power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In which scenario would sellers struggle the most with consumer demand?

    <p>When there is an increase in informed buyers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement correctly reflects the bargaining power of consumers?

    <p>It exists when buyers can effortlessly switch between suppliers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following factors does not affect the bargaining power of suppliers?

    <p>High concentration of buyers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is an example of a published source of strategic information?

    <p>Market research reports</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM) analyze?

    <p>A firm's major competitors' strengths and weaknesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How many critical success factors does the template suggest including in a Competitive Profile Matrix?

    <p>12 tailored factors for detailed analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the Competitive Profile Matrix, what rating indicates a poor response?

    <p>1</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential limitation of using only 8 critical success factors in a CPM?

    <p>It could lead to an inaccurate representation of the competitive landscape</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does a total weighted score of 2.20 indicate for Company 3 in a Competitive Profile Matrix?

    <p>Company 3 is performing the worst among the competitors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary goal of conducting an external audit in strategic management?

    <p>To evaluate trends and events beyond the control of the organization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a purpose of the external audit?

    <p>Assessing internal weaknesses against competitors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Porter’s Five-Forces Model is relevant for strategizing because it helps in analyzing what?

    <p>The competitive environment of an organization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which forecasting tool is utilized for analyzing the impact of external factors on strategy formulation?

    <p>External Factor Evaluation (EFE) Matrix</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What kind of strategies should firms focus on based on the findings of an external audit?

    <p>Strategies that can both seize opportunities and mitigate threats</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What characteristic of external audit findings is critical for formulating actionable strategies?

    <p>The identification of key external trends</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How should organizations ideally respond to the threats identified in an external audit?

    <p>By formulating defensive strategies to minimize their impact</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which external force is NOT typically considered when assessing an organization’s external environment?

    <p>Dividend policies of competitors</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which technologies are currently impacting strategic planning decisions in various industries?

    <p>Artificial intelligence and mobile devices</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What roles do a Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) serve in an organization?

    <p>They ensure the availability of necessary information for strategic decisions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a legal method to obtain competitive intelligence?

    <p>Breaking into competitors' systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an essential component when conducting an external audit concerning competition?

    <p>Determining competitors' strengths and weaknesses</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of information can be useful for analyzing rival firms?

    <p>Form 10-K filings from rival firms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following questions helps in understanding a competitor's strategic position?

    <p>What are their objectives and strategies?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a potential downside of hiring top executives from rival firms?

    <p>They may possess strong intellectual property knowledge about former employers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of these is a technological force that may pose a threat to existing firms in an industry?

    <p>Advancements in biotech</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Strategic Management Concepts - Chapter 3: The External Assessment

    • The external assessment focuses on identifying and evaluating trends and events outside a firm's control.
    • This reveals key opportunities and threats facing an organization.
    • Managers can use this information to formulate strategies that capitalize on opportunities and mitigate threats.
    • The external audit is aimed at identifying key variables that offer actionable responses.
    • Firms can choose to respond offensively, taking advantage of emerging opportunities or defensively to mitigate potential threats.

    Learning Objectives

    • Describe the nature and purpose of an external assessment in the formulation of strategies.
    • Identify and discuss 10 external forces that affect organizations.
    • Explain Porter's Five-Forces Model and its relevance in formulating strategies.
    • Describe key information sources for identifying opportunities and threats.
    • Discuss forecasting tools and techniques.
    • Explain how to develop and use an External Factor Evaluation (EFE) Matrix.
    • Explain how to develop and use a Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM).

    Key External Forces

    • Economic forces (e.g., availability of credit, disposable income levels, interest rates, inflation rates, GDP trends, import/export, price fluctuations, etc.)
    • Social, Cultural, Demographic, and Environmental (SCDE) forces
    • Political, Governmental, and Legal forces
    • Technological forces
    • Competitive forces

    Key SCDE Variables

    • Population changes (race, age, geographic area)
    • Regional changes in tastes and preferences
    • Number of marriages, divorces, births, and deaths
    • Immigration and emigration rates
    • Social Security programs
    • Life expectancy rates
    • Per capita income
    • Social media pervasiveness
    • Attitudes toward retirement, energy conservation, product quality, customer service, and pollution control
    • Attitudes toward foreign peoples
    • Number of churches and members
    • Social responsibility issues

    Key Questions About Competitors

    • What are the strengths and weaknesses of major competitors?
    • What unique products/services does the firm offer?
    • What are the objectives and strategies of major competitors?
    • How will competitors respond to current trends (economic, SCDE, political, legal, technological, and competitive)?
    • How vulnerable are competitors to new strategies, products, and services?
    • How vulnerable is the firm to competitor counterattacks?
    • How does the firm compare to rivals in social media mastery?
    • How much industry turnover (entry/exit) is occurring?
    • What key factors explain the firm's current competitive position?
    • How are supplier and distributor relationships changing?

    Competitive Intelligence (CI)

    • A systematic and ethical process for collecting and analyzing information about competition, and general business trends.
    • Aims to enhance the business' goals.

    Porter's Five-Forces Model

    • Analyzes competitive forces impacting a firm.
    • Includes:
      • Rivalry among competing firms
      • Potential entry of new competitors
      • Potential development of substitute products
      • Bargaining power of suppliers,
      • Bargaining power of consumers

    EFE Matrix

    • A tool for summarizing and evaluating external factors.
    • Steps:
      • List 20 key external factors
      • Assign weights (0.0 to 1.0)
      • Rate effectiveness of current strategies (1-4)
      • Multiply weight * rating
      • Sum weighted scores

    Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM)

    • Identifies strengths and weaknesses of major competitors compared to a sample firm
    • Critically assesses internal and external factors affecting the firm's strategic positions

    Forecasting Tools and Techniques

    • Forecasts involve educated predictions about future trends.
    • No forecast is perfect.

    Making Assumptions

    • Best present estimates of external factors.
    • Factors can influence performance and achieving desired results.

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    Description

    This quiz covers the essential aspects of the external assessment in strategic management. Learn about the importance of identifying trends and events outside an organization’s control, and how to leverage Porter's Five-Forces Model. Test your knowledge on external forces that impact strategy formulation and explore forecasting tools for effective decision-making.

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