Answers
Strategy, at its essence, is about correct answer -developing lasting success
that can support growth and secure the company's future over the long term
Under Armour, a multinational sports apparel company plans entry into a new
geographical location, Vietnam, considered an emerging market, with its
established and best-selling product line: women's running shorts. How
should Under Armour not craft a strategy to enhance future profits in
Vietnam? correct answer -create a sales plan that aims to enhance initial
sales and market penetration with low prices based on high operational costs
A company's business strategy is not likely to include correct answer -
management's actions to revise the company's financial and strategic
performance targets.
The heart and soul of a company's strategy-making effort is determining how
to correct answer -come up with moves and actions that produce a
durable competitive edge over rivals.
What separates a powerful strategy from a run-of-the-mill or ineffective one?
correct answer -management's ability to forge a series of actions, both in the
marketplace and internally, that sets the company apart from rivals and
produces sustainable competitive advantage
A creative and distinctive strategy that sets a company apart from rivals and
that gives it a sustainable competitive advantage correct answer -is a
company's most reliable ticket to above-average profitability.
Adapting to new conditions like new innovations by competitors, fast-
changing technological developments, and constantly evaluating what is
working result in correct answer -an emergent strategy.
Consider the following three companies and their strategies.• Company A is an
established database management company that acquires a well-reputed but
small publishing house to enter the booming publishing industry.• Company
B, a sports management house, declared bankruptcy during a recent recession
,but now has created a television network that airs regional sports events.•
Company C, a package delivery business, is a startup based on delivery
efficiency models created by a few students, and delivers almost all kinds of
packages.The use of strategies by these three companies accurately can be
analyzed by saying that correct answer -All three companies employ
deliberate strategies.
Strategy formulation is correct answer -typically a blend of proactive and
reactive strategy elements.
An emergent strategy is best exemplified by a(n) correct answer -
microbrewer that invests in building community water wells during a
drought.
The customer value proposition lays out the company's approach to correct
answer -satisfying customer wants and needs at a price that customers will
consider a good value.
The consumer goods companies listed below all pursue the same business
model with the exception of correct answer -Acer laptops.
Ben Weprin is founder and CEO of Graduate Hotel, a growing chain of
boutique hotels situated near college campuses and designed to cater to the
nostalgia and local boosterism that are part of the culture of university towns.
(Room keys are imprinted with the names of famous alumni, and public
spaces are decorated with historical photos of campus life, vintage art and
other collegiate artifacts.) Mr. Weprin and his company are trying to create a
brand that will find year-round business by catering to more than just alumni
coming back for once-a-year football weekends or 10-year anniversaries of
their graduating classes. What is the major question that Mr. Weprin and his
team need to ask about his company's strategy? correct answer -What
must managers do, and do well, to make a company a winner in the
marketplace?
A pharmaceutical giant acquires a manufacturer of rare specialty drugs to
improve its falling share prices and invests all its wealth into the deal. Due to a
deficit, it agrees to do a joint venture for the acquisition and involves a major
automobile giant to fund the deal. After a rocky start, the companies now have
a strong market position and generate good profits. How would you
, characterize this company's strategy? correct answer -It is a winning
strategy.
For John Sidanta, CEO and founder of Primaplast, a manufacturer of
biodegradable plastic drinking straws made from recycled material, crafting
and executing a strategy is a top-priority managerial task because it correct
answer -is Primaplast management's prescription for doing business, its
roadmap to competitive advantage, a game plan for pleasing customers, and
its formula for improving performance, especially in light of impending
community and some food service outlets' bans on conventional plastic
drinking straws.
The most significant signs of a well-managed company are correct answer
-good strategy-making combined with good strategy execution.
Corporate Governance Failures at Volkswagen
Read the overview below and complete the activities that follow.
Every corporation should have a strong independent board of directors that
are well informed about the company's performance, guides and judges the
CEO and other top executives, has the courage to curb management actions
the board believes to be inappropriate or risky, certifies to shareholders that
the CEO is doing what the board expects, provides insight and advice to
management, and debates the pros and cons of key decisions and actions.
Illustration Capsule 2.4 discusses how weak governance at Volkswagen
contributed to the 2015 emissions cheating scandal, which cost the company
billions of dollars and the trust of its stakeholders.
Although senior managers have lead responsibility for crafting and executing
a company's strategy, it is the duty of a company's board of directors to the
shareholders to pla correct answer -Lack of independent directors
Volkswagen's board of directors fulfilled which of the following of its four
important obligations to shareholders? correct answer -Volkswagen's
board of directors did not fulfill any of its primary obligations to shareholders.
The German governance model requires German corporations to operate two-
tier governance structures. In addition, German law requires large companies