Questions from Strategic Management


Q: How do the perspectives on competitive advantage differ when comparing brick-

How do the perspectives on competitive advantage differ when comparing brick-and-mortar stores to online businesses (e.g., Best Buy vs. Amazon, Barnes & Noble vs. Amazon, The Gap vs. Thread less (note...

See Answer

Q: Suppose Procter & Gamble (P&G) learns that a

Suppose Procter & Gamble (P&G) learns that a relatively new start-up company Method (www .methodhome.com) is gaining market share with a new laundry detergent in West Coast markets. In response, P&G l...

See Answer

Q: In the chapter discussion on value innovation, IKEA is noted as

In the chapter discussion on value innovation, IKEA is noted as a firm that has successfully applied these techniques. What roles, if any, do sustainability and triple-bottom-line factors have in the...

See Answer

Q: You are a co-founder of a start-up firm

You are a co-founder of a start-up firm making electronic sensors. After a year of sales, your business is not growing rapidly, but you have some steady customers keeping the business afloat. A major...

See Answer

Q: GE’s development of the Vscan provides many benefits as a lower-

GE’s development of the Vscan provides many benefits as a lower-cost and portable ultrasound device (see Strategy Highlight 7.2). Cardiologists, obstetricians, and veterinarians will be able to use th...

See Answer

Q: What is a strategic group? How can studying such groups be

What is a strategic group? How can studying such groups be useful in industry analysis?

See Answer

Q: The chapter notes that some firms choose to outsource their human resource

The chapter notes that some firms choose to outsource their human resource management systems. If a firm has a core value of respecting its employees and rewarding top performance with training, raise...

See Answer

Q: If mergers and acquisitions quite often end up providing a competitive disadvantage

If mergers and acquisitions quite often end up providing a competitive disadvantage, why do so many of them take place? Given the poor track record, is the continuing M&A activity a result of principa...

See Answer

Q: Alliances and acquisitions can sometimes lead to less access or higher prices

Alliances and acquisitions can sometimes lead to less access or higher prices for consumers. Comcast bought NBC Universal (from GE). When one content provider and the Internet access provider are the...

See Answer

Q: A “race-to-the-bottom” process may

A “race-to-the-bottom” process may set in as MNEs search for ever-lower-cost locations. Discuss the trade-offs between the positive effects of raising the standard of living in some of the world’s poo...

See Answer