FINALTERM EXAMINATION
Spring 2010
MGT603- Strategic Management
Question No: 1 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Strategist is an individual who is involved in the strategic management process, thus may be known as:
► Member board of director
► President
► Division manager s
► All of the given options
Ref: Strategists have various job titles, such as chief executive officer, president, and owner, chair of the board, executive director, chancellor, dean, or entrepreneur.
Question No: 2 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The objectives set by a manager should have which of the following characteristics?
► Should spell out how fast the company's strategy is to be implemented
► Should be challenging and congruent among organizational units
► Should include long-range performance targets but not short-range targets
► Should include financial performance targets but not strategic performance targets
. Ref: Objectives should be quantitative, measurable, realistic, understandable, challenging, hierarchical, obtainable, and congruent among organizational units.
Question No: 3 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is TRUE about anti-trust legislation?
► The is the law intended to protect the ozone layer in the environment
► This is the law intended to regulate the tax rates in the economy
► This is the law intended to promote free competition in the market
► This is the law intended to regulate and register the patents
Ref: anti trust legislation where there is an effort to ban the monopolies. Some organizations think that monopolies should be banned.
Question No: 4 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Financial ratios are helpful in analyzing the relationship between/among which of the following?
► All assets and liabilities
► Profits and costs
► All functional areas of business
► Sales and profitability
Ref: Financial ratio analysis exemplifies the complexity of relationships among the functional areas of business. A declining return on investment or profit margin ratio could be the result of ineffective marketing, poor management policies,
Question No: 5 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which function of management includes areas such as job design, job specification, job analysis and unity of command?
► Planning
► Motivating
► Organizing
► Leading
Ref: Organizing includes all those managerial activities that result in a structure of task and authority relationships. Specific areas include organizational design, job specialization, job descriptions, job specifications, span of the control, unity of command, coordination, job design, and job analysis.
Question No: 6 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Distribution includes which of the following?
► Customer analysis
► Warehousing
► Advertising
► Test marketing
Ref: Distribution includes warehousing, distribution channels, distribution coverage, retail site locations, sales territories, inventory levels and location, transportation carriers, wholesaling, and retailing.
Question No: 7 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Opportunity analysis is one of the basic functions of which one of the following?
► Computer information systems
► Marketing
► Production/operations
► Research and development
Question No: 8 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
“Max Rent-a-Car” is opening car rental shops in Wal-Mart stores, is an example of which type of strategy?
► Forward integration
► Backward integration
► Related diversification
► Unrelated diversification
Ref: Forward integration strategy refers to the transactions between the customers and firm forward integration strategy primarily to gain better control over prices charged to consumers.
Question No: 9 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
_______________ refers to a strategy of seeking ownership or increased control over a firm’s competitors.
► Conglomerate diversification
► Backward integration
► Horizontal integration
► Concentric diversification
Ref: Horizontal integration refers to a strategy of seeking ownership of or increased control over a firm's competitors.
Question No: 10 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The company acquires or develops new products that could appeal to its current customer groups even though those new products may be technologically unrelated to the existing product lines. Which of the following best describes the statement?
► Retrenchment
► Horizontal diversification
► Market development
► Horizontal integration
Ref: Horizontal Diversification: Adding new, unrelated products or services for present customers.
Question No: 11 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
SPACE matrix has four quadrants. All of the following are SPACE Matrix quadrants EXCEPT:
► Aggressive
► Defensive
► Competitive
► Offensive
Ref: contains four-quadrant named aggressive, conservative, defensive, or competitive strategies.
Question No: 12 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following are the two internal dimensions represented on the axes of the SPACE Matrix?
► Environmental stability and industry strength
► Industry strength and competitive advantage
► Competitive advantage and financial strength
► Financial strength and environmental stability
Ref: SPACE Matrix represent two internal dimensions financial strength [FS] and competitive
advantage [CA]) and two external dimensions (environmental stability [ES] and industry strength [IS]).
Question No: 13 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
SPACE Matrix contains two types of dimensions. Which of the following are the two external dimensions to be considered in SPACE Matrix?
► Environmental stability and industry strength
► Environmental stability and competitive advantage
► Industry strength and competitive advantage
► Industry strength and Financial strength
Ref: SPACE Matrix represent two internal dimensions financial strength [FS] and competitive
advantage [CA]) and two external dimensions (environmental stability [ES] and industry strength [IS]).
Question No: 14 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What type of strategies would you recommend when a firm’s SPACE Matrix directional vector has the coordinates (-4, -4)?
► Aggressive
► Conservative
► Competitive
► Defensive
Question No: 15 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
BCG matrix is used in matching stage of strategy formulation framework. It plots the business units along which of the following dimensions?
► Market share and industry strength
► Market share and market growth rate
► Market growth rate and competitive position
► Market growth rate and environment stability
Ref: To use the chart, corporate analysts would plot a scatter graph of their business units, ranking their relative market shares and the growth rates of their respective industries
Question No: 16 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Business units that have low market share and are operating in slow-growing industry should choose all of the following EXCEPT:
► New investments
► Production efficiency
► Distribution efficiency
► Product innovation
Ref: They depress a profitable company's return on assets ratio, used by many investors to judge how well a company is being managed. Dogs, it is thought, should be sold off.
Question No: 17 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
When a division of an organization has a high relative market share and is in a fast-growing industry, it will be categorized as which type in BCG matrix?
► Star
► Cash cow
► Question mark
► Dog
Ref: Stars Units with a high market share in a fast-growing industry. The hope is that stars become the next cash cows.
Question No: 18 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is the first step in developing QSPM?
► Developing a list of the firm’s key external and internal factors
► Determining the Attractiveness Scores for each strategy
► Examine the Stage 2 matrices and identify alternative strategies
► Assigning weights to each key external and internal factor
Ref: Select a set of variables to relating to financial strength, competitive advantage, environmental
stability, and industry strength. SPACE Matrix represent two internal dimensions financial strength [FS] and competitive advantage [CA]) and two external dimensions (environmental stability [ES] and industry strength [IS]).
Question No: 19 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Advantages of a functional organization structure would include all EXCEPT which one of the following?
► Promotes division and specialization of labor
► Promotes functional rivalry
► Promotes economic efficiency
► Promotes delegation of authority
Ref:Besides being simple and inexpensive, a functional structure also promotes specialization of labor, encourages efficiency, minimizes the need for an elaborate control system, and allows rapid decision making. Some disadvantages of a functional structure are that it forces accountability to the top, minimizes career development opportunities, and is sometimes characterized by low employee morale, line/staff conflicts, poor
delegation of authority, and inadequate planning for products and markets. (Farzana)
delegation of authority, and inadequate planning for products and markets. (Farzana)
Question No: 20 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which one of the following is the organizational structure that most of the medium-size organizations follow?
► Divisional structure
► Strategic business unit
► Functional structure
► Matrix structure
Ref: Small firms tend to be functionally structured (centralized).
Medium-size firms tend to be divisionally structured (decentralized).
Large firms tend to use an SBU (strategic business unit) or matrix structure
Question No: 21 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
A divisional structure by geographic area is most appropriate in which of the following situation?
► Organizations have similar branch facilities in dispersed areas
► Organization offers a limited number of products or services
► Organization needs strict control over product lines
► Organization has to serve a large geographic area
Ref: This type of structure can be most appropriate for organizations that have similar branch facilities located in widely dispersed areas
Question No: 22 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is best identified as being an adaptation of the divisional structure?
► Vertical Integration
► Strategic business units
► Joint venture
► None of the given options
Question No: 23 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
“Performance comparison of organization business processes against an internal or external standard of recognized leaders.” Identify the term relevant to the specified statement.
► Restructuring
► Process redesign
► Reengineering
► Benchmarking
Question No: 24 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
After completing an EPS/EBIT analysis, what conclusions would you make?
► Debt appears to be the best financing alternative
► Stock would be the best financing alternative
► Combination of debt and stock is the best financial alternative
► Dividends must be considered before concluding
Question No: 25 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What is a central strategy-implementation technique that allows an organization to examine the expected results of various actions and approaches?
► Financial budgeting
► TOWS analysis
► Projected financial statement
► External analysis
REF: Pro forma (projected) financial statement analysis is a central strategy-implementation technique because it allows an organization to examine the expected results of various actions and approaches.
Question No: 26 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Retained earnings are obtained by subtracting which of the two items?
► Dividends from Net Income
► EBIT from Net Income
► Taxes from EBIT
► Interest Expense from EBIT
Ref: Formula of Retained Earning= Net Income - Dividends
Question No: 27 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
XYZ Company has controlled its distributors so that no other firm can access the scarce natural resources available in the country, which are used in XYZ’s production. This action is taken in order to reduce which of the following:
► The bargaining power of customers
► The bargaining power of suppliers
► The threat of new entrants
► The threat of substitute products
Ref: The threat of new entrants
o the existence of barriers to entry
o economies of product differences
o brand equity
o switching costs
o capital requirements
o access to distribution
o absolute cost advantages
o learning curve advantages
o expected retaliation
o government policies
Question No: 28 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
While evaluating a strategy, corrective actions are almost always needed EXCEPT:
► When external and internal factors have not significantly changed
► When the firm is not progressing satisfactorily toward objectives
► When the firm has not achieved the stated organizational goals
► When there are differences between desired results and achieved results
Ref: Notice that corrective actions are almost always needed except when External and internal factors have not significantly changed and the firm is progressing satisfactorily toward achieving stated objectives. Comparing expected results with actual results.(Page no.146)
Question No: 29 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Outbound logistics includes which one of the following?
► Receiving, storing, inventory control, transportation planning.
► Machining, packaging, assembly, equipment maintenance, testing
► Activities required to get the finished product at the customers
► Activities that maintain and enhance the product's value
Ref: Outbound Logistics. The activities required to get the finished product at the customers:
Warehousing, order fulfillment, transportation, distribution management.
Question No: 30 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following statement is correct about operations?
► It includes receiving, storing, inventory control & transportation planning
► It includes machining, packaging, assembling, maintaining equipment testing
► It includes the activities required to get the finished product at the customers
► It includes the activities that maintain and enhance the product's value
Ref: Operations. Include machining, packaging, assembly, equipment maintenance, testing and all other value-creating activities that transform the inputs into the final product.
Question No: 31 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are support activities of Porter’s supply chain model EXCEPT:
► Firm Infrastructure
► Marketing and Sales primary activity
► Technology Development
► Procurement
Ref: Support activities (Staff functions, overhead) Procurement, Technology Development, Human Resource Management. Firm Infrastructure
Question No: 32 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The product design, packaging, product disposal and corporate rewards should reflect which of the following?
► Product quality consideration
► Union consideration
► Environmental consideration
► Customer consideration
Ref: Product design, manufacturing, transportation, customer use, packaging, product disposal, and corporate rewards and sanctions should reflect environmental considerations.
Question No: 33 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Adapting to change confronts an organization’s strategic management to which of the following issue(s):
► What kind of business we should be in?
► Are we in the right field?
► Should we reshape our business?
► All of the given options
Ref: change. The need to[adapt to change leads organizations to key strategic management questions, such as “What kind of business should we become?” “Are we in right field?” “Should we reshape our business?” “Are new technologies being developed that could put us out of business?”(Page no.06) Question No: 34 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is TRUE about Vision statement of a company?
► It defines the customers
► It concentrates on future
► It identifies critical processes
► It informs about the desired level of performance
Ref: Many organizations today develop a "vision statement" which answers the question, what do we want to become?
Question No: 35 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Mission of a business is the foundation of all of the following EXCEPT:
► Priorities
► Strategies
► Plans
► Wages
Rationale : wages are short term plans or objectives where as mission statement addresses long term goals and plans.
Question No: 36 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is FALSE about vision and mission statements?
► Vision statement gives the overall purpose of an organization while a mission statement describes a picture of the preferred future
► A vision statement describes how the future will look if the organization achieves its mission and a mission statement explains what the organization does
► Mission statement answers the questions what is our business and the vision statement answers the question what do we want to become
► Mission statement explains the current position and activities of a firm whereas vision statement explains the future objective.
Ref: Mission describes the overall purpose and vision describes the picture of preferred future.
Question No: 37 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The in-house R&D is a preferred solution in which of the following situations?
► Technological progress is slow and market growth is moderate
► Technology is changing rapidly and market is growing slowly
► Technology is changing slowly and market is growing quickly
► Both technological progress and market growth rate are fast.
Ref: If the rate of technical progress is slow, the rate of market growth is moderate, and there are
A significant barrier to possible new entrants, then in-house R&D is the preferred solution.
Question No: 38 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Identify a strategy which uses firm’s internal strengths to take advantage of external opportunities.
► SO
► WO
► SW
► WT
Ref: SO Strategies: Every firm desires to obtain benefit form its resources such benefit can only be obtained if utilize its strength to take external opportunity
Question No: 39 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following includes the set of shared values, beliefs, attitudes, customs, norms, personalities, heroes and heroines that describe a firm?
► Strategy
► Culture
► Mission
► Objectives
Ref: Organizational culture Defined in Table below cultural products include values, beliefs, rites, rituals, ceremonies, myths, stories, legends, sagas, language, metaphors, symbols, heroes, and heroines.
Question No: 40 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The culture of a firm is important when considering strategies because:
► Cultural products can support strategies so managers can often implement changes swiftly and easily
► Everyone in the firm should have a vote as to which strategies to implement
► Culture can dictate the choice of strategies
► Employees always welcome cultural change
Ref: Organizational culture significantly affects business decisions and, thus, must be evaluated during an internal strategic-management audit. If strategies can capitalize on cultural strengths, such as a strong work ethic or highly ethical beliefs, then management often can implement changes swiftly and easily.
Question No: 41 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is NOT a major factor that commonly prohibits effective resource allocation?
► Overprotection of resources
► Organizational politics
► Vague strategy targets
► Ability to take risks
Ref: A number of factors commonly prohibit effective resource allocation, including an overprotection of Resources, too great an emphasis on short-run financial criteria, organizational politics, vague strategy Targets, a reluctance to take risks, and a lack of sufficient knowledge.
Question No: 42 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following best describes “Just in time”?
► Implementing strategies just before bankruptcy
► Delivering materials just as they are needed
► A scheduling method for meetings
► A personnel planning method
REF:In short, the just-in-time inventory system is all about having “the right material, at the right time, at the right place, and in the exact amount.”
Question No: 43 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following factors should be studied before locating production facilities?
► Availability of major resources
► Location of major markets
► Availability of trainable employees
► All of the given options
Question No: 44 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are strategic responsibilities of the human resource manager EXCEPT:
► Assessment of staff needs
► Assessment of costs for alternative strategies
► Development of staffing plan
► Development of financial plan
Ref: Staffing need of the organization and its cost is an important function of the human resource manager. The other main concerns include health, safety and security of the workers. The plan must also include how to motivate employees and managers during a time when layoffs are common and workloads are high.
Question No: 45 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Identify a reason due to which market segmentation is considered to be an important variable in strategy implementation.
► All company strategies require increased sales through new markets and products
► It allows a firm to operate with limited resources
► Market segmentation decisions directly affect marketing mix variables
► All of the given options
REF: First, strategies such as market development, product development, market penetration, and diversification require increased sales through new markets and products.
market segmentation allows a firm to operate with limited resources because mass production, mass distribution, and mass advertising are not required.
Finally, market segmentation decisions directly affect marketing mix variables: product, place, promotion, and price
Question No: 46 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are the qualitative questions for evaluating strategies identified by
Seymour Tilles EXCEPT:
► Is the strategy internally consistent?
► Is the strategy having an appropriate return on investment?
► Is the strategy consistent with the environment?
► Is the strategy appropriate in view of available resources?
REF: Seymour Tilles identified six qualitative questions that are useful
in evaluating strategies:
1. Is the strategy internally consistent?
2. Is the strategy consistent with the environment?
3. Is the strategy appropriate in view of available resources?
4. Does the strategy involve an acceptable degree of risk?
5. Does the strategy have an appropriate time framework?
6. Is the strategy workable?
Question No: 47 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is defined as having alternative plans that can be put into effect if certain key events do not occur as expected?
► Corporate agility
► Scenario planning
► Forecasting
► Contingency planning
REF: Contingency plans can be defined as alternative plans that can be put into effect if certain key events do not occur as expected. Only high-priority areas require the insurance of contingency plans
Question No: 48 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are key financial rations EXCEPT:
► Market share
► Production quality
► Earnings per share
► Return on equity
Ref: Some key financial ratios: Return on investment, Return on equity, Profit margin, Market share, Debt to equity , Earnings per share , Sales growth , Asset growth.
Question No: 49 ( Marks: 3 )
Suggest that what can be the best way to overcome individuals' resistance to change while taking corrective actions.
Question No: 50 ( Marks: 3 )
What do you understand by the term Product and what can be the possible considerations that you will take into account while making decisions regarding a product or service?
Question No: 51 ( Marks: 5 )
Parties to conflict can conceptualize responses according to a two-dimensional scheme; what are the hypotheses of this scheme?
Question No: 52 ( Marks: 5 )
Product positioning allows the firms to fulfill the gaps between what customers and producers see as good service. What can be the potential benefits that product positioning can offer to a firm?
Question No: 53 ( Marks: 5 )
Seymour Tilles acknowledged six qualitative questions that are practical in evaluating strategies. You are required to identify any five of them.
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