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Zanzibar Zanies, a novelties manufacturer, faces a number of competitive problems. It decides to use the six-step process to determine how Porter’s five forces affect its industry. Zanzibar just finished identifying competitors, buyers, suppliers, potential entrants, and potential substitutes. The next step is to:
A)
assess possible changes in each force.
B)
analyze the industry structure and determine how each of the five forces affect pricing.
C)
determine the strength or weakness of each of the five forces.



The process of identifying competitors, buyers, suppliers, potential entrants, and substitutes is Step 2 of the process. Step 3 is to determine the strength or weakness of the forces

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Automation can help a firm improve its competitive position by affecting:
A)
new entrants to the industry.
B)
suppliers’ bargaining power.
C)
the threat of substitutes.



Automating production can make it more expensive for rivals to enter the market, increasing the width of a company’s economic moat. Automation on its own will not affect the threat of substitutes or increase suppliers’ bargaining power.

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The choice of competitive strategy is driven by two fundamental questions. These fundamental questions involve:
A)
industry attractiveness and competitive advantage.
B)
industry attractiveness and profitability.
C)
competitive advantage and industry growth.



According to Porter, the two key questions in determining a competitive strategy involve industry attractiveness and competitive advantage.

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According to Porter, there are two fundamental questions that determine competitive strategy. Of these two questions, the one that the firm has the most control over is whether the:
A)
firm can position itself to have a competitive advantage.
B)
industry is profitable.
C)
industry is attractive.



The firm typically has little control over the industry’s long-term attractiveness, but it has a great deal of control over its choice of competitive position.

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Martin Kemp, owner of a fast-growing food distributor with one of the state’s largest truck fleets, wants to buy up most of its smaller trucking rivals in an effort to increase its scale and efficiency, thus fattening profit margins. Two of Kemp’s advisers warn that the strategy could backfire.
Bart Able says: “If you clear out the competition and increase profit margins, the business could draw the attention of larger companies that have so far stayed out of this region.”
Andrea Baker says: “If you raise prices on truck shipping, more customers will opt to ship in their food by train.”
Both Able and Baker conclude that Kemp’s acquisition strategy could actually end up reducing profit margins. Which arguments are valid?
A)
Only Baker’s.
B)
Both Able’s and Baker’s.
C)
Only Able’s.



Both Able and Baker offer legitimate reasons why an acquisition strategy might not result in sustainable margin improvement. Both may turn out to be wrong, but their arguments have merit

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Karla Hanover, CEO of Marshall Computers, is gloating during a board meeting. “It’s been a wonderful year, people. First, we received a tax break from the state that allows us to reduce our manufacturing costs. Second, we drove our longtime competitor, Roseland Technology, out of business. Third, we patented a new processor 30% faster than those of our rivals.”
Which of the three victories Hanover cited is least likely to give the firm a lasting advantage over its competitors?
A)
The demise of a competitor.
B)
The new, faster processor.
C)
The tax break.



Government action and technological advancements don’t generally have a lasting effect on an industry. However, such company-specific factors as a state tax break and a patented new technology can strengthen one company at the expense of others. However, the elimination of a rival could result in new competitors entering the market. As such, it is least likely to provide a lasting competitive advantage.

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Zipla Inc is an emerging bio-tech company specializing in neurological diseases. One of Zipla’s drug, Apsia is scheduled to go off patent protection later this year. This change would most likely bring out changes in which Porter’s force?
A)
Bargaining power of suppliers.
B)
Threat of new entrants.
C)
Bargaining power of buyers.



Upon expiration of patent protection, threat of new entrants increases. Bargaining power of suppliers may not be affected (not enough information) and bargaining power of buyers would change only if new firms enter the market.

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Cost-effective video streaming service has impacted the business of video disk rental companies. This is most likely a change in which Porter’s force?
A)
Bargaining power of buyers.
B)
Bargaining power of suppliers.
C)
Threat of substitutes.



Changes in technology altered the price-performance dynamics of video delivery industry. Video-streaming increased the threat of substitutes to video rental business.

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