Questions and Answers of Exploring Strategy

3 Why did it suffer the downturn in the 1990s?
2 Why was M&S so successful for so long?
1 Analyse the organisational culture of M&S in the 1990s.
➔Recognise the importance of strategists questioning the taken-for-granted aspects of a culture.
➔Analyse the influence of an organisation’s culture on its strategy using the cultural web.
➔Identify organisations that have experienced strategic drift and recognise the symptoms of strategic drift.
4 If you were a shareholder of a company and wished to persuade top management to join the(PRODUCT) RED initiative, how might you do this? (Use stakeholder analysis as a means of considering this.)
3 In your view is (PRODUCT) RED an appropriate corporate activity?
2 What views might shareholders of Gap have of its involvement in (PRODUCT) RED?
1 What is the rationale of:(a) The founders of (PRODUCT) RED?(b) Dan Henkle and Gap?(c) The author of the article in The Times?
➔Consider appropriate ways to express the strategic purpose of an organisation in terms of statements of values, vision, mission or objectives.
➔Consider the various stakeholders who may influence an organisation and the expectations they have.
➔Identify differences in the corporate social responsibility stances taken by organisations and how ethical issues relate to strategic purpose.
➔Understand differences in governance structures across the world and the advantages and disadvantages of these.
➔Identify the components of the governance chain of an organisation.
3 Using the concepts of sustainability and dynamic capabilities, how would you manage this capability (create new resources and competences, invest/divest in others, extend others), given:(a) New
2 What are the capabilities that have provided eBay with competitive advantage and why?
1 Analyse eBay’s strategic capability using an analytical framework(s) from the chapter.
➔Diagnose strategic capability by means of value chain analysis, benchmarking and SWOT analysis.
➔Analyse how strategic capabilities might provide sustainable competitive advantage on the basis of their value, rarity, inimitability and non-substitutability.
➔Recognise the role of continual improvement in cost efficiency as a strategic capability.
➔Distinguish elements of strategic capability in organisations: resources, competences, core competences and dynamic capabilities.
2 For the four breweries outlined above (or breweries of your own choice) explain:(a) how these trends will impact differently on these different companies; and(b) the relative strengths and
1 Using the data from the case (and any other sources available), carry out for the European brewing industry (i) a PESTEL analysis and(ii) a five forces analysis. What do you conclude?
➔Identify strategic groups, market segments and critical success factors, and use them in order to recognise strategic gaps and opportunities in the market.
➔Use five forces analysis in order to define the attractiveness of industries and sectors for investment and to identify their potential for change.
➔Identify key drivers in this macro-environment and use these key drivers to construct alternative scenarios with regard to environmental change.
➔Analyse the broad macro-environment of organisations in terms of political, economic, social, technological, environmental (green) and legal factors (PESTEL).
5 What are the main issues about strategy into action that might determine the success or failure of Electrolux’s strategies? (Refer to section 1.3.3.)
4 Think about strategic choices for the company in relation to the issues raised in section 1.3.2.
3 Identify the main factors about the strategic position of Electrolux. List these separately under environment, capability and expectations(see section 1.3.1). In your opinion which are the most
2 What levels of strategy can you identify at Electrolux? (Refer to section 1.2.2.)
1 Refer to section 1.2.1 and explain why the issues facing Electrolux were strategic. Try to find examples of all of the items cited in that section.
➔Understand the fundamental elements of the Exploring Corporate Strategy strategic management model: strategic position, strategic choices and strategy in action.
➔Understand the basic vocabulary of strategy, as used in different contexts;
➔Understand how strategic priorities vary by level: corporate, business and operational;
➔Understand the characteristics of strategic decisions and what is meant by strategy and strategic management, distinguishing them from operational management;
Converting good strategic thinking into action can be a challenge: examine how Airbnb has achieved this by considering the elements seen in Section 1.3.3. A unicorn is a mythical animal that is very
Following on from the previous questions and making use of Section 1.3.2, what alternative strategies do you see for Airbnb? A unicorn is a mythical animal that is very rare, difficult to tame, and
Using the headings of environment, strategic capability, strategic purpose and culture seen in Section 1.3.1, identify key positioning issues for Airbnb and consider their relative importance. A
Carry out a ‘three-horizons’ analysis (Section 1.2.1) of Airbnb, in terms of both existing activities and possible future ones. How might this analysis affect its future strategic direction? A
Sticking to the 35-word limit suggested by Collis and Rukstad in Section 1.2.3, what strategy statement would you propose for Airbnb? A unicorn is a mythical animal that is very rare, difficult to
Identify key issues for an organisation’s strategy using the Exploring Strategy Framework.
Distinguish between corporate, business and functional strategies.
4 How would you explain IKEA’s business model in terms of value creation, configuration and capture? By the time of his death IKEA was the world’s largest home furnishings company with some
3 Explain how IKEA tries to ensure that their ‘hybrid’strategy remains sustainable and does not become‘stuck-in-the-middle’. By the time of his death IKEA was the world’s largest home
2 Identify how IKEA have achieved differentiation from their competitors. By the time of his death IKEA was the world’s largest home furnishings company with some 10,000 products in 422 stores in
1 Identify where (in their value system) and how IKEA have achieved cost leadership. By the time of his death IKEA was the world’s largest home furnishings company with some 10,000 products in 422
2 If you were the head of a traditional taxi company: how could you change your business model to compete with Uber?With an estimated market value of between $60 and100bn Uber has been predicted to
1 In terms of Figure 6.4, what are Uber’s value creation, value configuration and value capture components? With an estimated market value of between $60 and100bn Uber has been predicted to become
2 How sustainable is Volvo’s luxury bus strategy? The Indian bus market has long been dominated by two subsidiaries of major Indian conglomerates: Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland. They made simple
1 Rank the elements of Passey’s strategy for Volvo in order of importance. Could any have been dispensed with? The Indian bus market has long been dominated by two subsidiaries of major Indian
2 Using webcam chats is one approach to lower costs in financial advisory services as indicated above. What other ways could there be to lower costs to support a low-cost strategy in this area?
1 What type of competitive strategy, low-cost, differentiation, focus or hybrid would you suggest as a way of competing with Vanguard? Mutual funds are managed by investment companies that raise
2 Draw a basic sociogram of Alibaba’s network (see Section 2.2.3 and Figure 2.4): some simplification may be necessary. Explain why Alibaba’s network might be useful. In late 2018, Jack Ma,
1 Carry out a PESTEL analysis of Alibaba at the time of the case. Evaluate the balance of opportunities and threats, using the same kind of figure as in Illustration 2.1. In late 2018, Jack Ma,
2 What are the different implications of these scenarios for an international consulting firm such as Deloitte? Which scenario would it like best; which would it like least? In the first months of
1 What other ‘uncertainties’ might have been considered beyond the two finally considered here (use the headings of political, economic, social, technological, ecological and legal)?In the first
2 How do you think the different institutional environments internationally have influenced Juul’s overseas strategy so far and what kinds of countries do you think it should prioritise?Adam Bowen
1 Assess the relative importance of formal laws and informal norms for the development of Juul’s strategy in the United States.Adam Bowen and James Monsees launched their distinctive Juul
2 If you were a foreign cybersecurity company, what would you do to access Israel’s expertise? Israel, a nation of just 8 million people, exports more than$6bn worth of cybersecurity products a
1 Identify at least one important hub and one important broker in the Unit 8200 network. Israel, a nation of just 8 million people, exports more than$6bn worth of cybersecurity products a year,
2. Have the opportunities and threats changed since 2018? How would you update this analysis? During mid-2018, the so-called FANG+ stock market index(including Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and
1. Taking one of the FANG companies, what do you think is its greatest macro-environmental threat, and what is its greatest macro-environmental opportunity? During mid-2018, the so-called FANG+ stock
In terms of Figure 9.6, what type of change is being undertaken in 2018? What kind of leadership style would you suggest is most relevant for this change? Ma Huateng (‘Pony’ Ma) founded Tencent
How adequate is the 2018 reorganisation to Tencent’s various challenges at that point? What else might be necessary? Ma Huateng (‘Pony’ Ma) founded Tencent in 1998 as a provider of
Explain the strategic reasons behind each of the reorganisations(2005, 2012 and 2018) undertaken by Tencent. Ma Huateng (‘Pony’ Ma) founded Tencent in 1998 as a provider of Internet-enabled
Returning to Section 9.3, what kind of leadership style might have been required of Balla and Courteille? What kinds of leadership actions would you have expected them to undertake?Founded in 1837,
In terms of Figure 9.6, what type of change did La Redoute undertake with its digital transformation?Founded in 1837, La Redoute has undergone at least two major transformations in its history.
Compare the different views of leadership, particularly with regard to knowledge, courage and people. What are the commonalities and differences?Fire fast‘Lessons that will continue to inform my
Which leaders are more transformational, which more transactional and which situational (see Section 9.4)?Fire fast‘Lessons that will continue to inform my leadership for next year: Hire slow, fire
What reforms to these systems would you recommend?What downsides to these reforms might there be? Lloyd Blankfein, Chief Executive of Goldman Sachs, is famous for declaring that his investment bank
Which control systems did Goldman Sachs’ primarily rely on? (see Section 9.3). How did the systems support the growth strategy and in what respects did they fail with regard to the Malaysian
Given its strategic challenges, do you agree that for Tesla a flatter organisation was the right way to go? During 2018, the Silicon Valley electric car company Tesla was struggling to produce enough
In the terms of Section 9.2, what kind of structure did Tesla have? During 2018, the Silicon Valley electric car company Tesla was struggling to produce enough of its first mass-market electric car,
How has Rovio evolved through the stages of entrepreneurial growth? At what stage of the entrepreneurial life cycle (see Section 8.2) is Rovio currently?Do you agree that the coIntroduction Rovio
How has Rovio changed its business model over time?What are the advantages and disadvantages of a freemium business model?Introduction Rovio Entertainment Ltd are pioneers in mobile games and are
Rovio has shifted its products between games, activity parks, movies, licensing etc., how has it handled different steps in the entrepreneurial process? Introduction Rovio Entertainment Ltd are
What contributed to Rovio identifying its business opportunity? Introduction Rovio Entertainment Ltd are pioneers in mobile games and are most famous for their Angry Birds characters. In the game,
Can you identify other technology platform companies and their ecosystem partners? In the world of connected devices including smartphones, tablets, wearables and storage, British-based and Japanese
How can ARM attract and manage so many ecosystem partners? In the world of connected devices including smartphones, tablets, wearables and storage, British-based and Japanese SoftBank-owned
Are there any unmet needs in your community, at college or elsewhere, that could be turned into a business opportunity? In 2003, Golderg and Ting were engineering students at the prestigious Columbia
What do you learn from the experience of Goldberg and Ting which could be useful to launching a new enterprise? In 2003, Golderg and Ting were engineering students at the prestigious Columbia
How would you form a venture team if you set up your own start-up? Hewlett Packard The entrepreneurial team William Hewlett and David Packard, founders of the famous computing and printer company HP,
Based on the experiences of HP, Apple and Facebook what elements of skills and expertise do you think a new venture requires?Hewlett Packard The entrepreneurial team William Hewlett and David
4 With the creation of EssilorLuxottica, what would you recommend for GrandVision’s future strategy? Seeing opportunities Most wearers of prescription eyewear and sunglasses are aware of the large
3 How do you think that GrandVision adds or destroys value for its portfolio? Seeing opportunities Most wearers of prescription eyewear and sunglasses are aware of the large retail brands on their
2 How does GrandVision compete in its market? Seeing opportunities Most wearers of prescription eyewear and sunglasses are aware of the large retail brands on their high street and, increasingly
1 With reference to Ansoff’s matrix, show how Luxottica and GrandVision have evolved over time. What can you conclude from each? Seeing opportunities Most wearers of prescription eyewear and
2 Despite its success, why was Chipotle spun-off? Chipotle Mexican Grill had always done things rather differently to the rest of the restaurant industry. Its outlets were not in the busiest
1 What parenting advantages did McDonald’s perceive it might bring to Chipotle? Chipotle Mexican Grill had always done things rather differently to the rest of the restaurant industry. Its outlets
2 Were there alternative strategies open to TomTom post 2008? Dutch manufacturer TomTom’s fortunes dived in 2008 with sales down 36 per cent to €959m (2014) and profits down 71 per cent to
1 Explain the ways in which relatedness informed TomTom’s post-2008 strategy. Dutch manufacturer TomTom’s fortunes dived in 2008 with sales down 36 per cent to €959m (2014) and profits down 71
2 How has Tesco’s corporate strategy changed over time? Starting in 1919 when Jack Cohen sold surplus groceries on an East London stall, Tesco has grown to become the UK’s largest grocer with
1 Using the Ansoff matrix, plot Tesco’s growth over time.What do you notice about the pattern of expansion? Starting in 1919 when Jack Cohen sold surplus groceries on an East London stall, Tesco
1 Distinguish between different diversification strategies(related, unrelated and conglomerate diversification) and evaluate diversification drivers.
3 What is the importance of the Samwers brothers?What would happen if they left or sold the company?Rocket Internet has continued to produce successful start-ups. Zalando, which initially mimicked
2 Based on your initial analysis and answers to question 1, carry out a VRIO analysis for Rocket Internet. What do you conclude? To what extent does Rocket Internet have resources and capabilities
1 Based on the data from the case (and any other sources available) use the frameworks from the chapter and analyse the resources and capabilities of Rocket Internet:a What are its resources and
3 Identify the benefits and dangers (other than those identified in the text) of a SWOT analysis such as that in the illustration.

Showing 400 - 500 of 878