64. (Competition) You recently received a very large inheritance and have decided to buy an existing business or open a new business. Given your interests, you have narrowed your choices to the following:

• Purchase the existing cable company in your regional area.
• Purchase an airline that operates in most areas of the country.
• Open a plant to manufacture and sell hot-sauce domestically and in Central and South America.
• Buy franchises for and open 15 locations of a fast-food restaurant in areas of the former Soviet Union.

a. Discuss the competitive influences that will impact each of your potential businesses.

b. How would the tactics of product/service differentiation, cost leadership, or confrontation work in each of your potential businesses?

c. What would be the most critical factors for each of your potential businesses?

d. Which business would you open and why?