A. What does a competitive strength assessment reveal about Apples domestic computer business, as compared to the leaders in the domestic computer industry, Dell and HP? Use the methodology in Table 4.3 to support your answer.

Review the information on competitive strength assessment in Chapter 4 to help you with this activity.In the table that follows, do a weighted competitive strength assessment for Apple, Dell, and HP using Table 4.3 in Chapter 4 as a guide. Review the various competitive strength measures as shown in the table. If you determine that one or more of the measures are inappropriate or not needed, then insert a "0" in the boxes for that row. Enter importance weights for each of the competitive strength measures that you decide to use in your assessment. Then, for each of the three companies, assign a rating from 1 to 10, where 1 = very weak, 5 = average, and 10 = very strong.

Weighted scores and sum of the weighted ratings for each company will be generated in Sum of weights and Total Rating/Score rows at the bottom of the table.

Key Success Factors/Strength Measures		Apple		Dell		HP
	Importance Weight		Weighted Score		Weighted Score		Weighted Score
		Rating		Rating		Rating
Price			0.00		0.00		0.00
Quality/Product performance			0.00		0.00		0.00
Peripheral synchronization capabilities			0.00		0.00		0.00
New product innovation capabilities			0.00		0.00		0.00
Customization availability			0.00		0.00		0.00
Software compatibility			0.00		0.00		0.00
Reputation/Image			0.00		0.00		0.00
Market position			0.00		0.00		0.00
Breadth of product offerings			0.00		0.00		0.00
Total	0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00	0	0.00

TABLE 4.3 Illustration of a Competltlve Strength Assessment RIVAL 1 RIVAL 2 RIVAL 3 RIVAL 4 ABC CO. Importance Strength Key Success Factor/ Strength Strength Strength Strength Strength Measure Weight Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Quality product performance 0.10 0.80 0.50 10 1.00 0.10 0.60 0.70 Reputation/image 0.10 0.80 10 1.00 0.10 0.60 Manufacturing capability 0.10 0.20 10 1.00 0.40 0.50 0.10 Technological skills 0.05 10 0.50 0.05 0.35 0.15 0.40 Dealer network/distribution capability 0.05 9 0.45 0.20 10 0.50 0.25 0.05 New-product innovation capability 0.05 0.45 0.20 10 0.50 0.25 0.05 Financial resources 0.10 0.50 10 1.00 0.70 0.30 0.10 Relative cost position 0.30 1.50 10 3.00 0.95 0.30 1.20 Customer service capabilities 0.15 0.75 1.05 10 1.50 0.15 0.60 Sum of importance weights 1.00 2.10 7.70 Weighted overall strength rating 5.95 6.85 3.70 (Rating scale: 1 very weak 10 very strong) TABLE 4.3 Illustration of a Competltlve Strength Assessment RIVAL 1 RIVAL 2 RIVAL 3 RIVAL 4 ABC CO. Importance Strength Key Success Factor/ Strength Strength Strength Strength Strength Measure Weight Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Rating Score Quality product performance 0.10 0.80 0.50 10 1.00 0.10 0.60 0.70 Reputation/image 0.10 0.80 10 1.00 0.10 0.60 Manufacturing capability 0.10 0.20 10 1.00 0.40 0.50 0.10 Technological skills 0.05 10 0.50 0.05 0.35 0.15 0.40 Dealer network/distribution capability 0.05 9 0.45 0.20 10 0.50 0.25 0.05 New-product innovation capability 0.05 0.45 0.20 10 0.50 0.25 0.05 Financial resources 0.10 0.50 10 1.00 0.70 0.30 0.10 Relative cost position 0.30 1.50 10 3.00 0.95 0.30 1.20 Customer service capabilities 0.15 0.75 1.05 10 1.50 0.15 0.60 Sum of importance weights 1.00 2.10 7.70 Weighted overall strength rating 5.95 6.85 3.70 (Rating scale: 1 very weak 10 very strong)