All answers should not exceed the page provided. Bullet points are ok. 1) Pick two companies in the same industry - one using cost leadership strategy and another using differentiation strategy. Using components of a value chain, provide evidence on how they differ in coordinating different activities in the value chain (e.g., marketing, logistics, production, etc.). 2) Giant Noodles, Inc. (GNI) has been a successful restaurant chain operating in Spicyland (population 100 million with $40,000 GDP per capita) specializing in highend gourmet noodle dishes. The Company is currently considering to diversify into other local dishes (e.g,, marinated meat dishes that Spicyland is known for) within Spicyland OR expanding their high-end noodle stores internationally to neighboring countries. Because of limited resources in hand, GNI cannot pursue both product and geographical diversification simultaneously. The CEO has asked you to provide advice in making this decision. What questions would you ask the CEO to give her informed advice and under what sets of circumstances would you advise her to engage in product (vs. geographical) diversification? 3) M-Bike, Inc. is a Seattle based firm that supplies high-end mountain bikes. Consumers in Lalaland have recently discovered the joy of biking. Thus, M-Bike is considering expansion into Lalaland. M-Bike has hired you as a consultant to provide advice regarding their global expansion strategy. One particularly aggressive member of the top management team has been arguing a joint venture with a local (Lalalandian) company. This has been a fairly divisive issue and the CEO has asked you to provide her with some insights on the basic issues and challenges of forming the joint venture. In addition, what alternative ways could M-Bike consider in lieu of the joint venture option to expand into the Lalalandian market and what are the pros and cons of each option