1. Please take a look at the Case #7 Target and answer following questions (20 points).

a. In what ways does Target's massive infrastructure relate to the complexities of making coherent, competitive decisions?Can a large corporation like Target cope - and thrive - in the information intense environment that it has created? What kinds of solutions might help Target avoid some of the pitfalls that it has experienced most recently?

b. Target functions using a traditional, top-down structure with a group of C-suite executives led by a CEO.How can an organization with this kind of traditional structure expect to keep all of the moving parts in the company moving in a coordinated way? What kinds of decision-making tools might increase Target's ability to cope with changing market demands?

2. Please take a look at the Case #8 UBER and answer following questions (20 points).

a. Although many argue that the gig economy has opened opportunities for individuals to be self-employed in ways that complement their lifestyle, the investments that gig giant Uber is making suggest a different kind of future for the uber-successful taxi substitute.What do you think Uber has in mind?

b. What are some of the potential applications for fleets of self-driving vehicles? What role might this kind of infrastructure play in towns and cities in the future? How might Uber leverage these kinds of assets to generate a profit? Do you see a way for Uber to be successful while still employing human drivers? How?

3. Please take a look at the Case #9 Electronic Art and answer following questions (20 points).

a. How can feedforward, concurrent, and feedback controls help Electronic Arts meet its quality goals for video games?

b. Which of the control systems and techniques can be most useful to EA's next round of business decisions, and why?

4. Please take a look at the Case #10 Dunkin Donuts and answer following questions (20 points).

a. How does Porter's Five Forces analysis describe the food industry in which Dunkin' Donuts and Starbucks compete? What are the strategic implications for Dunkin' Donuts?

b. Could Dunkin' Donuts use strategic alliances to even better advantage than it does now? How could cooperative strategies help it succeed further with its master plan for growth?

6. Please take a look at the Case #11 National Public Radio and answer following questions (20 points).

a. What are the implications of NPR's operating approach in contrast to that of for-profit media? How might this decision be related to NPR's not-for-profit status? What kinds of issues are likely to play a role in how successful this model is, moving forward, in light of the massive consolidation of the industry?

7. How does the structure of NPR relate to questions relating to branding?What about quality control? Would this kind of "organic" organizational structure work in a not-for-profit setting? Why or why not? What other kinds of businesses might benefit from this kind of loose conglomeration? Why, specifically? What about higher education?