The purpose of the introduction of $3M$ Post$-$it Flag Highlighters was to

Multiple Choice

help college students with their studying.

stay ahead of trends and focus its marketing program on expanding distribution.

increase production economies of scale by reducing manufacturing and marketing costs for Post$-$it Flags and Post$-$it Notes.

stay ahead of trends and focus its marketing program on only one segment.

preempt a competitive move by Sanford's Sharpie to introduce a similar praduct.