MGT603 Strategic Management Paper June 2010

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MIDTERM EXAMINATION
Spring 2010
MGT603- Strategic Management (Session - 3)
Time: 60 min
Marks: 44

Question No: 1 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Various job titles of a strategist may include all of the following EXCEPT:
► Owner
► Foreman
► Chancellor
► Chief executive officer

Question No: 2 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Long-term objectives includes all of the following EXCEPT:
► Measurable
► Reasonable
► Varying
► Consistent
Question No: 3 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of these are pitfalls of an organization in strategic planning EXCEPT:
► Failing to involve key employees in all phases of planning
► Using strategic planning to gain control over decisions and resources
► Using plans as a standard for measuring performance
► Being so formal in planning that flexibility and creativity are stifled

Question No: 4 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The organizations that conduct business operations across national borders are known as:
► Multinational corporations
► Domestic firms
► Strategic alliances
► Franchises

Question No: 5 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
A mission statement should “reconcile interests among diverse stakeholders”. What does it mean?
► All shareholders must be satisfied
► Shareholders should be given preference over customers
► Firm will devote attention to meeting claims of various stakeholders pg 23
► Firm will devote its attention towards the maximization of shareholders value

Question No: 6 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which component of a mission statement addresses the basic beliefs, values, aspirations, and ethical priorities of the firm?
► Technology
► Philosophy
► Customers
► Self-concept

Question No: 7 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
“Identifying and evaluating social, political, economic, technological and competitive trends and events”; which of the followings best describes this statement?
► Developing an effective mission statement
► Conducting an internal audit
► Performing an external audit
► Formulating strategy

Question No: 8 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Suppose, the value of the currency of a certain country falls, what can be the effect on companies in Different Industries and in Different Locations in that country respectively?
► Significant and equal
► Marginal and equal
► Significant and unequal
► Insignificant and unequal

Question No: 9 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
What will happen to the Pakistani exports in overseas markets when there is a strong value of rupee?
► Pakistani exports will be less expensive
► Pakistani exports will be more expensive
► Pakistani exports will be more attractive
► Pakistani exports will be desirable

Question No: 10 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Use of the Internet and Internet technologies can be integrated into the sales of on-line as well as off-line business and marketing portion of the value chain through which of the following?
► Through software that permits customers to specify build-to-order options
► Through online product catalogs containing rich product information and specifications
► Via online price quotes and online announcements of special sales and promotions
► All of the given options

Question No: 11 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Assigning rating '2' to an internal factor in IFE matrix indicates what?
► Major weakness
► Minor weakness
► Minor strength
► Major strength

Question No: 12 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
As managers move up the organization, they perform which of the management function more?
► Leading
► Controlling
► Organizing
► Planning

Question No: 13 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Sana has spent a day in a session where the future of her company was discussed. The people involved were trying to determine what the role of their company was as the 21st century approaches. Goals were then developed based upon their vision of the company's mission. Sana spent her day on which of the following process?
► Planning
► Organizing
► Leading
► Controlling

Question No: 14 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
One of the top level manager of a large manufacturing plant uses to spend her day trying to ensure that the material wastage is not more than 10%. She spends her day in performing which of the following management functions?
► Planning
► Organizing
► Leading
► Controlling

Question No: 15 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following allows an organization to test alternative marketing plans and to forecast future sales of new products?
► Marketing
► Advertisement
► Test marketing
► Customer analysis

Question No: 16 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following has/have been successful in determining R&D budget allocations?
► Financing as many project proposals as possible
► Budgeting for R&D about what competitors spend
► Deciding how many successful new products are needed
► All of the given options

Question No: 17 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is a drawback or limitation of Horizontal Integration?
► Synergies may be more imaginary than real
► It can increase suppliers' and buyers' bargaining power
► Economies of scale are likely to be decreased
► Both the first & third options are correct

Question No: 18 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
In which situation would horizontal integration be an especially effective strategy?
► When an organization can gain monopolistic characteristics without being challenged by the federal government
► When decreased economies of scale provide major competitive advantages
► When an organization has neither the capital nor human talent needed to successfully manage an expanded organization
► When competitors are succeeding due to managerial expertise or having particular resources

Question No: 19 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Defensive strategies include all of the following EXCEPT:
► Retrenchment
► Acquisition
► Divestiture
► Liquidation

Question No: 20 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which strategy should be implemented when a division is responsible for an organization’s overall poor performance?
► Divestiture
► Forward integration
► Cost leadership
► Related diversification

Question No: 21 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is NOT the reason to go for divestiture?
► When firm has pursued retrenchment but failed to attain needed improvements
► When the availability of quality distributors is too limited
► When a division needs more resources than the firm can provide
► When a division is responsible for the firm’s overall poor performance

Question No: 22 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
A joining of two companies through one company buying more than one half of the other company's stocks is known as:
► Monopolization
► A spin-off
► An acquisition
► A merger

Question No: 23 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following statements is TRUE about company’s strategies?
► Company strategies concern how to grow the business, how to out-compete rivals, how to satisfy customers
► Company strategies concern when to change the company's strategic vision and business model
► Company strategies concern whether to focus on achieving short-run performance targets or on long-range
► Company strategies concern performance targets and how much organizational stretch to build in

Question No: 24 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is a key merit of strategic management?
► Strategic management enables an organization to be proactive
► Strategic management enables an organization to avoid the threats
► Strategic management enables an organization to defeat their competitors
► Strategic management enables an organization to foresee into the future

Question No: 25 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following statements describes a company's strategic vision?
► Gives a broad, aspiration image of the future that an organization is aiming to achieve
► Sets forth the long-range financial and strategic performance targets that organization seeks to achieve
► Indicates the boundaries of the company's present business
► Reflects how strategic objectives are to be achieved

Question No: 26 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
Which of the following is NOT a key question that can reveal internal strengths and weaknesses of the marketing department?
► Does the firm have effective sales?
► Are markets segmented effectively?
► Are the firm’s products and services priced appropriately?
► Does the firm have good liquidity?

Question No: 27 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
The corporate social policy should be reaffirmed or changed during which phase of strategic management?
► Strategy control
► Strategy implementation
► Strategy formulation
► Strategy evaluation
Question No: 28 ( Marks: 1 ) - Please choose one
All of the following are the circumstances when forward integration strategies are beneficial to be practiced EXCEPT:
► Availability of quality distributors is limited
► Existing markets for present products are saturated
► Advantages of stable production are high
► Present distributors have high profit margins

ANS: Existing markets for present products are saturated

Question No: 29 ( Marks: 3 )
What are the two basic types of R & D that can take place in an organization?



Question No: 30 ( Marks: 3 )
Vertical integration is the degree to which the firm owns its upstream and its downstream buyers. What can be the possible benefits if the firm goes for vertical integration?


Question No: 31 ( Marks: 5 )
Mr. Mansoor is a finance manager of a firm. He is asked to prepare a financial ratio analysis. What can be the possible limitations of his analysis?

Question No: 32 ( Marks: 5 )
Mergers or acquisitions are the methods by which two companies combine to form a larger company. What can be the reasons for acheiving mergers or acquisitions?