Wsws

Wsws

MURDOCH UNIVERSITY

MBS606 STRATEGIC DECISION MAKING

SUMMER TERM EXAM 2009: EXTERNAL

Time Allowed: 2 hours plus 10 minutes reading time

Instructions:

Answer any three (3) questions.

Ensure that all parts (a, b, c, etc) of each question are answered.

Clearly write your answers both inside the answer book and on the front cover.

Write your answers clearly and legibly in black or blue ink.

If you use more than one answer book, ensure that all books have your name on the front, and that all books are fastened together securely.

This paper contains: 5 questions; 3 pages

Do not request additional answer books unless you have used all blank pages in the book provided.

All questions carry equal marks.

No specific weighting is given to parts a, b, or c in a question.

NO EXAMINATION AIDS TO BE PROVIDED

CLOSED BOOK EXAM

1. The best indicators of a company’s strategy are its actions in the market place and the statements of senior managers about the company’s current business approaches, future plans, and efforts to strengthen its competitiveness and performance.

(a) Identify the key elements of a company’s strategy and explain the importance of each.

(b) Explain the relationship between a company’s strategy and its business model.

(c) Use Crown Cork OR Costco Wholesale Corporation to illustrate your answers.

2. Michael Porter identifies four domestic generic industry environments to shed more light on the whys and hows of matching strategy to (1) industry and competitive conditions and (2) to a company’s own resource strengths and weaknesses, competitive capabilities, opportunities and threats, and market position. For the generic industry environment you selected for your major project (fragmented, emerging, mature, declining).

(a) Define and discuss the key characteristics of the generic industry type.

(b) Outline the unique strategy-making challenges facing managers in this situation....