Question 1

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

If a product is to be properly commercialized, there must be integration between:

Accepted Answer

A)  research and development and marketing.
B)  R&D and materials management.
C)  marketing and materials management.
D)  fmance and marketing. 
E)  marketing and after-sales support.F) C) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 3

Quality can best be thought of as:

Accepted Answer

A)  a competency in investigating and identifying needs of customers.
B)  the attributes that customers perceive as superior in a product.
C)  product development projects driven by customer needs.
D)  the quantity of inputs that it takes to produce a given output.
E)  unit cost reductions associated with a large scale of output.F) A) and B)
G) C) and D)

Question 4

Learning effects are a result of:

Accepted Answer

A)  automation.
B)  knowledge acquired by doing.
C)  sound product planning tactics.
D)  diseconomies of scale. 
E)  outsourcing.F) A) and D)
G) None of the above

Question 5

Unlike traditional manufacturing, flexible manufacturing:

Accepted Answer

A)  decreases efficiency.
B)  lowers unit costs.
C)  limits an organization's ability to customize products.
D)  allows the production of only standardized products. 
E)  limits an organization's ability to offer greater product variety.F) A) and B)
G) A) and C)

Question 6

All else being equal, if a company moves down the experience curve faster than its rivals, it should realize a lower cost structure.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

The experience curve concept:

Accepted Answer

A)  helps a company realize both learning effects and diseconomies of scale.
B)  suggests that unit manufacturing costs increase by a certain amount each time output is increased.
C)  is very important in industries that mass-produce a standardized output.
D)  suggests that achieving low costs allows a firm to charge a premium price. 
E)  is least likely to bottom out as long as the company does not stop production.F) A) and D)
G) All of the above

Question 8

Self-managing work teams:

Accepted Answer

A)  increase per-unit costs of manufactured items.
B)  perform all workplace tasks except the making of hiring decisions.
C)  increase the cycle time of manufacturing items.
D)  require team members to learn only one task and specialize in that alone. 
E)  tend to increase productivity and product quality.F) All of the above
G) A) and D)

Question 9

Which of the following is the fmal result of the five-step chain reaction on which the philosophy of the TQM is based?

Accepted Answer

A)  Better use of time and materials
B)  Increase in profitability
C)  Creation of more jobs
D)  Higher market share
E)  hnprovement in productivityF) C) and D)
G) A) and B)

Question 10

You are a consultant offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in customer responsiveness.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Accepted Answer

In addressing customer responsiveness is...

Question 11

Which of the following trends has led to the fragmentation of many consumer markets?

Accepted Answer

A)  Self-managing teams
B)  Project management
C)  TQM
D)  Customization 
E)  Increased response timeF) B) and E)
G) B) and D)

Question 12

Through efficient logistics at Grasshopper Grocers, the stock in the stores is automatically replenished once every week.Management at Grasshopper Grocers uses a just-in-time inventory system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

No matter how complex the task is, learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Functional strategies play only a small role in organizational success because they occur at a low level in the finn.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which of the following is not a product attribute?

Accepted Answer

A)  Form
B)  Features
C)  Style
D)  Price
E)  ReliabilityF) A) and D)
G) C) and D)

Question 16

A video game console manufacturer hired scientists and engineers to work on ways to improve the video cards used in their game systems.The main aim of the manufacturer was to enhance the utility of the products, as perceived by the customers, above that of its rivals.This company aims to:

Accepted Answer

A)  achieve superior innovation.
B)  maintain a low cost position.
C)  increase response time.
D)  achieve a greater division oflabor. 
E)  minimize the time to market.F) B) and E)
G) A) and B) A

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability improvement methodologies?

Accepted Answer

A)  Providing leadership and commitment quality
B)  Finding ways to manage quality
C)  Setting goals and creating incentives
D)  Soliciting input from employees
E)  Lengthening production mnsF) B) and E)
G) A) and E)

Question 18

Managers should not become complacent about efficiency-based cost advantages because:

Accepted Answer

A)  both learning effects and economics of scale go on forever.
B)  the experience curve is likely to bottom out at some point.
C)  cost advantages gained from experience effects are not affected by the development of new technologies.
D)  unit costs keep reducing as output increases. 
E)  the experience curve steadily rises after a certain threshold is reached indicating an increase in unit costs.E) A) and B)
F) A) and C) B

Question 19

Pay for performance tends to:

Accepted Answer

A)  increase per-unit costs.
B)  decrease employee productivity.
C)  increase employee output.
D)  have little effect on employee output. 
E)  impede teamwork.F) All of the above
G) A) and E)

Question 20

When Amber first started working at a car manufacturing plant assembling car doors, she was slower at the task than her co-workers.As time passed, her speed at assembling the doors increased and she even taught others how to perform the task more quickly.As a result of increased employee productivity, this particular plant experienced cost savings.These cost savings can be attributed to learning effects.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Exam 4: Building Competitive Advantage Through Functional-Level Strategy

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Correct Answer
verified
True

If a product is to be properly commercialized, there must be integration between:

Correct Answer
verified

Quality can best be thought of as:

Correct Answer
verified

Learning effects are a result of:

Correct Answer
verified

Unlike traditional manufacturing, flexible manufacturing:

Correct Answer
verified

All else being equal, if a company moves down the experience curve faster than its rivals, it should realize a lower cost structure.

Correct Answer
verified

The experience curve concept:

Correct Answer
verified

Self-managing work teams:

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is the fmal result of the five-step chain reaction on which the philosophy of the TQM is based?

Correct Answer
verified

You are a consultant offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in customer responsiveness.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Correct Answer
verified
In addressing customer responsiveness is...
View Answer

Which of the following trends has led to the fragmentation of many consumer markets?

Correct Answer
verified

Through efficient logistics at Grasshopper Grocers, the stock in the stores is automatically replenished once every week.Management at Grasshopper Grocers uses a just-in-time inventory system.

Correct Answer
verified

No matter how complex the task is, learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

Correct Answer
verified

Functional strategies play only a small role in organizational success because they occur at a low level in the finn.

Correct Answer
verified

Which of the following is not a product attribute?

Correct Answer
verified

A video game console manufacturer hired scientists and engineers to work on ways to improve the video cards used in their game systems.The main aim of the manufacturer was to enhance the utility of the products, as perceived by the customers, above that of its rivals.This company aims to:

Correct Answer
verified
A

Which of the following is NOT a role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability improvement methodologies?

Correct Answer
verified

Managers should not become complacent about efficiency-based cost advantages because:

Correct Answer
verified
B

Pay for performance tends to:

Correct Answer
verified

Correct Answer
verified

Exam 4: Building Competitive Advantage Through Functional-Level Strategy

Distinctive competencies shape the functional-level strategies that a company can pursue.

Correct AnswerverifiedTrue

If a product is to be properly commercialized, there must be integration between:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Quality can best be thought of as:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Learning effects are a result of:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Unlike traditional manufacturing, flexible manufacturing:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

All else being equal, if a company moves down the experience curve faster than its rivals, it should realize a lower cost structure.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The experience curve concept:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Self-managing work teams:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is the fmal result of the five-step chain reaction on which the philosophy of the TQM is based?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

You are a consultant offering advice to a large manufacturing firm about ways to increase its distinctive competency in customer responsiveness.What suggestions would you offer? Be specific and detailed in your answer.

Correct AnswerverifiedIn addressing customer responsiveness is...View AnswerShow Answer

Which of the following trends has led to the fragmentation of many consumer markets?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Through efficient logistics at Grasshopper Grocers, the stock in the stores is automatically replenished once every week.Management at Grasshopper Grocers uses a just-in-time inventory system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

No matter how complex the task is, learning effects typically die out after a limited period of time.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Functional strategies play only a small role in organizational success because they occur at a low level in the finn.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which of the following is not a product attribute?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

A video game console manufacturer hired scientists and engineers to work on ways to improve the video cards used in their game systems.The main aim of the manufacturer was to enhance the utility of the products, as perceived by the customers, above that of its rivals.This company aims to:

Correct AnswerverifiedA

Which of the following is NOT a role played by infrastructure leadership in implementing reliability improvement methodologies?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Managers should not become complacent about efficiency-based cost advantages because:

Correct AnswerverifiedB

Pay for performance tends to:

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Correct Answer
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True

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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In addressing customer responsiveness is...
View Answer

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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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Correct Answer
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A

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B

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