Chapter 2 Flashcards
What does the term “general environment” refer to in the context of business strategy? A) Internal company policies
B) Factors within the industry
C) External factors beyond a firm’s control
D) Specific marketing strategies
C
What is a key characteristic of the factors in the general environment? A) They are easy to control.
B) They are hard to predict.
C) They always benefit the firm.
D) They are completely predictable.
B
Which of the following would be considered part of a firm’s general environment?
A. Decreased entry barriers.
B. Higher unemployment rates.
C. Increased bargaining power of the firm’s suppliers.
D. Increased competitive intensity.
B
Which of the following would be considered part of a firm’s general environment?
A. Decreased entry barriers.
B. Higher unemployment rates.
C. Increased bargaining power of the firm’s suppliers.
D. Increased competitive intensity.
B
The aging of the population, changes in ethnic composition, and effects of the baby
boom are
A. macroeconomic changes.
B. demographic changes.
C. global changes.
D. sociocultural changes.
B
Although changes in the general environment may often adversely or favorably impact
a firm, they seldom alter an entire industry.
F. The general environment is composed of factors that can have dramatic effects on firm
strategy. Typically, a firm has little ability to predict trends and events in the general
environment and even less ability to control them. When listening to CNBC, for example, you
can hear many experts espouse different perspectives on what action the Federal Reserve
Board may take on short-term interest rates—an action that can have huge effects on the
valuation of entire economic sectors.
The same environmental trend can often have very different effects on firms within
the same industry.
T. An example would be the rising levels of affluence in many developed countries. This bodes
well for brokerage services as well as for upscale pets and supplies. However, this trend may
adversely affect fast-food restaurants because people can afford to dine at higher-priced
restaurants.
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typically analyzed in the demographic segment? A) Age distribution
B) Income levels
C) Market share
D) Geographic region
c
What is a key demographic element that refers to an increasing number of individuals aged 65 and older? A) Affluence Levels
B) Aging Population
C) Geographic Distribution
D) Income Disparities
B
How does rising affluence levels affect certain industries? A) It benefits low-cost retailers.
B) It increases demand for brokerage services and upscale pet supplies.
C) It has no significant impact on any industry.
D) It reduces the market for luxury goods.
B
why this question “What demographic trend can adversely affect fast-food restaurants? A) Rising affluence levels
B) Increasing aging population
C) Geographic distribution
D) Income disparities
A
Which statement about the aging population is true? A) The majority of workers aged 65 and older are retiring early.
B) More older workers are staying in the workforce full-time.
C) Younger workers are increasingly replacing older employees.
D) There is no change in the employment status of older workers.
B
Which demographic element refers to variations in income levels across different groups? A) Aging Population
B) Geographic Distribution
C) Income Disparities
D) Ethnic Composition
C
What demographic trend involves the movement of populations within and between regions? A) Aging Population
B) Geographic Distribution
C) Affluence Levels
D) Ethnic Composition
B
What does the sociocultural segment of the general environment encompass? A) Economic policies and regulations
B) Values, beliefs, and lifestyles of a society
C) Technological innovations and advancements
D) Competitive dynamics within an industry
A
A major sociocultural trend in the United States is the increased educational attainment
by women.
T
Increasingly larger numbers of women entering the work force since the early 1970s
is an example of
A. demographic changes.
B. political and legal environmental changes.
C. sociocultural changes.
D. technological developments
C
Emerging sociocultural changes in the environment include
A. changes in the ethnic composition.
B. the increasing educational attainment of women in the past decade.
C. progressively less disposable income by consumers.
D. changes in the geographic distribution of the population
B
What is a key trend related to the increased presence of women in the workforce? A) Decreased demand for business attire
B) Increased demand for cooking staples
C) Increased demand for business attire
D) No change in consumer behavior
C
How has the trend of dual-income families impacted consumer behavior? A) No significant impact on spending patterns
B) It leads to higher savings rates
C) It alters spending patterns and consumer needs
D) It decreases demand for luxury items
c
What effect do concerns for healthy diets and fitness have on the market? A) Increased demand for unhealthful foods
B) Boosts sales of exercise equipment and healthful foods
C) Decreased interest in fitness activities
D) No impact on consumer preferences
B
Which sociocultural trend has driven the demand for eco-friendly products? A) Postponement of having children
B) Increased educational attainment
C) Interest in the environment
D) Dual-income families
C
What impact does the postponement of having children have on the market? A) Increases demand for baby products
B) Affects products and services targeted at families and children
C) No impact on consumer behavior
D) Reduces the market for educational products
B
What is one significant outcome of increased educational attainment among women? A) Decreased participation in the workforce
B) Fewer women in leadership roles
C) More women in upper management positions
D) No impact on the economy
C
All of the following are important elements of the political/legal segment of the
general environment EXCEPT
A. the deregulation of utilities.
B. the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
C. the increased use of Internet technology.
D. increases in the federally mandated minimum wage
C
What do political processes and legislation primarily influence in relation to industries? A) Market share and competition
B) Environmental regulations with which industries must comply
C) Consumer preferences and trends
D) Technological advancements
B
Technological innovations can create entirely new industries and alter the boundaries
of industries.
T
What does the technological segment encompass? A) Only government regulations
B) Innovative knowledge in industrial arts, engineering, applied sciences, and pure science
C) Consumer behavior trends
D) Marketing strategies
B
Which of the following is an example of a technological development? A) Changes in consumer preferences
B) The Internet
C) Regulatory compliance
D) Workforce demographics
B. EX: internet,CAD,nano-tech,AI
There is generally a weak relationship between equity markets (e.g., New York Stock
Exchange) and economic indicators.
F. They are related
To illustrate interrelationships among different segments of the general environment:
The persistence of large U.S. trade deficits (__________) has led to greater demand for
protectionist measures, such as trade barriers and quotas (__________). These measures lead
to higher prices for U.S. consumers and fuel inflation (__________).
A. macroeconomic, sociocultural, political/legal
B. macroeconomic, political/legal, economic
C. macroeconomic, technological, economic
D. macroeconomic, global, economic
B
What is the primary effect of rising interest rates on the residential home construction industry? A) Increased construction activity
B) Decreased construction activity
C) No impact on construction
D) Increased demand for homes
B
Which of the following industries is likely to be least affected by interest rate increases? A) Residential home construction
B) Automobile manufacturing
C) Prescription drug production
D) Commercial real estate
C
Interest-rate increases have a __________ impact on the residential home
construction industry and a __________ effect on industries that produce consumer
necessities such as prescription drugs or basic grocery items.
A. positive; negligible
B. negative; negligible
C. negative; positive
D. positive; negative
B
What effect do fluctuations in currency exchange rates have on international trade? A) They have no effect on trade dynamics
B) They can impact the cost of exports and imports
C) They only affect domestic markets
D) They stabilize trade relationships
B. global segment
Which of the following agreements aims to promote international commerce by lowering tariffs? A) World Trade Organization (WTO)
B) North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
C) International Monetary Fund (IMF)
D) General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT)
B
How has China’s economic emergence impacted global trade? A) It has decreased global trade opportunities
B) It has led to increased trade patterns and investment opportunities
C) It has isolated China’s economy from the rest of the world
D) It has created uniform pricing across all goods
B
What has been a significant trend among U.S. multinationals in recent years? A) Decreased foreign investment
B) Increased domestic job creation
C) Expansion of global workforces and operations abroad
D) A focus solely on local markets
c
How does the aging population in the U.S. primarily influence tax policies? A) By decreasing the need for social services
B) By increasing the number of working-age taxpayers
C) By potentially increasing tax burdens to support social security benefits
D) By eliminating tax benefits for the elderly
c
How might consumer spending patterns change as the population ages? A) Increased spending on luxury items
B) Decreased spending on healthcare products
C) Increased spending on healthcare and wellness products
D) No change in spending patterns
C
Which of the following statements best describes the impact of an aging demographic on the sociocultural environment? A) It leads to a focus on youth culture and trends
B) It results in increased emphasis on elderly care and related services
C) It decreases the importance of family values
D) It has no effect on cultural practices
b
How do advances in information technology primarily impact inflation rates? A) They increase inflation by raising production costs
B) They have no effect on inflation
C) They contribute to increased productivity, which can help lower inflation rates
D) They create monopolies that drive prices up
c
What is a key benefit of enhanced IT capabilities for firms? A) Increased need for manual labor
B) Higher operational costs
C) Ability to produce more with fewer resources
D) Decreased reliance on technology
c
Which of the following is likely a result of productivity gains from technological advancements? A) Increased prices for consumers
B) More competitive pricing strategies
C) Reduction in product quality
D) Decreased market efficiency
b
In what way can increased productivity influence overall economic performance? A) By reducing employment opportunities
B) By leading to lower output levels
C) By enhancing firms’ ability to compete and innovate
D) By stabilizing inflation rates without growth
c
How might rising labor costs be affected by advancements in information technology? A) They become irrelevant
B) They may be offset by productivity gains from IT
C) They will always increase significantly
D) They lead to job losses only
b
What effect might importation legislation allowing the import of prescription drugs have on U.S. drugstores? A) Increased operational costs
B) Reduced costs and increased product availability
C) Decreased customer satisfaction
D) Higher prices for consumers
B
How could U.S. drug manufacturers be affected by changes in importation legislation? A) They might gain exclusive rights to all drugs
B) They could face increased competition and potential revenue losses
C) They will see no impact on their sales
D) They will increase prices for all products
B
Which type of regulatory change might create opportunities for consulting firms? A) Decrease in import taxes
B) Environmental regulations requiring compliance assistance
C) Tax cuts for all industries
D) Reduction of healthcare regulations
b
What could be a potential threat to industries facing new environmental regulations? A) Decreased production efficiency
B) Increased costs for compliance
C) Expansion of market opportunities
D) Enhanced consumer trust
b
How do changes in importation legislation impact consumer choice? A) They reduce available options for consumers
B) They limit the variety of products
C) They can increase the variety and availability of products
D) They have no effect on consumer choice
c
Which of the following could be a result of increased competition due to importation legislation? A) Higher prices for consumers
B) Enhanced innovation in U.S. drug manufacturers
C) Guaranteed profits for U.S. companies
D) Decreased availability of generic drugs
b
What is one potential benefit for consumers from importation legislation? A) Fewer choices in medication
B) Lower prices for prescription drugs
C) Increased complexity in purchasing drugs
D) Decreased access to necessary medications
b
Which industry might be negatively impacted by stricter environmental regulations? A) Renewable energy
B) Consulting firms
C) Traditional manufacturing industries
D) Technology firms
c
How does globalization impact local industries? A) It has no effect on local industries
B) It creates uniformity in all markets
C) It leads to increased global competition for domestic companies
D) It reduces the need for international trade
c
What is one potential opportunity for multinational companies due to globalization? A) Decreased access to resources
B) Ability to capitalize on growing markets in emerging economies
C) Guaranteed profits in domestic markets
D) Reduced need for innovation
b
How might domestic companies need to respond to globalization? A) Ignore international trends
B) Adapt their strategies to compete with foreign companies
C) Increase prices for local consumers
D) Focus solely on local markets
b
What effect does the rise of the middle class in emerging markets have on global trade? A) It decreases demand for international products
B) It creates new consumer markets for goods and services
C) It eliminates competition for local businesses
D) It has no significant impact on global trade
b
What is one way globalization can benefit local consumers? A) Decreased variety of products available
B) Higher prices for goods
C) Access to a wider range of products from different markets
D) Less competition leading to fewer choices
c
Why might multinational companies shift their focus to emerging markets? A) To reduce their global footprint
B) To avoid competition
C) To take advantage of growing consumer bases and potential profits
D) To limit their exposure to international regulations
c
The Internet provides an electronic “staging area” for several forms of digital
communications.
t
What does the competitive environment include? A) Economic trends
B) Government regulations
C) Competitors, customers, suppliers, and potential entrants
D) Technological advancements
c
Which of the following factors directly impacts a firm’s competitive position? A) Social trends
B) Global events
C) Competitors
D) Environmental concerns
c
The competitive environment is also known as: A) The external environment
B) The task environment
C) The internal environment
D) The regulatory environmen
b. task or industry environment
Potential entrants into an industry can influence: A) The profitability of existing firms
B) Employee satisfaction
C) Market demand
D) Brand loyalty
a
What is the primary focus of the competitive environment? A) Macroeconomic factors
B) Factors that affect a firm’s strategies
C) Workforce dynamics
D) Technological innovation
b
Which of the following best describes the General Environment? A) The specific dynamics between firms in an industry
B) The external factors that affect all businesses in a society
C) Only the economic factors influencing an industry
D) The regulatory frameworks affecting a single company
b
Which of the following environments is primarily concerned with direct market interactions? A) General Environment
B) Competitive Environment
C) Macro Environment
D) Regulatory Environment
b
Porter’s Five-Forces model is designed to help us understand how social attitudes and
cultural values impact U.S. businesses.
F. examining the competitive environment
What is the primary purpose of the “five-forces” model? A) To predict future market trends
B) To analyze the competitive environment
C) To evaluate internal company strengths
D) To assess customer satisfaction
b
Porter’s Five-Forces model helps to determine both the nature of competition in an
industry and the industry’s profit potential
t
What is the primary purpose of the “five-forces analysis”? A) To assess company performance
B) To understand industry profitability
C) To analyze customer satisfaction
D) To evaluate marketing strategies
b. not necessary company profitability
What is one of the primary applications of the Five Forces Model for managers? A) To predict economic downturns
B) To decide whether to enter or exit an industry
C) To assess employee satisfaction
D) To evaluate marketing strategies
b
How does the Five Forces Model assist in resource allocation? A) By providing historical sales data
B) By offering insights into competitive pressures
C) By evaluating customer feedback
D) By analyzing employee productivity
b
Understanding each competitive force allows firms to: A) Develop strategies to mitigate threats and leverage opportunities
B) Focus solely on reducing costs
C) Increase production without market analysis
D) Ignore customer preferences
a
What strategy can firms use to enhance their competitive position according to the Five Forces Model? A) Ignoring supplier relationships
B) Strengthening relationships with distribution channels
C) Reducing product quality
D) Minimizing marketing efforts
b
One way to mitigate competitive threats identified in the Five Forces Model is to: A) Seek alternative suppliers
B) Limit product innovation
C) Increase prices without justification
D) Decrease customer service quality
a
What does the “threat of new entrants” refer to? A) The ability of firms to reduce costs
B) The potential for established firms’ profits to be reduced by new competitors
C) The influence of suppliers on pricing
D) The impact of customer loyalty on sales
b