strategy and implementation Flashcards
what is corporate strategy?
strategic decisions made by business that affect entire business. made by senior managers and concern long term direction of business.
what is strategic direction?
course of action that ultimately leads to achievement of stated goals of corporate strategy to achieve mission and vision statement.
what is the strategy hierarchy?
corporate strategy
strategic direction
divisional strategy
functional level strategy.
what is divisional strategy?
overall corporate strategy communicated to divisional managers. this shapes plans that divisional managers make.
what is functional strategy?
relates to single functional operation such as production, marketing or HRM and activities involved withing each of these. guided by divisional strategy.
what are strategic decisions?
way a business operates in order to achieve medium to long term aims and objectives.
what are tactical decisions?
medium term decisions made by middle managers. they follow strategic decisions. more adaptable, can adjust to changing market conditions.
what is a corporate plan?
statement of organisational goals to be achieved in medium to long term.based on management assessments of market opportunities, economic situatuion and resources and technologies available.
includes methods for monitoring achievement of objectives and tactical decisions made to achieve objectives.
what is a SWOT analysis?
used to analyse internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats.
what can business decide to do with SWOT analysis?
use strength to long term advantage
address weakness to improve competitiveness
respond to threat
capitalise opportunity first.
what is porters five forces used for?
5 main forces on business that can determine behaviour of business and measure profitability of business in certain industry
what are porters five forces?
barriers to entry
buyer power
supplier power
substitution
competition
examples of barriers to entry?
cost advantages of existing businesses
high investment required
high skill required
strong brand identity of existing business
what is supplier power?
how powerful suppliers are in prices they charge for supply.
factors affecting supplier power?
number of alternative suppliers
cost of switching to new supplier
availability of raw materials
operation cost.
factors affecting buyer power?
alternative supplier
usp/exclusivity
brand identity/loyalty
price elasticity of demand
factors affecting competition?
maturity of market
how many businesses in market
brand loyalty
laws/restriction/licenses
product differentiation.
what is meant by substitution?
product that performs same function as one in industry eg aeroplane/train.
what is ansoff’s matrix?
exisiting products, product development
new market, diversification
what does ansoff’s matrix show?
options to business if they wish to grow.
how risk changes with different methods of growth.
why is ansoff’s matrix useful?
easy to understand
make informed decisions
minimises risk
facilitates strategic planning.
drawbacks of ansoff’s matrix?
ignores external factors
lack of cost benefit analysis
difficult to predict the future.
what should you do if asked about ansoff’s matrix in exam?
don’t talk about it generically, apply one strategy to business
what is integration?
a business seeks to grow inorganically (externally).
involves merging or taking over a business.