Deck 13: Appendix 3: Managing Platforms and Portfolios of Technology

Question 1

A single technology firm typically will be:

A) based on a portfolio approach
B) horizontally diverse
C) vertically diverse
D) an entrepreneurial or family business
E) unlikely to succeed

Answer 1

an entrepreneurial or family business

Question 2

Which of the following options is not used by a single technology firm?

A) product market exploitation
B) scope strategy
C) technology enhancement
D) market enhancement
E) product enhancement

Answer 2

scope strategy

Question 3

The benefit of a single technology strategy is:

A) know that technology very well and proficient with it
B) limit industry risks
C) greatest return
D) limit international exposure
E) able to expand the fastest

Answer 3

know that technology very well and proficient with it

Question 4

A product platform:

A) is made up of groups of products with some relatedness between them
B) is made up of groups of product with no relatedness necessarily between
C) typically has products coming from a single factory
D) focuses on a single technology
E) relies on a single distribution channel

Question 5

The benefits of a platform include all of the following except:

A) speed - faster to introduce new products
B) cost - cheaper to design, market, distribute new products
C) design quality-understand how to design and produce product
D) coherence -among products
E) preferability - overcome a negative image with consumers and apply it to other areas

Question 6

The greatest power for a platform comes from:

A) being the largest in the industry
B) being closely associated with the government
C) being the most efficient
D) being the foundation for other platforms and products
E) following a concentration strategy

Question 7

The factors that impact a platform leadership include all of the following except:

A) scope of the firm -how many businesses and technology the firm employs
B) multi-dimensionality of the team - ability of the firm to focus employees skills
C) product technology - ability of the others to become competitors
D) relationships with external complementors - firms that the firm now works with
E) internal organization - administrative support

Question 8

The steps in building a product platform include all of the following except:

A) identify growth opportunities
B) take a fresh look at market needs
C) analyze products of competitors
D) examine processes and distribution channels currently used to be sure as good as can be
E) replace top management team if vision is not broad enough

Question 9

Characteristics of portfolio management include all of the following except:

A) it is very deliberate environment
B) it requires evaluation, selection, and prioritization
C) it demands that bad products and processes be eliminated
D) total portfolio should be reviewed regularly
E) it is an ongoing process

Question 10

The goal of the portfolio analysis is to:

A) change the strategic goals of the firm
B) maximize return in the immediate term
C) balance the portfolio according to the strategic goals of the firm
D) allow quality programs to excel
E) balance short term financial needs with long term agency needs

Question 11

The options for enhancing the efforts of the single technology firm include:

Question 12

The four factors that impact platform leadership include:

Question 13

The steps in developing a platform leadership include all of the following:

Question 14

Acer is a family of four brands. Which of the following is not one of them?

A) Acer
B) Gateway
C) Packard Bell
D) Dell
E) eMachines

Question 15

Acer built its reputation on:

A) Acquiring poorly performing businesses and turning them around
B) Development of medical equipment
C) Creating the Multi-brand strategy
D) Development and manufacturing of sophisticated, intuitive, easy to use products
E) Unrelated diversification

Question 16

Acer is the largest supplier of LCD televisions in:

A) Russia
B) US
C) Western Europe
D) Mexico
E) Canada

Question 17

The Empowering Technology Platform was launched to:

A) Create more efficient PCs
B) Create "thinking" computers
C) Develop new technology in the medical industry
D) Create more effective networking solutions
E) Meld hardware, software and service to provide end-to-end technologies to customers

Question 18

The Channel Business Model allows Acer to be:

A) Flexible in adapting to global IT market trends
B) At the forefront of television advertising
C) Easily in touch with their supply channels.
D) Easily in touch with their distribution channels
E) Committed to improvement of hardware and software

Question 19

GSK is over ____ years old.

A) 50
B) 75
C) 100
D) 125
E) 150

Question 20

GSK has ____ percent of employees working directly on R&D.

A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 20
E) 25

Question 21

GSK supplies ____ percent of the world's vaccines.

A) 5
B) 10
C) 15
D) 20
E) 25

Question 22

GSK's strategy does not hinge on which of the following:

A) Grow a diversified business
B) Deliver more products of value
C) Begin development of computer products
D) Simplify the operating model
E) All of these choices

Question 23

The percentage of GSK's revenue that comes from products less than three years old is:

A) 5
B) 12
C) 17
D) 22
E) 30