Deck 6: Developing an Effective Business Model

Question 1

The four components of a firm's business model are:

A) marketing plan, core strategy, business plan, and customer interface
B) core strategy, strategic resources, partnership network, and customer interface
C) economic environment, social environment, technological environment, and legal-regulatory environment
D) opportunity recognition, feasibility analysis, business plan, and human resource plan
E) marketing plan, operating plan, financial plan, and human resource plan

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is a "support" activity in the value chain?

A) outbound logistics
B) service
C) marketing and sales
D) operations
E) human resource management

Answer 2

E

Question 3

The Savvy Entrepreneurial Firm feature in Chapter 6 focuses on three business model innovators: SunEdison, Red Hat, and Cater Internal Medicine. What is SunEdison's business model innovation?

A) to build solar energy platforms in the ocean
B) Make solar energy a service rather than a product.
C) Sell solar energy equipment in "kits" that consumers can install themselves.
D) Create solar energy "farms" in rural areas and create a new category of "farmers."
E) Build large solar energy arrays on the outskirts of cities to provide for a sizeable portion of their energy needs.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is not one of the components of a firm's business model?

A) core strategy
B) strategic resources
C) partnership network
D) business plan
E) customer interface

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the purposes of a business model?

A) serves as an ongoing extension of feasibility analysis
B) serves as a template for conducting industry analysis
C) focuses attention on how all the elements of a business fit together
D) describes why the network of participants needed to make a business idea viable is willing to work together
E) articulates a company's core logic to all stakeholders

Question 6

In the WebHouse example included in Chapter 6, WebHouse failed because:

A) it did not complete a feasibility analysis
B) it did not write a complete business plan
C) it couldn't motivate its suppliers or customers to participate at a sufficient scale to support the overhead of the business
D) it charged too much for its services
E) it failed to focus on developing a core strategy

Question 7

Which of the following is not a "primary" activity in the value chain?

A) inbound logistics
B) marketing and sales
C) service
D) technology development
E) outbound logistics

Question 8

________ involves a firm's relationship with its suppliers and involves all the activities of receiving, storing, and shipping component parts to the place where they will be added to the final product.

A) Resource procurement
B) Operations
C) Outbound logistics
D) Technology development
E) Inbound logistics

Question 9

Which of the following is a "primary" activity in the value chain?

A) resource procurement
B) technology development
C) service
D) firm infrastructure
E) human resource management

Question 10

________ involves all the activities required to manufacture a product.

A) Resource procurement
B) Administration
C) Operations
D) Outbound logistics
E) Inbound logistics

Question 11

A ________ is a firm's plan or diagram for how it competes, uses its resources, structures its relationships, interfaces with customers, and creates value to sustain itself on the basis of the profits it earns.

A) feasibility model
B) business model
C) strategic plan
D) business plan
E) competitive model

Question 12

The term ________ refers to initiatives, such as Netflix in movie rentals and IKEA in furniture, which revolutionize how products are sold in an industry.

A) product model modernism
B) business model innovation
C) feasibility analysis innovation
D) value innovation
E) opportunity innovation

Question 13

The What Went Wrong? feature in Chapter 6 focuses on iContact, a company that set out of build a mobile social network. iContact failed because:

A) it couldn't find a way to distribute its product
B) it couldn't motivate its suppliers or customers to participate at a sufficient scale to make the business profitable
C) of a complete misread of its customers
D) of utterly unsound economics
E) it didn't have a coherent core strategy

Question 14

Jennifer Barnes has just finished writing a business plan for a startup in the medical products industry. She has now reached the point where she needs to develop a plan for how her firm will compete, use its resources, structure its relationships, interface with customers, and create value to sustain itself on the basis of the profits it earns. Jennifer needs to establish her firm's:

A) tactical plan
B) feasibility plan
C) business model
D) business template
E) operating plan

Question 15

According to the textbook, by studying a product's or service's value chain an organization can:

A) identify ways to create additional value and assess whether it has the means to do so
B) determine if it's business plan needs to be revised
C) determine if it is cost effective to manufacture the product or sell the service
D) determine if an attractive niche market is available
E) determine if a product or service will be successful in the marketplace

Question 16

Jeff Mommer is starting an environmentally friendly lawn and garden service. One thing that Jeff has worked hard on is determining how his company will compete in the marketplace. This elements of Jeff's business model is referred to as:

A) core strategy
B) strategic resources
C) partnership network
D) fulfillment and support
E) customer interface

Question 17

In regard to business models, which of the following statements is incorrect?

A) There is a standard business model that most firms follow.
B) A firm's business model is inherently dependent on the collection of resources it controls and the capabilities it possesses.
C) It is dangerous for a company to assume that it can be successful by simply copying the business model of another firm.
D) A firm's business model is its plan or diagram for how it competes.
E) It is often difficult to determine what another firm's business model is.

Question 18

Two fatal flaws can render a business model untenable from the beginning. These are:

A) failure to compete a business plan and failure to get funding
B) a complete misread of the customer and utterly unsound economics
C) failure to copy the industry leader's business plan and a complete misread of the customer
D) failure to complete a business plan and overemphasizing the importance of feasibility analysis
E) overemphasizing the importance of feasibility analysis and utterly unsound economics

Question 19

The ________ is the string of activities that moves a product from the raw material stage, through manufacturing and distribution, and ultimately to the end user.

A) consequence sequence
B) business chain
C) meaning chain
D) value chain
E) worth procession

Question 20

Two fatal flaws can render a business model untenable from the beginning. These are utterly unsound economics and:

A) a complete misread of the customer
B) failure to copy the industry leader's business plan
C) overemphasis on the importance of feasibility analysis
D) overemphasis on the importance of industry analysis
E) failure to complete a business plan prior to developing a business model

Question 21

Kendra Johnson is starting a firm in the shoe industry. Her shoes will be very high quality and will be priced at the top end of the market. Kendra has chosen the generic strategy referred to as:

A) value pricing
B) differentiation
C) competitive superiority
D) separation
E) quality plus

Question 22

Which of the following statement is incorrect regarding the "core strategy" component of a firm's business model?

A) A firm's core strategy describes how it competes relative to its competitors.
B) The product a firm chooses has little impact on its core strategy and business model.
C) A company's product/market scope defines the products and markets on which it will compete.
D) From a broad perspective firms typically choose one of two generic strategies: cost leadership or differentiation.
E) The generic strategy a firm chooses greatly affects its business model.

Question 23

A ________ is a resource or capability that serves as a source of a firm's competitive advantage over its rivals.

A) foundational competency
B) core competency
C) distinctive attribute
D) center attribute
E) core element

Question 24

The network of companies that participate in the production of a product, from the acquisition of raw materials to the final sale, is referred to as the:

A) input chain
B) participation chain
C) supply chain
D) involvement network
E) contribution chain

Question 25

________ is the process of adapting a firm's core competencies to exploit new opportunities.

A) Resource leverage
B) Capacity proficiency
C) Ability leverage
D) Aptitude embellishment
E) Capacity extension

Question 26

Which of the following are the primary elements of a startup's core strategy?

A) target customer, fulfillment and support, pricing structure
B) suppliers, partners, other key relationships
C) pricing structure, suppliers, strategic assets
D) core competencies, strategic assets, funding model
E) mission statement, product/market scope, basis for differentiation

Question 27

A firm's ________ describes why it exists and what its business model is supposed to accomplish.

A) mission statement
B) vision statement
C) feasibility statement
D) duty statement
E) responsibility statement

Question 28

Andrew Bowser is in the process of putting together the business model for his startup and is currently working on his mission statement, product/market scope, and basis for differentiation. Andrew is working on the ________ component of his business model.

A) core strategy
B) strategic resources
C) partnership network
D) customer interface
E) feasibility analysis

Question 29

A company's ________ defines the products and markets on which it will concentrate.

A) tactical analysis
B) business mission
C) product/market scope
D) supplier/buyer scope
E) basis of differentiation

Question 30

Firms that have a ________ strategy strive to have the lowest costs in the industry, relative to competitors' costs, and typically attract customers on that basis. In contrast, firms using a ________ strategy compete on the basis of providing unique or different products and typically compete on the basis of quality, service, timeliness, or some other important dimension.

A) differentiation, cost leadership
B) cost emphasis, quality leadership
C) cost leadership, differentiation
D) price reduction, quality plus
E) cost differentiation, quality plus

Question 31

________ are anything rare and valuable that a firm owns.

A) Tactical assets
B) Tactical properties
C) Deliberate assets
D) Strategic assets
E) Operational assets

Question 32

Match the business model component with its explanation:

A) core strategy/how a firm structures and nurtures its partnerships
B) customer interface/how a firm acquires and uses its resources
C) strategic resources/how a firm acquires and uses its resources
D) partnership network/how a firm competes
E) core strategy/how a firm interfaces with its customers

Question 33

A supplier is a company that:

A) purchases a company's products
B) helps a firm put together its network of contacts
C) provides startups' funding
D) provides startups' business advice
E) provides parts or services to another company

Question 34

Sony's competence in miniaturization, Dell's competence in supply chain management, and Amie Street's competence in managing a music download Web site are examples of ________, which serve as each of these respective firm's competitive advantage of their rivals.

A) foundational competencies
B) core competencies
C) core elements
D) distinguishing attributes
E) foundational attributes

Question 35

Jared King is starting a firm in the electronics games industry, and will produce games similar to popular games on the market, but won't be as sophisticated, and will priced at the low end of the market. Jared has chosen the generic strategy referred to as:

A) price reduction
B) differentiation
C) quality plus
D) cost leadership
E) cost differentiation

Question 36

A hub and wheel configuration with a local firm at the hub organizing the interdependencies of a complex array of firm is referred to as a:

A) trade association
B) strategic alliance
C) network
D) joint venture
E) consortia

Question 37

From a broad perspective, firms choose one of two generic strategies to position themselves in the marketplace. These are:

A) high quality and low cost
B) discount pricing and premium pricing
C) value and low cost
D) cost leadership and differentiation
E) cost premium and separation

Question 38

In a business model context, the three components of a firm's partnership network are:

A) business mission, partners, and strategic assets
B) core competencies, suppliers, and target customer
C) suppliers, partners, and other key relationships
D) business mission, product/market scope, and basis for differentiation
E) pricing structure, fulfillment and support, and target customer

Question 39

The Partnering for Success feature in Chapter 6 focuses on Cameron Hughes Win and Partsearch. The overarching point of the feature is:

A) the best business models do not incorporate partners until the firm is fully established
B) the best business model is one that works not only for yourself but elevates your partners
C) the best business model allows a firm to co-opt resources from its partners
D) its a rare firm that is able to create a successful business model without relying on partners
E) an increasing number of business models are relying on the network form of partnership

Question 40

Donna Spector is in the process of putting together the business model for her startup and is currently working on her core competencies and strategic assets. Which of the component of her business model is Donna working on?

A) core strategy
B) strategic resources
C) partnership network
D) customer interface
E) feasibility analysis

Question 41

A business model is a firm's plan or diagram for how it competes, uses its resources, structures its relationships, interfaces with customers, and creates value to sustain itself on the basis of the profits it earns.

Question 42

Their is a standard business model that most startups follow.

Question 43

Gary Smith just launched a firm in the sports drink industry. He has decided to focus his efforts on appealing to extreme sports enthusiasts (examples include hang gliders, rock climbers, and parachutists). In Gary's case, extreme sports enthusiasts represent his firm's:

A) target objective
B) target market
C) goal objective
D) intention market
E) object market

Question 44

The clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch targets 18- to 22-year-old men and women. This demographic is Abercrombie & Fitch's:

A) target objective
B) objective market
C) goal objective
D) intention market
E) target market

Question 45

Fortunately, if three of the four components of a firm's business model are in place, the firm has a high probability of success.

Question 46

A ________ is a group of organizations with similar needs that band together to create a new entity to address those needs.

A) joint venture
B) network
C) consortia
D) strategic alliance
E) trade association

Question 47

Fulfillment and support describes:

A) how a firm manages its customer relationships
B) the way a firm's product or service "goes to market" or how it reaches its customers
C) how a firm manages its employees
D) the products and markets on which a firm will compete
E) how a firm competes relative to its competitors

Question 48

By studying a product's value chain, an organization can identify ways to create additional value and assess whether it has the means to do so.

Question 49

A firm's ________ is the limited group of individuals or businesses that it goes after or tries to appeal to.

A) target objective
B) goal objective
C) intention market
D) target market
E) object market

Question 50

Organizations (typically nonprofit) that are formed by firms in the same industry to collect and disseminate trade information, offer legal and technical advice, furnish industry-related training, and provide a platform for collective lobbying.

A) strategic alliance
B) trade association
C) network
D) joint venture
E) consortia

Question 51

A clearly articulated business model serves as an ongoing extension of feasibility analysis.

Question 52

The four components of an effective business model include: core strategy, strategic resources, partnership network, and customer interface.

Question 53

________, a relatively new approach to partnering, takes place when a service provided comes inside a partner's facilities and helps the partner design and manage its supply chain.

A) Permeating
B) Infiltrating
C) Penetrating
D) Fullfilling
E) Insourcing

Question 54

The support activities in a firm's value chain include: inbound logistics, operations, outbound logistics, marketing and sales, and service.

Question 55

Two fatal flaws can render a business model untenable from the beginning: a complete misread of the customer and utterly unsound economics.

Question 56

A firm's business model resides within its own boundaries.

Question 57

In a business model context, the three components of a firm's customer interface are target customer, fulfillment and support, and:

A) pricing structure
B) product/market scope
C) basic for differentiation
D) strategic assets
E) business mission

Question 58

________ describes the way a firm's product or service "goes to market."

A) Fulfillment and support
B) Execution and discharge
C) Achievement and discharge
D) Implementation and maintenance
E) Execution and maintenance

Question 59

An arrangement between two or more firms that establishes an exchange relationship but has no joint ownership involved is called a:

A) network
B) trade association
C) consortia
D) joint venture
E) strategic alliance

Question 60

Almost all firms partner with others to make their business models work.

Question 61

Companies ultimately try to combine their core competencies and strategic assets to create a sustainable competitive advantage.

Question 62

Briefly describe the four main components of a business model. Identify the subcomponents of each the four main components of a business model.

Question 63

A network is a hub-and-wheel configuration with a local firm at the hub organizing the interdependencies of a complex array of firms.

Question 64

Why is it important for a firm to have a well-thought-out business model?

Question 65

A firm's target market is the limited group of individuals or businesses that it goes after or tries to appeal to.

Question 66

A core competency is a resource or capability that serves as a source of a firm's competitive advantage over its rivals.

Question 67

What is a strategic asset? Provide an example of a strategic asset that is utilized by an entrepreneurial firm.

Question 68

Historically, it has been difficult for a new venture to use a cost leadership strategy.

Question 69

What is meant by the statement, "A firm's business model takes it beyond its own boundaries?" Provide an example to illustrate your answer.

Question 70

Fulfillment and support describes the way a firm's product or service "goes to market" or how it reaches its customers.

Question 71

The process of adapting a company's core competencies to exploit new opportunities is referred to as resource conversion.

Question 72

A resource chain is the network of all the companies that participate in the production of a product, from the acquisition of raw materials to the final sale.

Question 73

Strategic assets are anything rare and valuable that a firm owns.

Question 74

A company's product/market scope defines the products and markets on which it will concentrate.

Question 75

Describe the two potential fatal flaws of business models.