Question 1

Key issues in an annual marketing plan:
A)Identify the main opportunities and threats to the product that the plan must deal with in the coming year.
B)Summarise the overall strategic approach that will be used to meet the plan's objectives.
C)Describe actions to be taken if specific threats or opportunities materialise during the planning period.
D)Specify the goals to be accomplished in terms of sales volume, market share and profit.

Accepted Answer

A

Question 2

What is an organisational fit?
A)It refers to a firm using a highly centralised organisation structure in its early growth and effectively responding to the changes in the market.
B)It is a fit between an organisation's marketing strategy and the needs of its target customers and the technological realities of the marketplace.
C)It refers to a well-conceived foundation that permits effective implementation of a particular strategy.
D)It is the fit between a business's competitive and marketing strategies and the organisational structures, processes and plans necessary to effectively implement them.

Accepted Answer

Organisational fit refers to the alignment between a business's competitive and marketing strategies and the organisational structures, processes, and plans necessary to effectively implement them. Option A is incorrect as centralisation is a form of organisational structure and not a part of organisational fit. Option B is limited to marketing strategy and technological realities, and Option C only refers to a well-conceived foundation.

Question 3

Which of the following relates to shared programs and synergy for a low-cost defender?
A)little synergy in areas central to differentiation-shared programs elsewhere
B)relatively little synergy-few shared programs
C)no synergy-no shared programs
D)high level of synergy and shared programs

Accepted Answer

A low-cost defender strategy aims to achieve cost leadership in the industry. To do so, it is important to have a high level of synergy and shared programs in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. This will help the company to be price competitive and achieve economies of scale. Therefore, choice D is the best option.

Question 4

Identify the statement that relates to the market management organisation.
A)A product manager has overall responsibility for planning and implementing a national marketing program for the product.
B)This form is the least bureaucratic or centralised and the most specialised type of organisation.
C)This is particularly suitable for a business facing an extremely complex and uncertain environment.
D)It involves the creation of an additional organisational unit responsible for coordinating the actions of other units within the firm.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Identify the statement that relates to the...

Question 5

SBU autonomy level is moderate in which business strategy?
A)differentiated defender
B)prospector
C)low-cost defender
D)reactor

Accepted Answer

The answer of SBU autonomy level is moderate in which...

Question 6

Regardless of the form of worker self-management, all self-managing teams are based on this concept.
A)empowerment
B)joint venture
C)centralisation
D)hierarchy

Accepted Answer

Self-management involves empowering workers to take responsibility for their own work and decision making, rather than relying on a centralized hierarchy. Therefore, empowerment is the key concept behind all forms of worker self-management. Joint venture is a business arrangement between two or more parties, and is not necessarily related to worker self-management. Centralization is the opposite of decentralization, which is more closely related to worker self-management. Hierarchy involves a strict chain of command and is not a characteristic of self-managing teams.

Question 7

Which of the following is typically included in a situation analysis?
A)financial objectives
B)marketing objectives
C)sales forecast
D)maintenance strategy

Accepted Answer

A situation analysis typically includes a sales forecast as it assesses the current market conditions and predicts future sales trends.

Question 8

The executive summary in an annual marketing plan:
A)describes actions to be taken if specific threats or opportunities materialise during the planning period
B)specifies the goals to be accomplished in terms of sales volume, market share and profit
C)examines the past performance of the product and the elements of its marketing program such as distribution and promotion
D)presents a short overview of the issues, objectives, strategy and actions incorporated in the plan and their expected outcomes for quick management review

Accepted Answer

The executive summary is a brief overview of the entire marketing plan, including the issues, objectives, strategy, and actions. Its purpose is to provide a quick review for management to understand the plan's direction and expected outcomes. Option A is describing a contingency plan, which is typically a separate section in the marketing plan. Option B describes the goals section of the plan. Option C describes the situation analysis.

Question 9

Which section of an annual marketing plan would contain plans to be implemented if specific threats or opportunities should occur during the planning period?
A)action plan
B)marketing strategy
C)profit-and-loss statement
D)contingency plan

Accepted Answer

A contingency plan is a section of an annual marketing plan that outlines strategies that should be implemented if specific threats or opportunities arise during the planning period. This section helps organizations prepare for unexpected events and adjust their marketing activities accordingly. A contingency plan typically includes different scenarios and corresponding action steps, budgets, and timelines.

Question 10

The matrix form is the most:
A)bureaucratic type of organisation
B)centralised type of organisation
C)specialised type of organisation
D)common type of organisation

Accepted Answer

The matrix form is a specialised type of organisation that combines functional and project-based structures, allowing for both vertical and horizontal communication and collaboration. It is not necessarily bureaucratic or centralised, and while it may not be the most common type of organisation, it is used by many large companies in various industries.

Question 11

The evaluation and reward systems for which strategy comprises high incentives based on sales and share growth?
A)differentiated defender
B)prospector
C)low-cost defender
D)reactor

Accepted Answer

The strategy that comprises high incentives based on sales and share growth is the prospector strategy. This strategy focuses on rapid growth and innovation, and the reward system is usually geared towards sales and revenue growth. Differentiated defender and low-cost defender strategies focus on protecting existing markets and usually have more stable or defensive reward systems. Reactor strategy is a passive or inconsistent approach that does not have a clear strategy or reward system.

Question 12

What does centralisation refer to?
A)the location of decision authority and control within an organisation's hierarchy
B)the degree to which formal rules and standard policies and procedures govern decisions and working relationships
C)the degree to which organisations emphasise the managing of business processes in contrast to functional areas
D)the division of tasks and activities across positions within the organisational unit

Accepted Answer

Centralisation refers to the concentration of decision authority and control within an organisation's hierarchy, typically in the hands of top-level managers. Decisions are made at higher levels of the organisation, and lower-level employees have limited autonomy. This can result in a more efficient decision-making process, but it may also lead to a lack of responsiveness to local needs and reduced employee empowerment.

Question 13

The ____ form is the least bureaucratic or centralised and the most specialised type of organisation.
A)functional
B)divisional
C)matrix
D)global

Accepted Answer

The answer of The ____ form is the least bureaucratic...

Question 14

Which global organisational type is especially appropriate when there is considerable variance across markets regarding product acceptance and marketing activities?
A)functional
B)product
C)area
D)process

Accepted Answer

An area organizational type, also known as a regional structure, is especially appropriate when there is considerable variance across markets regarding product acceptance and marketing activities. This is because the area structure allows for regional autonomy and decision-making, allowing for more localized strategies and a deeper understanding of local market conditions. This type of organizational structure also allows for greater flexibility in responding to regional differences in consumer preferences and market dynamics.

Question 15

Identify the simplest and most bureaucratic organisational design.
A)product management
B)market management
C)matrix
D)functional

Accepted Answer

The functional organizational design is the simplest and most bureaucratic because it is organized around specific functions, such as finance, human resources, and operations. Each function is responsible for specific tasks, and decision-making authority is centralized within each function, leading to a hierarchical and bureaucratic structure.

Question 16

Product management organisations:
A)rely primarily on hierarchical mechanisms for resolving conflicts across functional areas
B)are characterised by decentralised decision-making while increasing the amount of product specialisation within the SBU
C)are the most specialised type of organisation
D)are the most common organisational form among entrepreneurial start-ups, including many dot-com companies

Accepted Answer

Product management organizations typically have decentralised decision-making in order to increase the amount of product specialisation within strategic business units (SBUs). This allows for more focused attention on specific products and markets, but still requires collaboration across functional areas to resolve conflicts. Hierarchical mechanisms may still be used, but are not the primary means of conflict resolution. While product management organizations may be specialised, they are not necessarily the most specialised type of organization. They are also not the most common form among entrepreneurial start-ups, as many start-ups do not have formal product management structures.

Question 17

Prospector business units and their marketing departments are likely to perform better when:
A)The decision-making authority is centralised.
B)Rigid rules and policies dominate managerial discretion.
C)There is a high degree of formalisation.
D)They are decentralised.

Accepted Answer

Prospector business units, which are focused on innovation and exploring new market opportunities, tend to perform better in a decentralized environment. This allows for more flexibility, quicker decision-making, and adaptability to new trends or changes in the market, which are crucial for their success.

Question 18

Which of the following is the most crucial part of the annual marketing plan for ensuring proper execution?
A)action plans
B)performance review
C)objectives
D)executive summary

Accepted Answer

Action plans are the most crucial part of the annual marketing plan for ensuring proper execution as they outline specific tasks, timelines, and responsibilities needed to achieve the overall objectives. Without clear action plans, it is difficult to track progress or assign accountability for the success or failure of the marketing plan. Performance reviews, objectives, and executive summaries are also important components of a marketing plan, but they are less critical for ensuring proper execution than action plans.

Question 19

What represents the functional coordination and conflict resolution for the successful implementation of a low-cost defender strategy?
A)SBU will experience moderate levels of inter-functional conflict.
B)SBU will perform best on ROI and cash flow dimensions when conflict resolution mechanisms are hierarchical.
C)SBU will experience high levels of inter-functional conflict.
D)SBU will perform best on volume and share-growth dimensions when participative resolution mechanisms are used.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What represents the functional coordination and conflict...

Question 20

A functional structure is likely to be appropriate when:
A)Customers all tend to use a narrow range of goods or services to satisfy similar needs.
B)Customer segments use goods or services in different ways.
C)Customers are highly educated and know exactly what they are looking for.
D)Customers are geographically spread in different locations.

Accepted Answer

A functional structure is designed for efficiency and standardization, which is appropriate when customers all tend to use a narrow range of goods or services to satisfy similar needs. This structure allows for specialization in different functions, making the processes more streamlined and cost-effective.

Quiz 12: Organising and Planning for Effective Implementation

Key issues in an annual marketing plan:

What is an organisational fit?

Which of the following relates to shared programs and synergy for a low-cost defender?

Identify the statement that relates to the market management organisation.

SBU autonomy level is moderate in which business strategy?

Regardless of the form of worker self-management, all self-managing teams are based on this concept.

Which of the following is typically included in a situation analysis?

The executive summary in an annual marketing plan:

Which section of an annual marketing plan would contain plans to be implemented if specific threats or opportunities should occur during the planning period?

The matrix form is the most:

The evaluation and reward systems for which strategy comprises high incentives based on sales and share growth?

What does centralisation refer to?

The ____ form is the least bureaucratic or centralised and the most specialised type of organisation.

Which global organisational type is especially appropriate when there is considerable variance across markets regarding product acceptance and marketing activities?

Identify the simplest and most bureaucratic organisational design.

Product management organisations:

Prospector business units and their marketing departments are likely to perform better when:

Which of the following is the most crucial part of the annual marketing plan for ensuring proper execution?

What represents the functional coordination and conflict resolution for the successful implementation of a low-cost defender strategy?

A functional structure is likely to be appropriate when: