What Is the Goal of Signaling a Challenger That Strong

What is the goal of signaling a challenger that strong retaliation is likely in the event of an attack?

A) To alleviate their fears by committing to reduce the costs of value chain activities
B) To cause the challenger to begin the attack instead of waiting
C) To dissuade challengers from attacking or diverting them into using less threatening options
D) To create collaborative relationships with challengers
E) To insulate other firms from adverse impacts resulting from the challenge