Chapter - External Analysis MCQ

Chapter 3: The External Assessment
Profile Matrix.
MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
68) ________ is not part of an external audit.
A. Analyzing financial ratios
B. Analyzing available technologies
C. Studying the political environment
D. Analyzing competitors
E. Analyzing social, cultural, demographic and geographic forces
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 93
Topic: The Nature of an External Audit
Objective: 3.01 Describe how to conduct an external strategic-management audit.
69) Identifying and evaluating key social, political, economic, technological and competitive trends and events
comprise
A. developing an effective mission statement.
B. performing an external audit.
C. conducting an internal audit.
D. implementing strategy.
E. formulating strategy.
70) The process of performing an external audit needs to include

A. stockholders and external government agencies.
B. only top level managers, as it is a planning function.
C. primarily front-line supervisors.
D. between 15 to 20 managers for it to be valid.
E. as many managers and employees as possible.
71) To perform an external audit, a company first must

A. perform an internal audit.
B. gather competitive intelligence and information about external trends.
C. hire a consultant to develop a comprehensive strategic plan.
D. get an approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission.
E. all of the above
72) Freund emphasizes that key external factors should be all of these except:
A. applicable to all competing firms.
B. hierarchical in the sense that some will pertain to the overall company while others will be more
narrowly focused.
C. measurable.
D. relatively few in number.
E. important to achieving long-term and annual objectives.
73) The I/O approach to competitive advantage advocates that external factors are ________ internal factors in a
firm achieving competitive advantage.
A. less common than
B. as important as
C. more common than
D. more important than
E. less important than
Topic: The Industrial Organization (I/O) View
Objective: 3.02 Discuss 10 major external forces that affect organizations: economic, social, cultural, demographic,
environmental, political, governmental, legal, technological, and competitive.
74) According to I/O theorists, which of the following contributes least to firm performance?
A. Barriers to market entry
B. Level of competitiveness
C. Economies of scale
D. Internal resources
E. Product differentiation
Topic: The Industrial Organization (I/O) View
75) Which type of trend is exemplified by the increasing number of two-income households in America?
A. Historical
B. Social
C. Economic
D. Cultural
E. Technological
Topic: Economic Forces
76) What happens when interest rates rise?

A. The demand for discretionary goods increases
B. Discretionary income is unchanged
C. Discretionary income increases
D. discretionary income increases and the demand for discretionary goods decreases
E. The demand for discretionary goods decreases
77) What effect do trends in the dollar's value have on companies in different industries and in different
locations?
A. Insignificant and unequal
B. Significant and equal
C. No significant impact
D. Marginal and equal
E. Significant and unequal
78) In general, what happens to American goods in overseas markets when there is a strong dollar?
A. They are more attractive.
B. They are cheaper.
C. They are less expensive.
D. They are more expensive.
E. They are desirable.
79) It is predicted that the United States will have how many racial or ethnic majorities by the year 2075?
A. Five B. One C. None D. Three E. Two
Topic: Social, Cultural, Demographic, and Environmental Forces
80) Which of the states below has the youngest average population?
A. Pennsylvania
B. Utah
C. Florida
D. West Virginia
E. Maine
81) Which of the states below has the oldest average population?
A. Maine B. Texas C. Idaho D. Alaska E. California
82) Hawaii, California, and ________ already have no majority race or ethnic group.
A. New Mexico
B. New Jersey
C. New York
D. New Hampshire
E. all of the above
83) Who are the world's longest-living people?

A. Americans B. Mexicans C. Filipinos D. Japanese E. Indians
84) Americans were on the move in a population shift to _______, but the recession and housing bust nationwide
has slowed migration throughout the United States.
A. the Northeast and Midwest
B. Canada
C. the Frostbelt
D. the South and West
E. the Midwest and South
85) Japan's elderly population ratio is _______ percent.

A. 22 B. 17 C. 13 D. 19 E. 65
86) When an industry relies heavily on government contracts, which forecasts can be the most important part of
an external audit?
A. Political
B. Competitive
C. Technological
D. Multinational
E. Economic
Topic: Political, Governmental, and Legal Forces
87) Changes in which of the following can significantly affect firms?

A. Tax rates
B. Antitrust legislation
C. Patent laws
D. Lobbying activities
E. All of the above
88) Many economists say the current rash of trade constraints will make it ________ for global economic growth
to recover from the global recession.
A. more likely B. easier C. harder D. less difficult E. impossible
89) ________ perhaps has instituted the most protectionist measures in recent months by raising tariffs on most
imports and subsidizing its own exports.
A. Russia
B. The EU
C. Switzerland
D. India
E. The United States
90) Who is Japan's largest trading partner?

A. U.S. B. Mexico C. Germany D. China E. U.K.
91) All of the following are political, governmental, and legal variables that can represent key opportunities or
threats to organizations except:
A. special tariffs.
B. legislation on equal employment.
C. population changes by race, age, sex, and level of affluence.
D. environmental protection laws.
E. world oil, currency, and labor markets.
92) Technological advancements can create new ________ advantages that are more powerful than existing
advantages.
A. economic
B. social
C. environmental
D. comparative
E. competitive
Topic: Technological Forces
93) Which of the following sectors of the economy would be most impacted by technological developments?
A. Textiles
B. Paper
C. Pharmaceuticals
D. Forestry
E. Metals
Topic: Technological Forces
94) Collecting and evaluating information on competitors is essential for successful

A. strategy evaluation.
B. strategy implementation.
C. strategy management.
D. strategy formulation.
E. internal analysis.
Topic: Competitive Forces
95) In 2008, which company had the dominant market share in the beverages industry?
A. Schweppes
B. Coca-Cola
C. Molson Coors Brewing
D. Anheuser-Busch
E. Pepsi Bottling
96) Which of the following is not a characteristic that describes the most competitive companies in America?
A. Divestiture is essential to growth.
B. Innovate or evaporate.
C. There is no substitute for quality and no greater threat than failing to be cost-competitive on a global
basis.
D. People make a difference.
E. Whether it's broke or not, fix it.
Diff: 2 Page Ref: 103-104
97) A systematic and ethical process for gathering and analyzing information about the competition's activities
and general trends to further a business's own goals is called
A. unethical business practice.
B. information sharing.
C. competitive intelligence.
D. artificial intelligence.
E. competitive advantage.
Objective: 3.08 Discuss the importance of gathering competitive intelligence.
98) ________ is not a basic mission of a competitive intelligence program.

A. To provide a general understanding of an industry
B. To identify industry executives who could be hired by the firm
C. To identify areas where competitors are vulnerable and to assess the impact strategic actions would
have on competitors
D. To provide a general understanding of a company's competitors
E. To identify potential moves a competitor might make that would endanger a firm's position in the
market
99) Which statement about business intelligence is least accurate?

A. Intelligence gathering is an unethical business practice.
B. Collecting intelligence about competitors violates antitrust laws.
C. Business intelligence is not equal to espionage.
D. Running an intelligence program requires many people.
E. Running an intelligence program requires many computers and other resources.
100) The responsibilities of a director of competitive analysis include all of the following except:
A. disseminating information on a timely basis.
B. corporate espionage.
C. analyzing data.
D. researching special issues.
E. recognizing what information is important and who needs to know.
101) Market commonality can be defined as

A. the number and significance of markets that a firm competes in with rivals.
B. the extent to which the amount of a firm's internal resources are comparable to a rival.
C. the extent to which the type of a firm's internal resources are comparable to a rival.
D. the number and significance of points in common a firm has with its rivals.
E. none of the above
Objective: 3.10 Discuss market commonality and resource similarity in relation to competitive analysis.
102) Intensity of competition ________ in lower-return industries.

A. is not important
B. fluctuates
C. is non-existent
D. is highest
E. is lowest
Topic: Competitive Analysis: Porter's Five-Forces Model
103) What is not one of Michael Porter's five competitive forces?

A. Bargaining power of unions
B. Bargaining power of suppliers
C. New entrants
D. Rivalry among existing firms
E. Bargaining power of buyers
104) According to Porter, what is usually the most powerful of the five competitive forces?
A. Bargaining power of suppliers
B. Rivalry among competing firms
C. Potential entry of new competitors
D. Bargaining power of consumers
E. Potential development of substitute products
105) Whenever new firms can easily enter a particular industry, the intensity of competitiveness among firms
tends to
A. fluctuate.
B. stay the same.
C. increase.
D. neutralize.
E. decrease.
106) If suppliers are unreliable or too costly, which of these strategies may be appropriate?
A. Backward integration
B. Concentric diversification
C. Horizontal integration
D. Forward integration
E. Market penetration
107) What level of bargaining power do consumers have when the products being purchased are standard or
undifferentiated?
A. High B. Marginal C. Negligible D. Negative E. Low
108) The Internet has made it _______ for firms to gather, assimilate, and evaluate information.
A. easier
B. more expensive
C. less clear-cut
D. harder
E. more time-consuming
Topic: Sources of External Information
Objective: 3.03 Describe key sources of external information, including the Internet.
109) What are educated assumptions about future trends and events called?
A. Forecasts
B. Facts
C. Premonitions
D. Statistics
E. Guesses
Topic: Forecasting Tools and Techniques
Objective: 3.04 Discuss important forecasting tools used in strategic management.
110) Without assumptions, planning would be
A. impossible. B. intuitive. C. difficult. D. inexpensive. E. easier.
Topic: Forecasting Tools and Techniques
Objective: 3.04 Discuss important forecasting tools used in strategic management.
111) Unpublished sources of external strategic information include all of the following except:
A. customer surveys.
B. abstracts.
C. conversations with stakeholders.
D. market research.
E. speeches at professional and shareholders' meetings.
112) Which of the following is not a published source of external strategic information?
A. journals
B. reports
C. directories
D. television programs
E. periodicals
113) Standard and Poor's Industry Surveys include all of the following sections except:
A. Glossary of Industry Information.
B. How to Analyze a Company.
C. Comparative Company Financial Analysis.
D. Industry Trends.
E. Historic Environment.
114) A total weighted score of _______ in an EFE Matrix indicates that the firm's strategies are not capitalizing on
opportunities or avoiding external threats.
A. 2.5 B. 4.0 C. 0.0 D. 1.0 E. 3.3
Topic: Industry Analysis: The EFE Matrix
Objective: 3.06 Explain how to develop an EFE Matrix.
115) What is the first step in designing an EFE Matrix?

A. Identifying key external factors in the industry
B. Determining four competitors
C. Drawing the horizontal and vertical lines for the matrix
D. Calculating the sales of each competitor
E. Summing the weighted score for each competitor
116) What is the range for a firm's total weighted score in an External Factor Evaluation Matrix?
A. 1 to 5 B. 0 to 10 C. 0 to 4 D. 1 to 4 E. 0 to 5
117) One difference between CPM and EFE is that

A. CPM is performed only for the company, whereas EFE is performed for both the company and its
competitors.
B. CPM ratings range from 1 to 10.
C. CPM includes both internal and external issues.
D. the weights and total weighted scores have different meanings.
E. CPM is only used in small firms.
Topic: The Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM)
Objective: 3.07 Explain how to develop a Competitive Profile Matrix.

Chapter - External Analysis MCQ

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Chapter - External Analysis MCQ

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Chapter 3: The External Assessment

70) The process of performing an external audit needs to include

71) To perform an external audit, a company first must

76) What happens when interest rates rise?

83) Who are the world's longest-living people?

85) Japan's elderly population ratio is _______ percent.

87) Changes in which of the following can significantly affect firms?

90) Who is Japan's largest trading partner?

94) Collecting and evaluating information on competitors is essential for successful

98) ________ is not a basic mission of a competitive intelligence program.

99) Which statement about business intelligence is least accurate?

101) Market commonality can be defined as

102) Intensity of competition ________ in lower-return industries.

103) What is not one of Michael Porter's five competitive forces?

115) What is the first step in designing an EFE Matrix?

117) One difference between CPM and EFE is that

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