Assignement Questions Section I. Discussion Questions (15 marks) Discuss briefly

Assignement Questions
Section I. Discussion Questions (15 marks)
Discuss briefly the following questions (maximum 200 words for each question). (3 marks each question)
1. Why has strategic management become so important to today’s corporations and how does it typically evolve in a corporation?
2. Discuss how a development in a corporation’s natural and societal environments can affect the corporation through its task environment.
3. How can value-chain analysis help identify a company’s strengths and weaknesses?
4. What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a first mover in an industry? Give some examples of first-mover and late-mover firms. Were they successful?
5. Why are many strategic alliances temporary?
Notes:
– Using the terminology developed in the course of strategic management will be highly valued.
– Your answers MUST include at least 7 outside references (other than the slides and textbook) using a proper referencing style (APA).
– Using references from SDL will be highly valued.
– You answers should not exceed 1500 words.
Section II: Case study(15 marks)
Read carefully case No 8 from your textbook (entitled ‘iRobot: Finding the Right Market Mix?) and answerbriefly the following questions: (1.5 marks for each question)
1. Draw the SWOT matrix of the iRobot company.
2. What is the competitive strategy used by iRobot company?
3. Use the five forces of the M. Porter matrix to describe the robot-based product industry.
4. Describe the different functional strategies of the iRobot company.
5. Describe the relationship of iRobot with its primary stakeholders.
6. Describe the core competency and the outsourcing strategy of iRobot
7. What kind of strategic alliance is used by iRobot? Why does iRobot choose it?
8. What are the main challenges that iRobot faces?
9. Assess the competitive advantage of iRobot in its market.
10. Recommend solutions for iRobot to improve its competitive advantage.
Good Luck
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Answers
Section 1
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Section 2
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