Multiple Choice Questions: Internal Analysis
Multiple Choice Questions: Internal Analysis
Chapter 06
Internal Analysis
1. (p. 148) The tendency to accept the status quo and disregard signals that change is needed is
called:
A. Management myopia
B. Environmental awareness
C. Management long-sightedness
D. Subjective management
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
3. (p. 149) What have strategists sought in frameworks besides SWOT for conducting internal
analysis?
A. They have sought to get less detail from other frameworks
B. They have sought that the frameworks be more comprehensive
C. They have sought a less generic framework
D. They have sought to better account for internal factors in light of external factors
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
6-1
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
4. (p. 149) A good fit maximizes a firm’s _________ and minimizes its ________.
A. strengths and weaknesses; opportunities and threats
B. strengths and opportunities; weaknesses and threats
C. strengths and threats; weaknesses and opportunities
D. strengths and opportunities; opportunities and threats
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
5. (p. 149) SWOT analysis is based on the assumption that an effective strategy derives from a
sound “fit” between a firm’s _________ and its ________.
A. strengths and opportunities; weaknesses and threats
B. strengths and weaknesses; opportunities and threats
C. strengths and threats; weaknesses and opportunities
D. strengths and opportunities; opportunities and threats
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
6-2
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
6-3
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
6-4
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
14. (p. 151) Consider e-Pixels, a company that produces miniature digital video cameras that
feature easy downloads and uplinks to computers. Which of the following represents a
potential strength for the firm?
A. Brand name
B. Digitalization of most types of media
C. Growing global computer companies with similar technology
D. Limited experience with video technology
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
6-5
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
16. (p. 153) The cells on the left side of the SWOT diagram are both characterized by:
A. Substantial internal strengths
B. Numerous environmental opportunities
C. Critical internal weaknesses
D. Major environmental threats
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
17. (p. 153) Which cell in the SWOT analysis diagram is the most favorable situation?
A. Cell 1
B. Cell 2
C. Cell 3
D. Cell 4
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
18. (p. 153) ________ represents the least favorable situation, with the firm facing major
environmental threats from a weak resource position.
A. Cell 1
B. Cell 2
C. Cell 3
D. Cell 4
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
6-6
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
20. (p. 153) Which of the following describes the situation for a firm in Cell 2?
A. The firm faces several environmental opportunities and has numerous strengths that
encourage pursuit of those opportunities
B. The firm faces major environmental threats from a weak resource position
C. The firm has identified several key strengths, but faces an unfavorable environment
D. The firm faces impressive market opportunity, but is constrained by weak internal
resources
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
21. (p. 153) In the SWOT analysis diagram, which cell presents the least favorable situation?
A. Cell 2
B. Cell 1
C. Cell 4
D. Cell 3
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
6-7
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
23. (p. 154) One of the limitations of the SWOT analysis is that it can ______ internal strengths
and ______ external threats.
A. overemphasize; downplay
B. underemphasize; downplay
C. overemphasize; enhance
D. underemphasize; enhance
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
26. (p. 154) One of the limitations of the SWOT analysis is that it can ______ internal strengths
and ______ external threats.
A. overemphasize; downplay
B. underemphasize; downplay
C. overemphasize; enhance
D. underemphasize; enhance
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
6-8
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 1
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
6-9
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
30. (p. 155) Which of the following is NOT an example of a basic source from which customer
value is derived?
A. Activities that differentiate the product
B. Activities that lower its cost
C. Activities that add to product complexity
D. Activities that meet the customer's need more quickly
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
6-10
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
32. (p. 155) Which method of internal analysis disaggregates the business into sets of activities
that occur within the business, starting with inputs and finishing with the firm's products and
after-service sales?
A. Resource-based view
B. Value chain analysis
C. SWOT analysis
D. Porter's generic strategies
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
6-11
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
34. (p. 155) In the value chain framework, there are ____ primary and ____ support activities.
A. 4, 5
B. 5, 4
C. 5, 3
D. 3, 5
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
6-12
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
37. (p. 156) Those activities in a firm that are involved in the physical creation of the product,
marketing and transfer to the buyer and after-sales support are called:
A. Operational activities
B. Support activities
C. Secondary activities
D. Primary activities
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
6-13
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 2
42. (p. 161) It is especially important that managers take into account their level of ________
when comparing their cost structure for activities on their value chain with those of key
competitors.
A. Competition
B. Horizontal integration
C. Vertical integration
D. Concentric diversification
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 2
6-14
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 2
44. (p. 163) The _______ underlying premise is that firms differ in fundamental ways because
each firm possesses a unique “bundle” of resources.
A. Resource-based view’s
B. Value chain view’s
C. Corporate view’s
D. Functional view’s
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
6-15
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
48. (p. 164) A capability or skill that a firm emphasizes and excels in doing while in pursuit of
its overall mission is called a
A. Intangible asset
B. core competence
C. Capability
D. Distinctive Competence
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
6-16
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
49. (p. 164) Core competencies that differ from those found in competing firms would be
considered
A. Intangible assets
B. Distinctive competencies
C. Capabilities
D. Competencies
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
51. (p. 164) The most easily identified assets, often found on a firm's balance sheet, are called:
A. Intangible assets
B. Tangible assets
C. Capabilities
D. Competencies
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
6-17
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
54. (p. 164) Company reputation is an example of a
A. Intangible asset
B. Tangible asset
C. Organizational capability
D. Organizational function
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
6-18
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 3
6-19
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 3
59. (p. 167) _______ help the firm create resource scarcity by making resources hard to imitate.
A. Resource bundles
B. Capabilities
C. Isolating mechanisms
D. Tangible resources
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
6-20
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 3
63. (p. 168) Brand loyalty, employee satisfaction and a reputation for fairness are items that:
A. Are easy to imitate
B. Can be imitated, but may not be
C. Cannot be imitated
D. Are difficult to imitate
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 3
6-21
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Difficult
Learning Objective: 4
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 3
68. (p. 172) When a strategist uses the firm's historical experience as a basis for evaluating
internal factors, he or she is performing a:
A. Comparison with key competitors
B. Comparison with success factors in the industry
C. Comparison with past performance
D. Comparison with industry benchmarks
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 4
6-22
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 4
70. (p. 172) Using historical experience as a basis for identifying strengths and weaknesses can
be likened to:
A. Market myopia
B. Tunnel vision
C. Management myopia
D. Benchmarking
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 4
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 4
6-23
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 4
73. (p. 174) Company X's principal strength is its inbound and outbound logistics system; its
relative weakness, however is after-sales service. Its competitor, Company Y, however is
often plagued with lagging shipments and an inflexible distribution setup. Company Y
remains successful because it maintains a fully staffed service department and as a result the
company is known for its dependable service. _______ allows them to identify ways to build
on relative strengths and avoid dependence on capabilities at which the other firm excels.
A. Industry comparison
B. Benchmarking
C. Past performance comparison
D. Disaggregating
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 4
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 4
6-24
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Difficulty: Medium
Learning Objective: 4
76. (p. 176) A company producing toilet paper, tissues and other consumer paper goods can
work to establish the right product lines, with reasonable sales volumes, profit margins and
growth potential in order to generate:
A. Supplier power to face massive buyer power in retail customers
B. Buyer power for the end-consumers
C. Supplier power for the retail chains
D. Regional advantages over buyers
Difficulty: Hard
Learning Objective: 4
77. (p. 176) ________ is one way to identify success factors against which executives can
evaluate their firm's competencies relative to its key product or products.
A. Corporate strategy
B. Product life cycle
C. Diversification
D. Agglomeration
Difficulty: Easy
Learning Objective: 4
6-25
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Essay Questions
Please refer to the discussion titled "SWOT Analysis: A Traditional Approach to Internal
Analysis," on pages 149-151.
Learning Objective: 1
Please refer to the discussion titled “Using SWOT Analysis in Strategic Analysis” on pages
152-154, particularly Exhibit 6.2 on page 153.
Learning Objective: 1
Please refer to the discussion titled “Limitations of SWOT Analysis” on pages 154-155.
Learning Objective: 1
81. Explain the difference between primary activities and support activities and give examples
of both.
Please refer to the discussion titled "Value Chain Analysis" on pages 155-157 and particularly
the table in Exhibit 6.3, "The Value Chain," on page 156.
Learning Objective: 2
6-26
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
Please refer to the discussion titled “Conducting a Value Chain Analysis” on pages 157-158.
Learning Objective: 2
Please refer to the discussion titled "Recognizing the Difficulty in Activity-Based Cost
Accounting," on pages 159-161.
Learning Objective: 2
84. Explain the premise for the resource-based view of the firm. How is this different from
other perspectives?
Please refer to the discussion titled "Resource-Based View of the Firm," on pages 163-164.
Learning Objective: 3
85. Describe the elements of the resource-based view. Give examples of each type.
Please refer to the discussion titled "Three Basic Resources: Tangible Assets, Intangible
Assets and Organizational Capabilities," on page 164.
Learning Objective: 3
86. What are core competencies? How are they different from distinctive competencies?
How do distinctive competencies lead to competitive advantage?
6-27
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
87. Cite the guidelines to the resource-based view and briefly describe their meaning.
Please refer to the discussion titled "What Makes a Resource Valuable?" on pages 166-169.
Learning Objective: 3
88. When using the RBV, what four steps can help a firm gauge which resources truly have
strategic value?
Please refer to the discussion titled "What Makes a Resource Valuable," on pages 166-169.
Learning Objective: 3
89. What are isolating mechanisms? What role do they play in the resource-based view?
Learning Objective: 3
Please refer to the discussion titled “Using the Resource-Based View in Internal Analysis” on
pages 169-172.
Learning Objective: 3
Please refer to the discussion “Competitive Advantage Via Customer Value: Three Circles
Analysis” on pages 161-163.
Learning Objective: 3
6-28
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
92. If a firm wants to chart its progress internally, what method of comparison is appropriate?
Describe how this works.
Please refer to the discussion titled "Comparison with Past Performance," on page 172.
Learning Objective: 4
93. What is the purpose of benchmarking? How else can a firm evaluate itself against its
industry?
Please refer to the discussions titled "Benchmarking: Comparison with Competitors" and
"Comparison with Success Factors in the Industry," on pages 172-176.
Learning Objective: 4
94. How can a firm compare itself with success factors in the industry?
Please refer to the discussion in the section titled “Comparison With Success Factors in the
Industry” on pages 174-176.
Learning Objective: 4
95. What is the product life cycle? What are its different stages?
Please refer to the discussion titled “Product Life Cycle” on pages 176-177.
Learning Objective: 4
96. Describe what liquidity ratios measure? What are the important liquidity ratios?
97. What does the term “leverage” mean? What are the important leverage ratios?
6-29
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
6-30
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.
Chapter 06 - Internal Analysis
98. What do activity ratios measure? What are the key activity ratios?
99. Describe the principal profitability ratios and indicate what each measures.
100. What does an analysis of the sources and uses of funds do? How is this analysis done?
Please refer to the discussion titled “Analysis of the Sources and Uses of Funds” on pages
186-187.
Learning Objective: 5
6-31
© 2013 by McGraw-Hill Education. This is proprietary material solely for authorized instructor use. Not authorized for sale or distribution in
any manner. This document may not be copied, scanned, duplicated, forwarded, distributed, or posted on a website, in whole or part.