E-Commerce Strategy and Global EC

Multiple Choice Questions (Circle the correct answer)

1) For ___________ companies, it may be even more important to change strategies quickly.

a. traditional
b. pure play
c. service
d. retail

2) Projections of the business technological, political, economic, and other environments are called ____________.

a. forecasts.
b. SWOT analysis.
c. competitive intelligence.
d. value propositions.

3) Google's ____________ is its expertise in information search technology.

a. company analysis
b. value proposition
c. core competency
d. functional strategy

4) All of the following are situations when a business plan should be done except:

a. when an existing business is deploying a CRM system.
b. when a new business is seeking start-up funds and other resources.
c. when an existing company is planning to create a separate division.
d. when an existing company is planning to launch the company in a new direction.

5) Which of the following about business plans and business cases is not correct?

a. The content of a business case is similar to that of a business plan.
b. One difference is that the business plan concentrates on the viability of a company, whereas a business case assesses both the viability of the project and the fit of the initiative with the firm's mission and goals.
c. The audiences are the same senior management and the board of directors.
d. The purposes are the same to justify a specific investment of funds.

6) Factors that determine whether a first mover succeeds or fails in the EC marketplace include all of the following except:

a. the size of the opportunity.
b. the speed of market entry.
c. the nature of the product.
d. whether the company can be the best in the market.

7) The most efficient way to expand an organization's scope is ____________.

a. to introduce new products or services into new or existing markets without increasing production facilities or staff.
b. by increasing the size or scale of the business.
c. by expanding the firm's appeal to a new set of customers.
d. to buy a company with complementary products or services.

8) All of the following determine the degree of collaboration between offline and online activities of a business except:

a. corporate culture.
b. the ability of top management to introduce change properly.
c. the pricing strategy.
d. the use of innovative processes that support collaboration.

9) Internet technologies can provide consumers with easier access to pricing information, which increases their bargaining power. To remain competitive and profitable, sellers need smarter pricing strategies, which include all of the following strategies except:

a. greater precision in setting prices.
b. more adaptability in changing prices.
c. new ways of customer segmentation for differentiated pricing.
d. reducing prices.

10) The most important objectives of strategic assessment are all of the following except:

a. measure the extent to which the EC strategy and ensuing projects are delivering what they were supposed to deliver.
b. determine if the EC strategy and projects are still viable in the current environment.
c. reassess the initial strategy in order to learn from mistakes and improve future planning.
d. identify what competitors are doing to avoid head-on competition.

Critical Analysis / Case Study Problems

The Critical Analysis questions are designed to help you gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter, develop an increased ability to apply what you have learned and integrate this knowledge into a greater understanding and appreciation for your field of study. Completion of the following questions will help you outline your answers and organize your thoughts within an appropriate framework. These practice questions will not be graded, but you should apply the same analytical skills and writing proficiencies that you will need for the unit essays. We suggest writing your answers on another piece of paper and comparing your results to the suggested answers at the end of this chapter to help you identify any areas you need to review.

1. How should the Internet and EC be considered by business strategic planners, IS strategists and ICT planners?
2. Propose three strategies for smarter pricing online.