What is a procurement system review? How can it help the buying firm?

How do different control types affect strategic evaluation and control activities?

What advantages does the GE matrix model have over the BCG matrix?

List the major pressure groups that influence organizational strategies. What questions should be asked to assess the influence of each?

What would be a good example of an organization for which a product structure might be appropriate? Why do you think so?

Suppose your organization competes in the telephone industry, producing answering machines. If you choose to pursue a differentiation strategy, what are some ways in which you might successfully differentiate your product?

Identify and discuss the impacts of an MRP system on a purchasing and supply department’s operation.

Suppose that your firm has decided that a significant downsizing is necessary. Briefly discuss the role that each of the traditional organizational functions might play in the downsizing process.

Briefly discuss the phrase ‘‘structure follows strategy’’ in terms of what it implies about strategy implementation.

How would you characterize your own propensity for risk? With that in mind, in what industry do you think you would be most comfortable? Most uncomfortable?

What is the importance of a strategic or competitive advantage? How does the organization develop one?

What are the roles and responsibilities of a firm in communicating demand throughout the supply chain?