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Mgt B399 Exam Paper

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SUGGESTED GUIDE FOR MGT B399 Specimen Exam Paper B&A OUHK PART A Question 1 (a) Describe the role of organizational control and organizational culture play in strategy implementation. (20 marks) Organizational controls guide the use of strategy, indicate how to compare actual and expected results, and suggest actions to take to improve performance when it falls below expectations. When properly matched with the strategy for which they were intended, structure and controls can be a competitive advantage. Strategic controls (largely subjective criteria) and financial controls (largely objective criteria) are the two types of organizational controls used to successfully implement a firm’s chosen strategy. Both types of controls are …show more content…

One major challenge is, however, the question whether the unique Wal-Mart culture as part of its successful control system will mesh with the local culture. This is a challenge that the Wal-Mart executives need to work on. MGT B399 Specimen Exam SG 2/5 PART B Question 2 (a) Define strategy and business-level strategy. What is the difference between these two concepts? (b) Describe ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage for each of the generic strategies suggested by Professor Michael Porter. a) In general, a strategy consists of the choices an organization makes in an attempt to gain strategic competitiveness and earn above-average returns. The organization’s strategic choices are influenced by threats and opportunities in the external environment and by the nation and quality of its internal resources, capabilities, and core competencies. The strategy reflects the firm’s vision and mission. Business-level strategy is an integrated and coordinated set of commitments and actions the firm uses to gain a competitive advantage in a particular product market. It is the organization’s core strategy. Business-level strategy is concerned with a particular product market. The essence of a firm’s business level strategy is choosing to perform activities differently or to perform different activities than competitors. b) Students should mention items from the following lists. Cost Leadership provides protection against rivalry and price wars,

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