Question

What is strategy? Why is having a distinct strategy important? What are the potential consequences for a company without a distinct strategy?


Outline and detail a PESTEL analysis. What, in your opinion, is currently the strongest component of the macro-environment? Why? How has this changed?   


What are some tests of a good strategy? How do we know if a company’s strategy is working? What are some options for a company if their strategy is not working?


Within the framework of the Five-Forces Model of Competition, describe industry conditions that would lead to the highest level of profitability for industry participants. What about the lowest level of profitability? What are the differences between these two conditions?


What is strategic planning? Is strategic planning an effective or ineffective tool for organizations? What elements make for an effective strategic planning process in organizations?


What is the role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the strategy formulation and strategy execution process? Why has their job become increasingly difficult?


Briefly outline and describe the five generic competitive strategies. Illustrate a specific example of each generic strategy in your description.   


Briefly outline and describe the five competitive forces that shape strategy. Which competitive force is the strongest? Why?


What is a value chain? How does a company’s supply chain fit into a company’s value chain? How did HEB’s supply chain respond to the COVID-19 Pandemic?   


Outline and describe HEB’s crisis management policies and procedures. Was HEB effective in their crisis response to the COVID-19 Pandemic? Why or Why Not? What improvements would you make to HEB’s crisis management policies and procedures?

Answer 1

Strategy is nothing but a series or sequence of steps or a plan to achieve some pre-decided end goals or shared objectives, in this the team is supposed to follow a plan to achieve certain objectives that are beneficial for the organisation as a whole.

Having a distinct strategy is important because internally as well as externally in the market we want to have an edge over others, hence it becomes very important to keep on trying different things and unique strategies so that the outcome is also different which is cost effective as well as resource effective.

Potential consequences for not having a distinct strategy are that the output would always be the same because we cannot keep on trying the same plans and expect a different results. Hence if the company wants to have an edge over its competitors it becomes very important to try distinct strategies.