Answer:
a. VRIN test, which asks if a resource is valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable.
Explanation:
Applying Barney's (1991) VRIN framework can determine if a resource is a source of competitive power. To serve as a basis for sustainable competitive advantage, resources must be:
valuable: meaning that they must be a source of greater value, in terms of relative costs and benefits, than similar resources in competing firms. When resources are able to bring value to the firm they can be a source of competitive power.
rare: rareness implies that the resource must be rare in the sense that it is scarce relative to demand for its use or what it produces. Resources have to deliver a unique strategy to provide a competitive advantage to the firm as compared to the competing firms. Consider the case where a resource is valuable but it exists in the competitor firms as well. Such a resource is not rare to provide competitive power.
inimitable: it is difficult to imitate. Resources can be sources of sustained competitive power if competing firms cannot obtain them. Consider the case where a resource is valuable and rare but the competing organizations can copy them easily. Such resources also cannot be sources of competitive power.
non-substitutable: other different types of resources cannot be functional substitutes. Resources should not be able to be replaced by any other strategically equivalent valuable resources. If two resources can be utilized separately to implement the same strategy then they are strategically equivalent. Such resources are substitutable and so are not sources of sustained competitive power.
The criteria of the VRIN Framework clearly rules out best practices as a source of competitive advantage. If other firms can easily understand and copy a capability, it is not a source of competitive power.
Answer: B
Robert is in the Evaluation of alternatives stage of the buyer decision process.
Explanation:
The various stages which consumers go through when they are considering a purchase are as follows:
Problem or need recognition , Information search
, Evaluation of alternatives
, Purchase
, Post-purchase behavior
Evaluation of alternatives is the third stage in the Consumer Buying Decision process. In this stage, the consumers evaluate all their options based on the attributes of the products which is capable of delivering the benefit/ satisfaction that the consumer intends to get. Comparing the products (i.e different brands of products that is capable of satisfying the consumer needs), shows the alternatives being considered by consumers during the problem-solving process.
Therefore Robert, trying to choose between : Waterbags for Roadies, Supertanker Hydropacks, and Fast Water is in the stage of Evaluation of alternatives stage. Therefore the answer is B
TH PRODUCT COSTING DIRECT COST CONNECTS OVERHEAD COSTS TO COST OBJECT.
Explanation:
Product cost refers to the costs incurred to create a product. These costs include direct labor, direct materials, consumable production supplies, and factory overhead. Product cost can also be considered the cost of the labor required to deliver a service to a customer.
Direct costs are costs which are directly accountable to a cost object (such as a particular project, facility, function or product). Some overhead costs which can be directly attributed to a project .
Answer:
The Rubber Meets the Road has issued shares at discount to market price to its shareholders (Right Issue)
Explanation:
These tactics are used by the company who wants to defend itself from the acquirer because they think they will damage the company values, culture, restructure business processes and change in people who work and are part of the organization. In other words they think are a family and will loose each other and the associated benefits now they are enjoying so what they do is they upper management issues the rights to its existing shareholders at discount to market value.
The investment doesnot seems attractive as the benefit are no more if the acquirer pays extra dollars to buy the 50% shares which have been increased due to right issue. So the statement hostile takeover means the defending strategy of the firm that the acquirer wants to acquire its control by buying more than 50% shares.
There are four main types of distribution channels;
1) Manufacturer > Wholesaler > Retailer > Consumer
2) Manufacturer > Wholesaler> Consumer
3) Manufacturer > Retailer > Consumer
4) Manufacturer > Consumer
Therefore the most likely answer here is option C
Producer to Wholesaler to Consumer