Internet Exercises

Chapter 9

1. Portfolio Matrix. Go to HBO’s web site . Listed are the TV series, movies, documentaries, and other channels that HBO owns. Read about a few of these products and then put together a portfolio analysis using the BCG matrix. What type of strategy would you use for each “product?”

2. Entrepreneurial Orientation. Go to Hewlett Packard’s company information site. Find evidence of each of the five characteristics of entrepreneurship: 1) autonomy; 2) innovativeness; 3) risk-taking; 4) proactiveness; and 5) competitive aggressiveness.

3. Positioning Strategies. Go to the web site of C.L.I.A. (Cruise Lines International Association). This official association of the cruise line industry provides brief descriptions of the major cruise lines of the world. Look up ten well-known cruise lines and determine what kind of positioning strategies they use: cost leadership, differentiation, or focus. Describe in detail exactly what each cruise line does that leads you to determine which strategy it uses.

4. SWOT Analysis. Go to Kodak’s web site. Kodak faces an uncertain future, with the advent of digital photography (Kodak has traditionally held the highest market share in film photography). Assess Kodak’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, given the rapid changes in the digital age.

5. Competitive Advantage. Go to the web site of Edmunds . This site provides consumer information about any vehicle, including an objective review of specific makes and models. Read about five car makes and models and determine what kind of competitive advantage each auto manufacturer has.

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