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MMZG512

This document contains the details of an open book comprehensive examination for a Manufacturing Strategy course taken place on April 21, 2018. It includes 8 questions assessing various concepts from the course ranging from strategic fit, focus and trade-offs, Ikea's business model, strategic intent, tacit knowledge and changing terms of engagement, element of surprise in strategic intent, Apple's mistakes in planning their 1980s Macintosh plant and reasons for potentially relocating production back to the US, and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of Walmart versus Amazon based on a case study. Students have 3 hours to complete the examination.

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136 views

MMZG512

This document contains the details of an open book comprehensive examination for a Manufacturing Strategy course taken place on April 21, 2018. It includes 8 questions assessing various concepts from the course ranging from strategic fit, focus and trade-offs, Ikea's business model, strategic intent, tacit knowledge and changing terms of engagement, element of surprise in strategic intent, Apple's mistakes in planning their 1980s Macintosh plant and reasons for potentially relocating production back to the US, and comparing the strengths and weaknesses of Walmart versus Amazon based on a case study. Students have 3 hours to complete the examination.

Uploaded by

mniteshp
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

Work-Integrated Learning Programmes Division


Second Semester 2017-2018

Comprehensive Examination
(EC-3 Regular)

Course No. : MM ZG512


Course Title : MANUFACTURING STRATEGY
Nature of Exam : Open Book
Weightage : 50% No. of Pages =1
Duration : 3 Hours No. of Questions = 8
Date of Exam : 21/04/2018 (AN)
Note:
1. Please follow all the Instructions to Candidates given on the cover page of the answer book.
2. All parts of a question should be answered consecutively. Each answer should start from a fresh page.
3. Assumptions made if any, should be stated clearly at the beginning of your answer.

Q.1. Why is it not easy to emulate the success of a company that has achieved strategic fit?
Briefly discuss the Type 2 of Strategic Fit giving a suitable example [3 + 3 + 1 = 7]

Q.2. Discuss the role of focus and trade-offs, as suggested by Porter, in the development of
strategy highlighting why these are important to a strategy. [3 + 3 = 6]

Q.3. How does Ikea use the concept of fit and focus in the way in which it operates? [3 + 3 = 6]

Q.4. Why is the traditional approach to strategy development considered static? Discuss how
strategic intent overcomes this shortcoming? [3 + 4 = 7]

Q.5. Discuss the following in your own words using any suitable examples
(a) Tacit knowledge
(b) Changing the terms of engagement [3 + 3 = 6]

Q.6. How does the element of surprise work in Strategic Intent? Please state in your own words
and not reproduce class notes. Use suitable examples where appropriate. [4 + 1 = 5]

Q.7. Answer the following questions with regard to the case study on Apple Foxconn plant
discussed in class:
(a) According to the author, what were some of the mistakes made by Apple in the
planning and design of the Macintosh plant in the 1980s? [4]
(b) Why, according to the author, might it make sense to relocate the manufacturing
plant back to the US at present? [4]

Q.8. Based on the Walmart vs. Amazon case study what are the strengths and weaknesses of
Walmart as compared to Amazon ? [5]

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