$1-$ hoosing which processes are core to a firm$$s competitive position is a key strategic decision. For example, Nike, a popular sports shoe company, focuses on the customer relationships, new product development, and supplier relationship processes and leaves the order fulfillment process to others. Allen Edmonds, a top$-$quality shoe company, considers all four processes to be core processes. What considerations would you make in determining which processes should be core to your manufacturing company?

$2-$ A local fast$-$food restaurant processes several customer orders at once. Service clerks cross paths, sometimes nearly colliding, while they trace different paths to fill customer orders. If customers order a special combination of toppings on their hamburgers, they must wait quite some time while the special order is cooked. How would you modify the restaurant$$s operations to achieve competitive advantage? Because demand surges at lunchtime, volume flexibility is a competitive priority in the fast$-$food business. How would you achieve volume flexibility?

$3-$ Kathryn Shoemaker established Grandmother$$s Chicken Restaurant in Middlesburg $5$ years ago. It features a unique recipe for chicken, $$just like grandmother used to make.$$ The facility is homey, with relaxed and friendly service. Business has been good during the past $2$ years, for both lunch and dinner. Customers normally wait about $15$ minutes to be served, although complaints about service delays have increased recently. Shoemake ris currently considering whether to expand the cur$-$rent facility or open a similar restaurant in neighboring Uniontown, which has been growing rapidly.

a$.$ What types of strategic plans must Shoemaker make?