Using the methodology illustrated in Table 4.3 and your knowledge as an automobile owner, prepare a competitive strength assessment for General Motors and its rivals Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda. Each of the five automobile manufactures should be evaluated on the key success factors/strengths measures of cost competitiveness, product-line breadth, product quality and reliability, financial resources and profitability, and customer service. What does your competitive strength assessment disclose about the overall competitiveness of each automobile manufacturer? What factors account most of Toyotas competitive success? Does Toyota have competitive weakness that were disclosed by your analysis? Explain?

TABLE 4.3 illustration of a Competitive Strength Assessment ABC CO. RIVAL 1 RIVAL 2 RI Key Success Factor/Strength Measure Importance Weight Strength Rating Score Strength Rating Score Strength Rating Score Strength Quality/product performance 0.10 8 0.80 5 0.50 10 1.00 1 Reputation/image 0.10 8 0.80 7 0.70 10 1.00 1 Manufacturing capability 010 2 0.20 10 1.00 4 0.40 5 | Technological skills 0,05 10 0.50 1 0.05 7 0.35 3 Dealer network/distribution capability 0.05 9 0.45 4 0.20 10 0.50 5 New product innovation capability 0.05 9 0.45 4 0.20 10 0.50 5 Financial resources 0.10 5 0.50 10 1.00 7 0.70 3 Relative cost position 0.30 5 1.50 10 3.00 3 0.90 1 Customer service capabilities 0.15 5 0.75 10 7 1.05 10 1.50 1 Sum of importance weights 1.00 Weighted overall strength rating 5.95 7.70 6.85 (Rating scale: 1 = very weak: 10 - very strong)