When devising a new strategy, it is best to start with________.

a. an operational plan

b. a tactical plan

c. a tactic plan

d. strategy formulation

e. a SWOT analysis

Neal is the head of the marketing department in his organization. Under his guidance, marketing supervisors have developed an operational plan to support the organization's goals. Stage 1 is a three-month national media blast to pump information into the market for the purpose of increasing brand awareness. This media blast has a narrow focus and involves only a few key activities, and it will not be repeated. Which type of single-use plan is the marketing department using at this stage?

a. Project

b. Policy

c. Standing plan

d. Contingency plan

e. Program

Jones International is a large organization with holdings in the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The corporation's mix of strategic business units (SBUs) allows the company to exploit its strengths and capabilities in more than one line of business and to exploit synergies across business lines. One of the disadvantages of Jones International's strategy is that it________.

a. increases overhead costs

b. increases the company's dependence on the success of its largest SBU

c. exploits the strengths of competitors

d. increases management complexity

e. increases economic risk