Driving-forces analysis
a. has no real analytical value because the driving forces are already established in the marketplace and it is too late to make astute and timely strategy adjustments.
b. practical value and is basic to the task of thinking strategically about where the industry is headed and how to prepare for the changes ahead.
c. speculative value because it compels the firm to drive strategic intent and collective choice into operating practices.
d. perceived value and is associated with identifying the close and distant rivals within an operating industry.
e theoretical value because it allows managers to visualize the many different dimensions of the preferred forces that allow for industry functionality.

Fern corporation manufacturers a single product that has a selling price of $20.00 per unit. fixed expenses total $48,000 per year, and the company must sell 6,000 units to break even. if the company has a target profit of $14,000, sales in units must be:

Aprice ceiling is “binding” if the price ceiling is set below the equilibrium price. suppose that the equilibrium price is $5. if a price ceiling is set at $6, this will not affect the market in any way since $5 remains a legally allowable price (since $5 < $6). a price ceiling of $6 is called a “non-binding” price ceiling. on the other hand, if the price ceiling is set at $4, the price ceiling is “binding” because the natural equilibrium price is $5 but that is no longer allowed. what happens when there is a binding price ceiling? at a price below the equilibrium price, quantity demanded exceeds quantity supplied. there is a shortage. normally, price increases eliminate shortages by increasing quantity supplied and decreasing quantity demanded. in this case, however, price increases are not allowed past the price ceiling. we therefore predict that the observed market price will be right at the price ceiling and there will be a permanent shortage. the observed quantity bought and sold will be dictated by the quantity supplied at the price ceiling. although consumers would like to buy more, there are no more units for sale

Sarah salesrep is brand new to her job selling "lifetime" printers that never need replacement ink cartridges. the problem is that these printers cost ten times more than a regular printer, so it is difficult to get prospective buyers to understand the cost savings of buying it. to break through the barrier and begin making sales, sarah should use a analysis that highlights her printer's lower cost.