Question

For this question, consider a manufacturer of wall calendars. A cost leadership strategy would be oriented around mass producing calendars. Responsiveness would be oriented around being flexible and changing designs/themes as the market changes and always having calendars available for sale (reliable response). A differentiation strategy would be through unique and customizable product design. This would also create a production that is like that of a craftsman rather than mass production where customers will be able to design and have produced a custom product. You are hiring personnel to work on the Wall Calendar Production Line. Your decision depends on the operations strategy. Match the appropriate decision with the strategy:

Differentiation
Cost Leadership
Responsiveness (flexible response)
A. Hire artists to create unique calendars.
B. Hire workers who will be cross trained, so they can be scheduled to do various positions.
C. Hire low skilled labor, like high school grads, to run machines for printing and cutting.

Answer 1

Matching the appropriate decision with the appropriate strategy:

A. Hire artists to create unique calendars.

= Differentiation

B. Hire workers who will be cross trained, so they can be scheduled to do various positions.

= Responsiveness (flexible response)

C. Hire low skilled labor, like high school grads, to run machines for printing and cutting.

= Cost Leadership

Step-by-step explanation:

A differentiation strategy aims to provide customers with unique, different, and distinct goods and services, unlike the competitors may offer in the marketplace. It increases competitive advantage.

A cost leadership strategy is employed to reduce production and product costs. It encourages mass production.

A responsiveness strategy is flexible. It tries to match the needs of customers with a company's production activities.