Final answer:
The answer to the student's question is a growth strategy. This strategy is focused on increasing a company's market presence and financial standings, as opposed to cutting back operations or assets which would be seen in divestment or retrenchment strategies. b. growth
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of a growth strategy is to increase profits, revenues, market share, or the number of places (stores, offices, locations) in which the company does business. This strategy differs significantly from others such as divestment which involves cutting back on certain business units, assets, or divisions to streamline operations or refocus the company's mission; or retrenchment which is about reducing scope and scale in response to financial hardships, and not necessarily aiming for growth at the time.
John D. Rockefeller, for instance, used strategies such as horizontal integration and vertical integration, which are different forms of growth strategies, instead of divestment or retrenchment. Moreover, franchises like McDonald's exemplify growth strategies by offering similar products across multiple locations, effectively increasing their market share and presence. This approach is often associated with economies of scale, well-established brand names, and sometimes an aggressive stance on price competition. Each growth strategy is aimed at expanding a company's influence and financial success in its market.