Final answer:
Among the options provided, extended portfolio analysis is the method that helps to select business profiles including aggressive, competitive, conservative and defensive. It is a comprehensive tool that assesses the strategic position of a business unit or product and informs strategy alignment based on market growth and competitive strength. a. product life cycle analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about methods that provide guidance to selecting different business profiles such as aggressive, competitive, conservative, and defensive. Among the options given, the method that aligns most closely with these profiles is extended portfolio analysis. Extended portfolio analysis is a more comprehensive version of the basic portfolio analysis that includes additional factors and criteria to assess the strategic position of a business unit or a product. It helps in decision-making about resource allocation and strategic direction. On the other hand, product life cycle analysis typically involves understanding the stages a product goes through from introduction to decline, strategic position and action evaluation (SPACE) technique involves analyzing a company's strategic direction based on internal and external factors, and needs/capacity assessment is more about understanding the gap between what an organization needs and what it can deliver.
For example, in an extended portfolio analysis, a business might be plotted on a matrix where one axis represents market growth and the other represents competitive strength. Depending on its position in the matrix, a company can determine whether it should adopt an aggressive, competitive, conservative, or defensive strategy. Consequently, organizations use this analysis to align their strategy with their current market position and competitive capabilities.