UMSD7T-15-3: STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT

SECTION A

Answer the ONE question

1. CEMEX’s executive team are reviewing three of their CSR collaborations:

a. Support for the UK’s Royal Society for the Protection of Birds in providing “space for nature” by converting and handing over their old quarries.

b. Supporting the Global Alliance for Youth launched in Davos in 2019. It aims to providing young people across Globe with Digital, Soft Skills, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), and Career Advice and to encourage Entrepreneurship.

c. Working with a consortium of global construction companies and other concrete manufacturers to create road construction techniques that required less concrete.

Critically discuss, using Porter and Kramer’s CSV framework, if CEMEX should continue each of these partnerships or divert funds to other social initiatives. (Up to 1000 words)

SECTION B

Answer TWO questions selected from the 4 options

2. The RBV theory suggests that sustainable competitive advantage comes from the resources the firm owns. Critically review this claim. Illustrate your answer using examples from the CEMEX case study. (Up to 1000 words)

3. Critically assess if Netflix created Blue Ocean space (Kim and Mauborgne, 2005) with their online streaming service. (Up to 1000 words)

4. Critically assess Esquel’s ownership of a retail operation using Campbell, Gould and Alexander’s (1995) parenting matrix. (Up to 1000 words)

5. Porter (1996, 2014) argues that sustainable competitive advantage is the result of choice of position and not operational efficiency. Critically discuss this statement using the example of Jet Blue’s new Mint concept. (Up to 1000 words)