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A competitor develops an alternative type of vacuum cleaner to one produced by your organization. Is this an example of the threat of substitutes, one of the five forces of competition described by competitive forces theory?
Suggested Answer: B, C
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The correct answers are information sharing and trust. Further qualitative KPIs are listed on p.102. Deliveries in full and on time would be a quantitative KPI and early supplier involvement is not a KPI at all.
32 comments · newest first
SC
Scarlet
11 months ago
Yes, customers will switch if they find something better!
SA
Santos
11 months ago
Not sure, but it seems like they serve different needs.
TE
Teddy
12 months ago
Surprised this is even a question, of course it's a substitute!
PE
Peter
12 months ago
I think it's more about new entrants than substitutes.
GA
Gabriele
1 year ago
Definitely a threat of substitutes, people love options!
TO
Tomas
1 year ago
I agree with the first comment. If people can switch to a different vacuum cleaner easily, it seems like a classic case of substitutes.
YE
Yen
1 year ago
This reminds me of a practice question where we discussed how new entrants can affect competition, but I feel like this is more about substitutes.
AR
Arlie
1 year ago
I'm not so sure, though. I remember something about substitutes needing to serve the same purpose, but I can't recall the details.
GE
Gene
1 year ago
I think this is definitely about the threat of substitutes since customers can choose different vacuum cleaners.
DA
Daniel
1 year ago
I think the key here is whether the alternative vacuum cleaner is truly a substitute product. If it serves the same purpose, then A seems like the right answer. But if it's a fundamentally different type of product, then C might be more accurate.
VA
Van
1 year ago
I'm not totally sure about this one. I'd want to look more closely at the definition of the threat of substitutes to see if it really applies in this case. The wording is a bit ambiguous.
CA
Casandra
1 year ago
I'm pretty confident this is an example of the threat of substitutes. Customers can easily switch to the alternative product, so that seems to fit the definition.
NA
Nan
1 year ago
Hmm, I'm a bit confused on this one. I'm not sure if the threat of substitutes is the right concept to apply here. Maybe it's more about new entrants to the market?
LE
Lenora
1 year ago
I think this is a tricky one, but I'm leaning towards A. The key is whether the alternative vacuum cleaner can serve the same purpose as the one produced by the organization.
MA
Man
1 year ago
Ha! Alternative vacuum cleaner? What, is it like a Roomba but also does the dishes? I'd be careful with that one, it might just suck up your entire kitchen!
CH
Chantay
1 year ago
We should keep an eye on it and see how it impacts our market share.
TH
Theron
1 year ago
I agree, if it can do more than just vacuum, it could definitely pose a threat to our product.
AR
Argelia
1 year ago
Haha, that would be something! But yeah, it sounds like a potential threat of substitutes.
WI
Willodean
2 years ago
I'm not sure about that. Doesn't the question mention that the competitor's vacuum cleaner is 'alternative'? Doesn't that mean it might not serve the same purpose? I'd go with C - No, it does not serve the same purpose.
LE
Leonora
1 year ago
C) No, it does not serve the same purpose
DO
Dorthy
1 year ago
B) Yes, there are no barriers to entry; it is an oligopoly
LE
Leota
1 year ago
A) Yes, customers may switch to alternative products
HA
Hailey
2 years ago
I agree with Phuong. This is a classic case of the threat of substitutes, where a competitor's product can potentially replace the one produced by the organization.
JA
Jamal
1 year ago
A) Yes, customers may switch to alternative products
LU
Luisa
1 year ago
B) Yes, there are no barriers to entry; it is an oligopoly
EL
Elli
1 year ago
A) Yes, customers may switch to alternative products
PH
Phuong
2 years ago
The correct answer is A. The development of an alternative vacuum cleaner is definitely an example of the threat of substitutes, as customers may switch to the competitor's product.
AR
Artie
1 year ago
That's right, the threat of substitutes can definitely impact a company's market share
ME
Melina
2 years ago
Yes, customers may switch to alternative products
JA
Jaclyn
2 years ago
A) Yes, customers may switch to alternative products because they offer similar benefits
FR
Franchesca
2 years ago
C) No, it does not serve the same purpose
KA
Kanisha
2 years ago
A) Yes, customers may switch to alternative products