Susan is aware of benchmarking as a useful input into performance measurement and strategic change.(b) Assess the contribution benchmarking could make to improving the position of the Marlow Fashion Groupand any limitations to its usefulness. (8 marks)
Susan is aware of benchmarking as a useful input into performance measurement and strategic change.
(b) Assess the contribution benchmarking could make to improving the position of the Marlow Fashion Group
and any limitations to its usefulness. (8 marks)
相关考题：
4 Susan Grant is in something of a dilemma. She has been invited to join the board of the troubled Marlow FashionGroup as a non-executive director, but is uncertain as to the level and nature of her contribution to the strategicthinking of the Group.The Marlow Fashion Group had been set up by a husband and wife team in the 1970s in an economically depressedpart of the UK. They produced a comprehensive range of women’s clothing built round the theme of traditional Englishstyle. and elegance. The Group had the necessary skills to design, manufacture and retail its product range. TheMarlow brand was quickly established and the company built up a loyal network of suppliers, workers in the companyfactory and franchised retailers spread around the world. Marlow Fashion Group’s products were able to commandpremium prices in the world of fashion. Rodney and Betty Marlow ensured that their commitment to traditional valuescreated a strong family atmosphere in its network of partners and were reluctant to change this.Unfortunately, changes in the market for women’s wear presented a major threat to Marlow Fashion. Firstly, womenhad become a much more active part of the workforce and demanded smarter, more functional outfits to wear at work.Marlow Fashion’s emphasis on soft, feminine styles became increasingly dated. Secondly, the tight control exercisedby Betty and Rodney Marlow and their commitment to control of design, manufacturing and retailing left themvulnerable to competitors who focused on just one of these core activities. Thirdly, there was a reluctance by theMarlows and their management team to acknowledge that a significant fall in sales and profits were as a result of afundamental shift in demand for women’s clothing. Finally, the share price of the company fell dramatically. Betty andRodney Marlow retained a significant minority ownership stake, but the company had had a new Chief ExecutiveOfficer every year since 2000.Required:(a) Write a short report to Susan Grant identifying and explaining the strategic strengths and weaknesses in theMarlow Fashion Group. (12 marks)
(c) Identify and evaluate other strategic options ONA could consider to address the airline’s current financial andoperational weaknesses.Note: requirement (c) includes 2 professional marks (10 marks)
(b) Good Sports Limited has successfully followed a niche strategy to date.Assess the extent to which an appropriate e-business strategy could help support such a niche strategy.(8 marks)
(b) Assess the extent to which social responsibility issues could and should affect his decision to move into thenew product area. (8 marks)
(b) Using relevant evaluation criteria, assess how achievable and compatible these three strategic goals are overthe next five years. (20 marks)
(b) Assess the likely strategic impact of the new customer delivery system on Supaserve’s activities and its abilityto differentiate itself from its competitors. (10 marks)
(b) Ratio analysis in general can be useful in comparing the performance of two companies, but it has its limitations.Required:State and briefly explain three factors which can cause accounting ratios to be misleading when used forsuch comparison. (6 marks)
(b) ‘Strategic positioning’ is about the way that a company as a whole is placed in its environment and concerns its‘fit’ with the factors in its environment.With reference to the case as appropriate, explain how a code of ethics can be used as part of a company’soverall strategic positioning. (7 marks)
(c) (i) Using ONLY the above information, assess the competitive position of Diverse Holdings Plc.(7 marks)
(b) Discuss the relevance of each of the following actions as steps in trying to remedy performance measurementproblems relating to the ‘365 Sports Complex’ and suggest examples of specific problem classifications thatmay be reduced or eliminated by each action:(i) Focusing on and improving the measurement of customer satisfaction(ii) Involving staff at all levels in the development and implementation of performance measures(iii) Being flexible in the extent to which formal performance measures are relied on(iv) Giving consideration to the auditing of the performance measurement system. (8 marks)
(b) Discuss ways in which the traditional budgeting process may be seen as a barrier to the achievement of theaims of EACH of the following models for the implementation of strategic change:(i) benchmarking;(ii) balanced scorecard; and(iii) activity-based models. (12 marks)
(c) Excluding the number of complaints by patients, identify and briefly explain THREE quantitativenon-financial performance measures that could be used to assess the ‘quality of service’ provided by theDental Health Partnership. (3 marks)
(c) Explain the term ‘target costing’ and how it may be applied by GWCC. Briefly discuss any potentiallimitations in its application. (8 marks)
(c) Discuss TWO limitations of the Boston Consulting Group matrix as a strategic planning tool. (4 marks)
(ii) Briefly explain the extent to which the application of sensitivity analysis might be useful in decidingwhich refrigeration system to purchase and discuss the limitations inherent in its use. (3 marks)
5 GE Railways plc (GER) operates a passenger train service in Holtland. The directors have always focused solely onthe use of traditional financial measures in order to assess the performance of GER since it commenced operationsin 1992. The Managing Director of GER has asked you, as a management accountant, for assistance with regard tothe adoption of a balanced scorecard approach to performance measurement within GER.Required:(a) Prepare a memorandum explaining the potential benefits and limitations that may arise from the adoption ofa balanced scorecard approach to performance measurement within GER. (8 marks)
(ii) Suggest THREE other performance measures (not applied in (i)) which might be used to assess thecustomer perspective of the balanced scorecard of GER. (3 marks)
(ii) Briefly discuss THREE disadvantages of using EVA? in the measurement of financial performance.(3 marks)
Note: requirement (a) includes 4 professional marks.A central feature of the performance measurement system at TSC is the widespread use of league tables that displayeach depot’s performance relative to one another.Required:(b) Evaluate the potential benefits and problems associated with the use of ‘league tables’ as a means ofmeasuring performance. (6 marks)
(d) Suggest a set of SIX performance measures which the directors of SSH could use in order to assess thequality of service provided to its clients. (3 marks)
(c) You have just been advised of management’s intention to publish its yearly marketing report in the annual reportthat will contain the financial statements for the year ending 31 December 2005. Extracts from the marketingreport include the following:‘Shire Oil Co sponsors national school sports championships and the ‘Shire Ward’ at the national teachinghospital. The company’s vision is to continue its investment in health and safety and the environment.‘Our health and safety, security and environmental policies are of the highest standard in the energy sector. Weaim to operate under principles of no-harm to people and the environment.‘Shire Oil Co’s main contribution to sustainable development comes from providing extra energy in a cleaner andmore socially responsible way. This means improving the environmental and social performance of ouroperations. Regrettably, five employees lost their lives at work during the year.’Required:Suggest performance indicators that could reflect the extent to which Shire Oil Co’s social and environmentalresponsibilities are being met, and the evidence that should be available to provide assurance on theiraccuracy. (6 marks)
The earned value technique is a commonly used method of performance measurement．It integrates project scope，schedule，and cost measures to help the project management team assess project performance．If a project’s Cost Performance Index(CPI＝EV/AC)value less than 1．0，it means that（ ）。 A．the cost savings for work completed B．the project is ahead of its planned schedule C．the cost overrun for work completed D．1ess work was completed than was planned
The earned value technique is a commonlyused method of performance measurement． It integrates project scope, cost, andschedule measures to help the project management team assess projectperformance．If a project’s Schedule Performance Index（SPI=EV/PV） value less than 1.0, itmeans that （74）．A.the project is ahead of its planned scheduleB.less work was completed than was plannedC.the cost overrun for work completedD.the cost under-run of performance to date
The earned value technique is a commonly used method of performance measurement． It integrates project scope, cost, and schedule measures to help the project management team assess project performancIf a project’s Schedule Performance Index（SPI=EV/PV） value less than 1．0, it means that __（74）__．A.the project is ahead of its planned scheduleB.less work was completed than was plannedC.the cost overrun for work completedD.the cost under-run of performance to date
The earned value technique is a commonly used method of performance measurement. It integrates project scope, cost, and schedule measures to help the project management team assess project performance. If a project’s Schedule Performance Index（SPI=EV/PV） value less than1.0, it means that_（）.A.the project is a head of its planned scheduleB.less work was completed than was plannedC.the cost overrun for work completedD.the cost under-run of performance to date
单选题Which of the following benchmarking ratings cover essentially the same performance metrics associated with commercial applications for IBM UNIX systems？（）A AB BC CD D