Case Scenario 3: B.B. Mangler.
B.B. Mangler is a top U.S. business-to-business distributor of maintenance, repair, and service equipment, components, and supplies such as compressors, motors, signs, lighting and welding equipment, and hand and power tools. Customers include contractors, service and maintenance shops, manufacturers, hotels, government, and health care and educational facilities. Mangler's industry is typically referred to as MRO, an acronym for maintenance, repair, and supplies. Mangler states its strategy as having the "capacity to quickly offer an unmatched breadth of lowest total cost MRO solutions to business." Mangler's GoMRO sourcing center for indirect spot buys locates products through its unique database of 8,000 suppliers and 5 million products. Mangler also dominates the North American market in terms of its sheer local physical presence. It has 388 physical branches in the U.S. largest cities, including Puerto Rico (90 percent of sales), 184 in Canada, and 5 in Mexico. This physical presence also has garnered Mangler a reputation for excellent, dependable service in its target markets, which in turn translates into a vast and loyal clientele.
-(Refer to Case Scenario 3). Mangler's physical locations are best an example of
A) a core competency.
B) a capability.
C) an intangible resource.
D) a tangible resource.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Mangler's physical locations are a tangible resource because they are physical assets that can be seen and touched. They provide Mangler with a physical presence that allows for excellent and dependable service, which has contributed to an extensive and loyal clientele.