Functional strategies to improve differentiation should include:
A) product offerings designed to be can be produced and delivered at as low a cost as possible
B) standardization of the product offering and marketing mix to different market segments.
C) hiring and employee development strategies designed to ensure that employees act in a manner that is consistent with the image that the company is trying to project to the world.
D) initiation of a price war in order to grow volume and drive its weaker rivals out of the industry.
E) products that have lower prices to allow a company to erect an economic moat around its business that keeps higher-cost rivals out.

Question

Functional strategies to improve differentiation should include: 
A) product offerings designed to be can be produced and delivered at as low a cost as possible
B) standardization of the product offering and marketing mix to different market segments.
C) hiring and employee development strategies designed to ensure that employees act in a manner that is consistent with the image that the company is trying to project to the world.
D) initiation of a price war in order to grow volume and drive its weaker rivals out of the industry.
E) products that have lower prices to allow a company to erect an economic moat around its business that keeps higher-cost rivals out.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Hiring and employee development strategies designed to ensure that employees act in a manner that is consistent with the image that the company is trying to project to the world will help to create and maintain a strong brand image and therefore improve differentiation. A is incorrect because a low cost is not necessarily associated with differentiation. B is incorrect because standardization does not allow for customization and differentiation to specific market segments. D is incorrect because a price war decreases profitability and can hurt brand image. E is incorrect because low prices may imply a lower quality product, which does not improve differentiation.

Functional Strategies to Improve Differentiation Should Include