Strategy in Action at Panera Bread

The importance of formal planning in organizations has grown dramatically. Companies have found that they can achieve competitive advantage through the formal six-step strategic planning process. Answer questions about how Ron Shaich and Panera Bread use this strategic process.

Planning is not an informal or haphazard response to a crisis; it is a purposeful effort that is directed and controlled by managers and often draws on the knowledge and experience of employees throughout the organization. Because planning is an important management function, managers at all three levels use it. To be fully effective, the organization’s strategic, tactical, and operational goals and plans must be aligned. The strategic management process has six major components, beginning with the establishment of the mission, vision, and goals of the company and ending with strategic control.

Click the ► button to watch the video. Then, answer the questions that follow.

The narrator describes how someone creates the mission while someone else identifies the steps that make the mission happen. The steps are known as what? 

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strategic vision

strategy stepping

strategic mapping

strategic controls

strategy implementation

At Panera, the video just described how the top management, middle management, and frontline staff all execute the same strategy. The managers are performing which of the following? 

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strategic visioning

strategic planning

misalignment

mission

alignment

What type of planning is Ron Shaich responsible for? 

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strategic planning

consumer planning

tactical planning

vendor planning

operational planning

The video just identified Kelly Goodwin as a general (frontline) manager. She most likely is focused on which of the following types of planning?

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strategic

supply chain

tactical

operational

Ron Shaich visits the stores frequently, as we’ve just seen. Kelly Goodwin, a store manager, just described how she’s seen him in the store as well. These store visits are a type of 

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decision-making strategy. 

functional strategy. 

differentiation strategy. 

strategic control. 

micromanagement. 

Ron Shaich is describing how he and his team evaluated their different businesses and sold off some of them. According to the BCG matrix, which portfolio category should be analyzed for possible sale? 

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cash cows

question marks

stars

dogs

BCGs

What is it called when Ron and his team look over sales figures across all businesses? 

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strategic implementation

corporate strategy

strategic control

differentiation strategy

establishment of goals

While Panera’s core business revolves around fresh bread, the style of the locations suggests there is substantial revenue in selling

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salads. 

None of these answer choices 

donuts. 

coffee and related drinks. 

Ron Shaich talks about the importance of doing a SWOT analysis. A SWOT analysis helps managers 

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move into new markets. 

develop their core competencies. 

obtain their goals and objectives. 

identify the primary and secondary strategic issues their organization faces. 

benchmark their organization against other industries. 

Julie is a middle manager. Which type of planning is she most likely focused on? 

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strategic

operational

tactical

supply chain

competitor

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