MNG4801
EXAM PACK
,Critically discuss Discovery’s international expansion. Begin by identifying and
discussing thestrategy used by Discovery to enter foreign markets. As part of
your discussion, brieflydiscuss the advantages and disadvantages of the strategy
,used by Discovery to enterforeign markets. You need to support your discussion
by integrating the relevant theory in your discussion with practical examples
from the case study. <Your answer should not exceed 1 page> Total: [10]
Question 3: 3.Critically evaluate Adrian Gore as a strategic leader. As part of
your answer evaluate AdrianGore’s emotional intelligence competencies as a
strategic leader and identify and criticallydiscuss Adrian Gore’s leadership style.
Comment on whether Adrian Gore’s leadership style isappropriate according to
the cultural conditioning of leadership behaviour. You need to support your
discussion by integrating the relevant theory in your discussion with practical
examples from the case study. <Your answer should not exceed 2 pages> Total:
[16] 26 MNG4801/103/0/2023
Question 4: 4.Critically discuss the role technology plays in creating
organisational alignment in strategy implementation. As part of your answer,
discuss the advantages of being a technological leader, through early adoption,
and apply your answer to the Discovery case study.In addition to incorporating
and referencing theory from your prescribed material into your answer for
Question 4, you must locate, incorporate, and reference 1 (one) applicable
academic article of your choice (published after 2017) from the Unisa Library
into your discussion. You need to support your discussion by integrating the
relevant theory in your discussion with practical examples from the case study.
<Your answer should not exceed 1.5 pages> Total: [12]
Question 5: 5. Critically evaluate Discovery’s risk management during the
COVID-19 pandemic. As part ofyour evaluation, introduce and briefly discuss
the four steps of managing strategic risk andapply them to the Discovery case
study. You need to support your discussion by integrating therelevant theory in
your discussion with practical examples from the case study. <Your answer
should not exceed 1.5 pages> Total: [12]
, Question 6: 6.Briefly answer these reflection questions: •While doing the
assignment, did you realize that there is a gap between the theories andpractical
application (i.e., how it is done in practice?) •If yes, what do you think this
means?
Question 2: Discovery's International Expansion Strategy
Discovery, a South African financial services company, pursued international
expansion with a strategic approach. One of its key strategies was forming
partnerships and acquisitions to establish a global presence.
Advantages of this strategy:
1. Market Entry: Partnering with established companies in target markets
allowed Discovery to enter foreign markets quickly without the need for
significant market research and infrastructure setup. For example, its joint
venture with Ping An in China gave it access to a vast customer base.
2. Local Expertise: Collaborating with local companies provided
Discovery with valuable insights into local customer preferences,
regulations, and market dynamics. This local knowledge reduced the risks
associated with entering unfamiliar markets.
3. Risk Sharing: Sharing the financial burden and risk with partners
minimized the exposure to losses, especially in highly competitive and
risky markets.
Disadvantages of this strategy:
1. Control: Entering into partnerships means sharing decision-making
authority and operational control. This can lead to conflicts and
challenges in aligning strategies.
