Market Research & Competitive Analysis Flashcards
7 cards from real CES practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Market Research & Competitive Analysis flashcards as text
Which analytical tool maps a company's strengths and weaknesses against external opportunities and threats to guide export market strategy?
Answer: SWOT analysis
SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is a foundational strategic planning tool that assesses both internal capabilities and external market conditions.
A U.S. exporter discovers that a competing foreign supplier offers identical products at prices below the cost of production in the foreign country. This practice is known as:
Answer: Dumping
Dumping occurs when a foreign producer exports goods at prices below their home market price or below cost of production, and it can be countered by antidumping duties.
What does a high 'market concentration ratio' (CR4 > 80%) in an export target market imply for a new entrant?
Answer: Difficult entry because four firms dominate 80%+ of the market
A high CR4 means four firms control most of the market, signaling an oligopolistic structure where new entrants face significant barriers and established competitor advantages.
Which International Trade Administration (ITA) program connects U.S. exporters with pre-screened potential foreign buyers, distributors, and agents through in-country events?
Answer: Gold Key Matching Service
The U.S. Commercial Service's Gold Key Matching Service arranges pre-screened meetings with potential partners in a foreign market, helping exporters find qualified business contacts.
When assessing an export market's 'infrastructure readiness,' which factor is LEAST relevant to a digital software company's market entry decision?
Answer: Deep-water port capacity and container throughput
Deep-water port capacity is critical for physical goods logistics but largely irrelevant for a digital software company that delivers products electronically.
The 'country risk' rating provided by the OECD's Export Credit Agencies helps exporters primarily with:
Answer: Assessing the creditworthiness and political stability affecting export payment risk
OECD country risk classifications (0–7) guide export credit agencies in setting minimum premium rates for export credit insurance, reflecting payment and political risk.
A U.S. company conducting primary market research in Japan uses a survey instrument developed in English and translated into Japanese. The BEST practice to ensure translation accuracy is:
Answer: Use back-translation by having a second translator render the Japanese back into English
Back-translation involves a second, independent translator converting the target-language version back to the source language, revealing discrepancies and ensuring conceptual equivalence.