In developing laundry-soap products for a worldwide market,

Question

In developing laundry-soap products for a worldwide market, some companies proceed by the strategy of first ascertaining the preference of each market segment, then seeing which product would, on average, best fit all of the segments.


Which of the following is a questionable assumption made by those adopting the strategy above?


A) With respect to the probable success of this strategy, laundry soap does not differ from most consumer products intended for a broad market.

B)The companies would not achieve better results by tailoring separate products for the conditions under which laundry is done in individual segments of the market.

C)Each segment of the market represents a single country, rather than a group of countries.

D)Withing each market segment, there is currently a single market-leading laundry-soap product that is preferred by most consumers over all others.

E)There are no considerations that tend to support developing a product first and then attempting to influence the preferences of consumers.

allabout · Answer

With respect to limited time... I say E

christoph · Answer

hm ? B ?

plsubbu · Answer

I was thinking B first. But then after reading E I am more inclined towards E. Comparing B and E, B is out of scope. Whether the companies are profitable or notis outside the scope of the argument.

giddi77 · Answer

My take is also E.

In the question: 
In developing laundry-soap products for a worldwide market, some companies proceed by the  strategy  of first ascertaining the preference of each market segment, then seeing which product would, on average, best fit all of the segments. 

Which of the following is a questionable assumption made by those adopting the  strategy  above? 

The STRATEGY being referred to is NOT for:
 1. satisfying the all the market segment
 2. being successful in the market

The STRATEGY refers only to:
1. Determine what market A prefers, market B prefers, market C prefers
2. Find a product that is the average of the preferences A, B & C

Now you should see why B is incorrect.

gamjatang · Answer

B is the right answer.

I personally find this question really really difficult. I guess you are ready for the test now! Go for it and come back with your success story!

plsubbu · Answer

gamjatang,

I was earlier confused between B and E. But now I think B makes sense. Here is my reasoning:

What is the strategy - to make a common product that fits all markets (and not do the survey first and then produce - this is just how to execute the strategy). So the assumption for this strategy must be that one cannot tailor the product to each market.

giddi77 · Answer

Thnaks for clarification plsubbu. Now it makes sense.

hkm_gmat · Answer

1 more for B

andy_gr8 · Answer

My take on B

rlevochkin · Answer

E is the best. It rules out the only alternative.

old_dream_1976 · Answer

The fact the companies are developing a soap for all does not mean they are not developing soap to suit each or assuming that segmentation is impossible. 

It is about the strategy used in developing.

But OA is OA I guess.

shahnandan · Answer

this was harrowing !

Bhai · Answer

Got B.

In developing laundry-soap products for a worldwide market,

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