Classmate Replies: For this Discussion, you will reply to your classmates in this way:Comment specifically on letter C of your classmate's post.  Describe why you agree or disagree with your classmate's assessment, and support your response with course materials.  How to Reply - Substantive Replies: Substantive replies to classmates are expected for this Discussion. That means that comments like "Great Post" or "I agree" will NOT count toward a substantive reply. A substantive reply MUST use support from course materials, which means APA citations and references. For this discussion, you will reply to your classmates as indicated above in Classmate Replies.  How Many Replies to Classmates? Read the grading rubric carefully. The rubric points out the major criteria, including response frequency and timeliness, that will be used to grade this assignment.  Note that you cannot earn maximum grades for the frequency of posting by responding to only 2 classmates. You are required to respond substantively to 4 classmates to maximize your grade in this area. (See explanation above about what "respond substantively" means in this class.) Other Writing Guidelines for this Discussion: · Use the grading rubric while completing the project to ensure all requirements are met to lead to the highest possible grade.   · Third-person writing is required. The third person means no words such as "I, me, my, we, or us" (first-person writing). · Contractions are not often used in business writing, so do not use them here.  · Paraphrase - do not use direct quotations. This means that you will put the ideas of an author or article into your own words rather than lift them directly from a source document. You may not use more than four consecutive words from a source document (including the case scenario) or change words in a passage as doing so would require direct quotation marks.  Use a passage from a source document by putting it into your own words (paraphrase) and attribute the passage to the source document. Changing words from a  passage does not exclude the passage from having to have quotation marks. If direct quotes are presented, they will not be included in the grading. · Use in-text citations and provide a reference list that contains a reference associated with each in-text citation.  · Only course materials (from this course's content) may be used. Sources other than this course's eBook or the course materials listed under content will not be considered sources of support. · Provide the page or paragraph number in every in-text citation presented. Refer to this link for more guidance on how to do this:   In-Text Citations - Including Page or Paragraph Numbers. DOUGLAS’S POST: TO:  Joan Smithfield FROM:  Doug Fleming DATE: September 2, 2022 SUBJECT:  Future Diversification Strategy of Smithfield Custom Furniture Analysis A)        Porter’s Competitive Advantage model focuses a company’s efforts toward a ...

1. Classmate Replies:
For this Discussion, you will reply to your classmates in this
way:Comment specifically on letter C of your classmate's post.
Describe why you agree or disagree with your
classmate's assessment, and support your response with course
materials.
How to Reply - Substantive Replies:
Substantive replies to classmates are expected for this
Discussion. That means that comments like "Great Post" or "I
agree" will NOT count toward a substantive reply. A
substantive reply MUST use support from course materials,
which means APA citations and references. For this discussion,
you will reply to your classmates as indicated above in
Classmate Replies.
How Many Replies to Classmates?
Read the grading rubric carefully. The rubric points out the
major criteria, including response frequency and timeliness, that
will be used to grade this assignment. Note that you cannot
earn maximum grades for the frequency of posting by
responding to only 2 classmates. You are required to respond
substantively to 4 classmates to maximize your grade in this
area. (See explanation above about what "respond
substantively" means in this class.)
Other Writing Guidelines for this Discussion:
· Use the grading rubric while completing the project to ensure
all requirements are met to lead to the highest possible grade.
· Third-person writing is required. The third person means no
words such as "I, me, my, we, or us" (first-person writing).
· Contractions are not often used in business writing, so do not
use them here.
· Paraphrase - do not use direct quotations. This means that you
will put the ideas of an author or article into your own words
rather than lift them directly from a source document. You may
not use more than four consecutive words from a source

2. document (including the case scenario) or change words in a
passage as doing so would require direct quotation marks. Use
a passage from a source document by putting it into your own
words (paraphrase) and attribute the passage to the source
document. Changing words from a
passage does not exclude the passage from having to
have quotation marks. If direct quotes are presented, they will
not be included in the grading.
· Use in-text citations and provide a reference list that contains
a reference associated with each in-text citation.
· Only course materials (from this course's content) may be
used. Sources other than this course's eBook or the course
materials listed under content will not be considered sources of
support.
· Provide the page or paragraph number in every in-text citation
presented. Refer to this link for more guidance on how to do
this:
In-Text Citations - Including Page or Paragraph
Numbers.
DOUGLAS’S POST:
TO: Joan Smithfield
FROM: Doug Fleming
DATE: September 2, 2022
SUBJECT: Future Diversification Strategy of Smithfield
Custom Furniture
Analysis
A) Porter’s Competitive Advantage model focuses a
company’s efforts toward a competitive advantage in two
specific ways with two focuses in each area. The first area is
market scope, where the focus is on either a specific market
segment or the broad/overall market segment. The second is
cost focused, where the focus is on a higher cost niche market
product or a lower cost mass marketed product (Lumen
Learning, n.d., para. 9). When using this model to determine the

3. best course of action for Smithfield Furniture, the choice is
between mass produced, lowest cost furniture marketed to the
general population or the targeting of a very specific market, in
this case the top 7.5% of the world’s top earners, to produce a
very high quality, even exotic, product.
B) Of the two alternatives listed above, the best strategy
would be to start producing a separate product line of
readymade, mass produced products and furniture under a
separate name brand that would still be under the Smithfield
Furniture umbrella. This way, customers do not get confused
about the current product line versus this new, lower cost mass
produced product line that would be marketed and sold in a
different way. With the company’s production capacity not a
maximum, this leaves room for the manufacturing plants to
produce multiple products with some increase in production
costs since the factories, other fixed costs, and personnel are
already being paid by the company. Other than the increased
cost of raw products and those slight increases in production
cost, it would be easy to pivot some other of those stagnant
resources to producing these mass-produced products. As
compared to producing high-end furniture for the world’s top
7.5% of income earners, this market would focus on people that
have very high expectations and, in most cases, are looking for
custom made or unique pieces of furniture that, although
purchased at high price, would not necessarily increase profits
greatly since the quality of raw goods would be great and the
market small.
C) For Smithfield’s product line to diversify, an
examination of production capacity and distribution costs must
be made, as well as a market analysis, to determine strengths
and weakness of each line. The best starting point to move
forward with starting a new market line of massed produced
furniture under a separate name would be to conduct an Internal
Factor Evaluation (IFE) of the company’s internal strengths and
weakness. (Maxi-Pedia, 2017, para. 2-4). After completing this
list, input each into an IFE matrix. This is similar to a SWOT

4. analysis but gives each component a numerical value and allows
for a company to quickly evaluate if internal work needs to be
done before starting on a new product line (Maxi-Pedia, 2017,
para. 13,16)
In conjunction with an IFE matrix evaluation, a competitive
profile matrix (CPM) needs to be completed to evaluate the
competition within this new market and how Smithfield as an
organization compares to them. Similar to the IFE but done with
a specific set of internal and external factors for this new
market, the CPM is conducted for all companies, including
Smithfield Furniture, that are in this market (Jurevicius, 2022,
para. 1, 2).
This will provide a realistic and numerical comparison of all
companies in the marketplace today using the same scale and
system, thus providing a matrix for deciding what products to
produce and where best to market them as compared to what the
competition is currently doing. It will identify where there are
areas to explore and to be exploited (Jurevicius, 2022, para. 7).
References
Jurevicius, O. (2022).
Competitive profile matrix (CPM). Strategic
Management Insight.
https://strategicmanagementinsight.com/tools/competitive-
profile-matrix-cpm/
Lumen Learning. (n.d.). Module 4: Environments and strategic
management, stages, and types of strategy.
Principles of
Management.https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-
principlesofmanagement/chapter/stages-and-types-of-strategy/
Maxi-Pedia. (2017).
IFE matrix (internal factor
evaluation).http://www.maxi-
pedia.com/IFE+EFE+matrix+internal+factor+evaluation
Saylor Foundation (2014). Mastering Strategic Management.

5. Mastering Strategy: Art and Science (pp. 1-36).
https://leocontent.umgc.edu/content/dam/equella-
content/bmgt495/Chapter_1Mastering_Strategy.pdf
MARCEL’S POST:
A. Explain, using the link provided to Porter's
Competitive Advantage Model, how Porter's Competitive
Advantage model applies to the Smithfield's Board of Directors'
issue of deciding to produce a very exclusive furniture line or a
mass-produced, mass-marketed furniture product line. Use in-
text citations as appropriate.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-
principlesofmanagement/chapter/stages-and-types-of-strategy/
The scenario stated that Smithfield's custom furniture board all
agreed on a new line of furniture. The company is not sure what
the new line will be but is discussing whether the new line
should be low cost and mass produced or high cost with
expensive products and advertising to the higher upper class. In
this situation it is important to know what type of competitive
advantage the company is looking for. According to Porters
model he states that there are two different ways of have a
competitive advantage which are differentiation or by cost
(Lumen Learning, n.d., para. 9). This ties very well into the
situation with Smithfield's custom furniture. The company
wants to either make low cost products on a vast production
scale or high end products for a small group of customers.
B. Select the best strategy for the Smithfield company to pursue
from the two strategies Porter presents in his model and explain
why that particular strategy is better than the alternative.
After consideration of both options it would be more
advantageous for the company to go with a low cost high
products at mass production option. When taking a look ar
Porters advantage strategies it appears that the low price
leadership strategy is the most effective and appropriate in this
case. Smithfield's custom furniture company is looking to gain a
advantage over their competition. Going with the low cost
strategy is a great way to reach and provide a larger customer

6. base. If the company chooses to go with products sold at the
lowest price in combination of mass production and mass
marketing the company will experience more benefits. Porter
stated that the lower cost strategy will attract the majority of
customers in a market which ultimately leads profit by the
volume of goods sold (Lumen Learning, n.d., para. 10). In
comparison to the differentiation leadership strategy this
strategy offers products with unique features such as table made
of exotic wood. The problem with this strategy is that these
products are only interesting for people that have a high income
and can afford expensive furniture (Lumen Learning, n.d., para.
10).
C. Using this week's course readings, assuming Joan Smithfield
accepts your recommendation, what is the next action she
should take to determine if your recommendation is correct? Be
specific. Use in-text citations and list references from course
readings as required.
In order for Joan Smithfield to determine whether the discussion
made was correct there are many things to consider. It is
important for the strategy selected matches with the company
ideas and goals. In order to determine whether this is the case it
would be helpful for the company to a PESTEL analysis in
combination with a SWOT analysis or Porters five forces. These
analysis will support the company in understanding
environmental factors and how these factors may positively or
negatively effect the companies goals (Bruin, 2016, par.1).
After these tasks have been completed it needs to be established
whether the strategy chosen correlates with the
company's future.
References
Bruin, L. de. (2022, April 22).
Pestel analysis (pest analysis) explained with examples:
B2u. Business. Retrieved August 30, 2022, from
https://www.business-to-you.com/scanning-the-environment-
pestel-analysis/

7. Learning, L. (n.d.).
Principles of Management. Lumen. Retrieved September
2, 2022, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-
principlesofmanagement/chapter/stages-and-types-of-strategy/
OMAR’S POST:
Memorandum
To: CEO Joan Smithfield
From: Omar Massoud
Date: September 3, 2022
Subject: Feedback on New Product Line Strategy for Smithfield
Custom Furniture
A. As discussed in a previous lesson, the Porter’s Competitive
Advantage model is a tool that can be used to build effective
and efficient business strategies. Aside from the Five Forces
Theory, the Porter’s model includes four types of competitive
strategies: Overall Differentiation, Focused Differentiation,
Overall Low Cost and Focused Low Cost (Lumen Learning,
n.d., “Module 4: Environments and Strategic Management”,
para. 10). These strategies can be accomplished in two ways: by
differentiation or by cost. Additionally, there are two way to
attract the consumers by either targeting a particular market or
focused on broader market (Lumen Learning, n.d., “Module 4:
Environments and Strategic Management”, para. 10). Moreover,
Ported the integrated approach as a fifth competitive strategy
which integrates all characteristics of differentiation and low
cost.
Smithfield Custom Furniture has been in the business for
several decades with a focused on providing furniture at a
reasonable price. Since the Board of Directors identify the need
to maximize its production by introducing a new product line,
the Porter’s Competitive Advantage Model is applicable tool to
help determine the best way forward for the business future
product line. The first new line of furniture the company was
considering is more focused on cost; by offering low -cost

8. products while targeting a broader market. While the second
product line is driven towards targeting a particular market
segment, high income earners to be specific with products made
up of expensive materials.
Low Price Leadership Strategy – this is the ability of the
company to offer low-cost products against its competitors
(Lumen Learning, n.d., “Module 4: Environments and Strategic
Management”, para. 11). This is more appropriate for larger
companies such as Costco and Walmart that have plenty of
buying power; however, this strategy will be likely less
effective to a smaller company.
Differentiation Leadership Strategy – this approach is focus on
increasing competitive advantage by providing consumers
products that are unique or one-of-a-kind (Lumen Learning,
n.d., “Module 4: Environments and Strategic Management”,
para. 13). Luxury product lines fall under this category.
Integrated Strategy – this approach is a combination of low-cost
and unique products in the market (Lumen Learning, n.d.,
“Module 4: Environments and Strategic Management”, para.
16). This can be accomplished by utilizing basic materials in
producing luxury brand items to drive the cost down while still
marketing the product as top-of-the-line item.
B. Smithfield Custom Furniture is a well-established furniture
company with stores all over the United States and stores that
are located overseas. They have been known for providing
reasonably priced furniture in the industry. However, redefining
the current market by looking for a new fit and targeting a new
market segment is vital when establishing a competitive
advantage (Grand Strategy Mix, 2013, 2:16). Introducing an
upscale furniture line will bring new customers to the business.
A focused differentiation strategy will be acceptable for the
company as they start marketing upscale furniture since the
company can identify a select number of stores that will carry
the upscale product line to target a particular market segment.
The cost to produce these products may be high; however, this
can provide the opportunity for building new relationships and

9. maintaining loyalty as the customers believe in the uniqueness
of the product and are willing to pay the premium price for it
(Lumen Learning, n.d., “Module 4: Environments and Strategic
Management”, para. 11).
A Low-Price Leadership Strategy will less likely be effective as
a competitive advantage for Smithfield Custom Furniture
because they have already been doing this strategy by producing
a mass amount of furniture and using low cost as their
competitive advantage. This will result in a lack of
differentiation or value, especially since they have identified
that more competitors are offering reasonably priced furniture
in the market, which will not give them an advantage (Lumen
Learning, n.d., “Module 4: Environments and Strategic
Management”, para. 10).
C. The following action to take to ensure that the
recommendation is acceptable is to conduct a competitive
profile matrix (CPM). The CPM is a strategic tool that can
accurately compare the company to its competitors (Jurevicius,
2022, para. 1). In this way, it will help reveal some of the
business's strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, this analysis
tool will show the areas of the company that need attention or
improvement and assist in decision-making as to what strategy
would work best based on the result of the CPM (Jurevicius,
2022, para. 7).
Reference:
Grand Strategy Matrix. (2013, September 15). PEPSICO. And
the Grand Strategy Matrix. Youtube. [Video].
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYWHaOjWnN8
Jurevicius, O. (2022, August 16). Strategic Management Insight.
Competitive Profile Matrix (CPM).
https://strategicmanagementinsight.com/tools/competitive-
profile-matrix-cpm/
Lumen Learnning. (n.d.). Module 4: Environments and Strategic
Management. Stages and Types of Strategy.
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-
principlesofmanagement/chapter/stages-and-types-of-strategy/

10. AMBER’S POST:
To: Ms. Joan Smithfield
From: Ms. Amber Scott
Date: Sept 3, 2022
Subject: Mass production line vs. High quality line of furniture
A. Currently with the board split evenly, looking at the
low-price leadership strategy will mean making a high quantity
of their product at the lowest cost (Lumen Learning, n.d.). This
is out of character for Smithfield as they have built the name on
the quality of their product. To now switch to a more IKEA
style would just make them another version in the same market.
This is not going to make them stand out and will tarnish the
name that has been built so far. By going the other way the
board is looking at differentiation leadership strategy, which
will give them a high-quality product the customers are used to,
and they have the opportunity to have pieces like more elite
businesses. This will give the public a sense of satisfaction as
they already know the name Smithfield and trust that the
product is going to last and work.
The fear for the board is the cost and the customers no longer
wanting to buy the product. However, customers will pay for
quality and will be willing to stay with a product line they trust.
By taking that trust and go the other way, making a product that
is mass produced just for cost sake will not be looked on fairly
by the consumers. Besides the fact, the name of the company is
Smithfield CUSTOM Furniture. How do you mass produce
something that is supposed to be custom?
B. Smithfield needs to maintain the level of service and
quality that has gotten them to this point in the business. This
would mean for them to use a focused differentiation strategy
(Lumen Learning, n.d.) vs. using the low-price strategy.
Smithfield has a name that is built on quality and even if there
is a price increase, the customer base will understand that they

11. are getting quality because of the name Smithfield. This will
help them support the price increase, and once they have
switched over to the new materials, the products will speak for
themselves.
With six manufacturing plants in the US., one can be allocated
to a Highline of furniture and the others can produce what they
have been. To maintain a competitive edge in an over-saturated
market, companies need to stand out and make a difference in
the landscape vs. just doing what the others are doing.
C. The course of action for Ms. Joan Smithfield is to do a
test run on the product line. By manufacturing a few pieces and
getting feedback to see what the reception is with the
customers. By using a promotional timeframe, Smithfield could
allocate some of the resources that they currently have, promote
a high-quality line for a short time, and see the revenue or
feedback from the consumers. If they like it, they will buy it,
and Smithfield will have an answer.
This can be accomplished by increasing awareness of the new
product line with advertisements either via social media or in
the stores themselves. The Smithfield brand name is more than
enough to handle the word of mouth stating that the brand is
quality. Along with this, Smithfield needs to do a SWOT
analysis (Lumen Learning, n.d) to see where the issues are with
its plan going forward. most boards are not evenly split on a
decision, so there are some things that need to be brought up to
see what the best course of action is going to be: continue in the
market as just another low-price furniture no different than the
rest or strike-out and do something better to stand out?
Learning, L. (n.d.). Module 4. Principles of Management.
Retrieved from
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wmopen-
principlesofmanagement/chapter/the-role-of-strategy-in-
management/

12. Reply 8-1 BW (250 words with 1 reference)
The most known issue with psychology and the law is that you
are not allowed to breach your clients' confidentiality.
Confidentiality is the primary ethical obligation that
psychologists must abide by in their practice. If needed, you are
allowed to ask the client to sign a release of confidentiality
paper that would give you to express what your client has
discussed in sessions. There is an ethical concern about signing
the waiver; how are we to know if the client is in suitable head
space to give consent? As their doctor, you are supposed to
protect them and their rights. If the client trusts you and asks
for them to sign, they may believe you will still defend them if
needed. However, when that waiver is signed, it is no longer in
the psychologist's hands; they must legally answer any
questions they are asked.
APA standard 3:10 (c) states that if there is a court order for the
doctor to testify, they must fully inform the client, "including
whether the services are court ordered or mandated and any
limits of confidentiality, before proceeding(APA,2002)."
Keeping what is revealed during a session private and
confidential allows the patient to feel they are in a safe space to
discuss their feelings. Psychologists need to remember how
those notes can be subpoenaed at any point when taking notes
during a session, so always keep notes to a minimum.
Reply 8-1 MG (250 words with 1 reference)
Some ethical issues that might arise between psychology and
the legal system would be confidentiality and true informed
consent. Because psychologists often see people who are in
altered or vulnerable states, they might not be able to truly give
informed consent to disclosing information to the legal
system. If the patient does not understand the full extent of
disclosing information but signs it out of fear or anxiety, there
would be some questioning of if that is true informed consent.
If the legal system is in a rush to get this information or the
documents are not adequately explained, the patient might feel
forced to sign the documents without knowing the who, what,

13. when, where, and whys of them forfeiting their privacy rights.
(Kress, 2013).
Confidentiality is one of the ethical obligations that
psychologists must abide by in their practice. Keeping what is
discussed private and confidential not only builds trust between
the patient and the professional, but it also keeps the patient
safe as they talk about raw feelings and emotions in safe spaces.
If there were to be a break in the confidentiality between the
two parties, it can do more damage and cause some trust issues
within the patient, which could hurt or stop their treatment
plan's success. The psychologist does have an obligation to
protect the patient's privacy rights, but if the patient signs the
disclosure documentation, there isn't anything the psychologist
can do. The legal system's main goal isn't to protect the privacy
right's of the patient, but it is the professional's obligation to.
This can cause an issue if the patient does not want to sign the
disclosure or if they sign it during a state where they do not
understand fully the right's they are giving up.
REPLY 8-2 WC (250 words with 1 reference)
Defining insanity will differ from country to country and is
based on mental disorders and behaviors. If someone is
determined to be insane after committing a crime, they most
likely will not be responsible for their actions (Richie et al.,
2014). However, not all mental illnesses will fall under the
umbrella of insanity. Insanity would include a mental disorder
that has reached a point where the person cannot make decisions
based on rationale or logic and impedes their ability to
determine right from wrong. They do not understand their
actions and did not commit the crime with the intent to commit
a crime. If someone is mentally ill but not considered insane,
regret may be present as they understood that what they did was
wrong and there will be consequences. Furguson & Olgoff
(2011) explain “The idea that one is not responsible for one’s
actions when the actions are the product of mental illness, such
that they cannot appreciate the nature of their actions, has in
one form or another been in existence for centuries” (p. 79).