E3 Exam Question 116

Select the label which best defines the periods of decline outlined in the situations presented below.

E3 Exam Question 117

QQQ is a family run business which manufactures and sells chocolate. QQQ employs 80 staff in its factory and shops. It operates 10 shops within a number of small towns in the northern region of Country P.
In the last four years, demand for QQQ's products has decreased, as customers in its local region are increasingly shopping in large supermarkets and out of town facilities, which are more convenient and tend to offer cheaper priced goods. The recent economic recession has hit the region hard and many local people have moved away to find work in other regions of the country. The internet has also impacted upon its business, as many customers are now making purchases of chocolate via the internet.
The Managing Director (MD) of QQQ has recently retired and the Board took the decision to make an external appointment to replace him. The new MD believes that QQQ needs to invest in new technology within its factory. This would reduce staffing levels by 15% and would reduce wastage and costs, allowing QQQ to offer more competitively priced products. He also believes that QQQ must invest in its own website. However QQQ's staff are very unhappy with these proposals. Some of the family members of the Board are concerned that this change will destroy the family tradition and reputation of QQQ that has been built up over many years.
Select the correct descriptor for each of the forces for change below.