Question 1: You mention that the structural and cultural environment of the company will impact its ability to change. Does the company culture affect the strategy in other ways? How can culture become a factor in strategic planning?
Question 2: In a SWOT analysis, strengths and weaknesses are generally considered to be internal characteristics, while opportunities and threats are considered to be external characteristics. Is it also possible to have internal opportunities and threats? What would be some examples of those internal characteristics?
Question 3: You mention the need to stay ahead of the competition. If you know your competitor is going to be able to get their product to market slightly ahead of your production schedule, would you rather rush your development and beat them to market, even if it means releasing a product with a few flaws? Or would you give up first-mover advantage to ensure your product was fully tested and refined?
Question 4: I agree that knowing the competition is extremely important when devising your strategy. What sort of things do you need to know about your competition in order to adequately plan your strategy? How would those factors impact the choices you make in your strategy?