Question 1

Where possible, project teams should include a mix of consultants and managers from the client organisation.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 2

Strategy has a number of purposes. What are the two key implications for managers?

Accepted Answer

A)  Ensure that all issues are thoroughly analysed before proceeding to decision- making. 
B)  Invest appropriately in technical quality. 
C)  Design the analysis according to the real purpose. 
D)  Ensure buy- in and political input from all involved. 
A)  Ensure that all issues are thoroughly analysed before proceeding to decision- making. 
B)  Invest appropriately in technical quality. 
C)  Design the analysis according to the real purpose. 
D)  Ensure buy- in and political input from all involved.

Question 3

What is the key advantage of involving non- executive directors in strategy development?

Accepted Answer

A)  They have no executive management responsibilities. 
B)  They can offer an external and objective view. 
C)  They have time to carefully study and analyse all the relevant documentation. 
D)  They are accepted by the employees as being chief strategists. 
A)  They have no executive management responsibilities. 
B)  They can offer an external and objective view. 
C)  They have time to carefully study and analyse all the relevant documentation. 
D)  They are accepted by the employees as being chief strategists.

Question 4

Which approach to assessing options and making decisions starts with a proposition which is then tested using real- world data?

Accepted Answer

A)  What- if analysis 
B)  Hypothesis testing 
C)  Reality testing 
D)  How- if analysis 
A)  What- if analysis 
B)  Hypothesis testing 
C)  Reality testing 
D)  How- if analysis

Question 5

What three important tasks do strategic planners have?

Accepted Answer

A)  To make strategic decisions 
B)  To manage the strategy process 
C)  To provide information and analysis 
D)  To support top management on special projects 
A)  To make strategic decisions 
B)  To manage the strategy process 
C)  To provide information and analysis 
D)  To support top management on special projects

Question 6

Middle managers may not be formally involved in making strategy. In which three ways may they have an informal influence?

Accepted Answer

A)  By having access to organisational networks 
B)  By aiming for promotion to senior positions in future 
C)  By holding key organisational positions 
D)  Through discussion with front line managers 
E)  By having access to the organisation's 'strategic conversation' 
A)  By having access to organisational networks 
B)  By aiming for promotion to senior positions in future 
C)  By holding key organisational positions 
D)  Through discussion with front line managers 
E)  By having access to the organisation's 'strategic conversation'

Question 7

Which of the following will typically be considered to be the 'chief strategist'?

Accepted Answer

A)  The senior external consultant 
B)  The most experienced non- executive director 
C)  The chief executive officer 
D)  The most experienced member of the top management team 
A)  The senior external consultant 
B)  The most experienced non- executive director 
C)  The chief executive officer 
D)  The most experienced member of the top management team

Question 8

Which three of the following are key guidelines for using SWOT?

Accepted Answer

A)  Spend time identifying all the relevant factors 
B)  Use the list to decide what to investigate further. 
C)  Plan concrete actions on prioritised factors. 
D)  Focus on the key factors. 
A)  Spend time identifying all the relevant factors 
B)  Use the list to decide what to investigate further. 
C)  Plan concrete actions on prioritised factors. 
D)  Focus on the key factors.

Question 9

Eisenhardt suggests that managers in a fast- moving environment should aim for consensus but not at any cost. What two points result from that guideline?

Accepted Answer

A)  The CEO should always base a decision on the majority view, not their own opinion. 
B)  Managers who disagree with a decisions would work constructively to change it in future. 
C)  Other managers should accept the decision and get on with implementation. 
D)  The CEO should have the courage to make a decision at some point. 
A)  The CEO should always base a decision on the majority view, not their own opinion. 
B)  Managers who disagree with a decisions would work constructively to change it in future. 
C)  Other managers should accept the decision and get on with implementation. 
D)  The CEO should have the courage to make a decision at some point.

Question 10

A particular issue relating to an acquisition opportunity is of high urgency. Who should probably deal with it?

Accepted Answer

A)  A strategy workshop 
B)  A small, special project team 
C)  Strategic conversation throughout the organisation 
D)  Relevant managers 
A)  A strategy workshop 
B)  A small, special project team 
C)  Strategic conversation throughout the organisation 
D)  Relevant managers

Question 11

Most organisations have a formal channel for issue selling that moves from operational managers to divisional heads to the CEO. What term is used for this channel?

Accepted Answer

A)  Line 
B)  Staff 
C)  Corporate 
D)  Symbolic 
A)  Line 
B)  Staff 
C)  Corporate 
D)  Symbolic

Question 12

When planning strategy, many CEOs or divisional heads may ask specific departments for reports on, for example, the financial or HR implications. What term is used for this channel?

Accepted Answer

A)  Corporate 
B)  Delegated 
C)  Line 
D)  Staff 
A)  Corporate 
B)  Delegated 
C)  Line 
D)  Staff

Question 13

Which of the following approaches is most suitable for a public sector organisation that wants to encourage debate among a wide range of stakeholders about a controversial policy issue?

Accepted Answer

A)  Discussion in the relevant council or funding organisation. 
B)  Formation of a sub- committee of relevant managers 
C)  An internet discussion forum 
D)  A strategy workshop for the organisation's employees 
A)  Discussion in the relevant council or funding organisation. 
B)  Formation of a sub- committee of relevant managers 
C)  An internet discussion forum 
D)  A strategy workshop for the organisation's employees

Question 14

Which of the following provides the data and argument in support of, for example, investment in new equipment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Strategic plan 
B)  Business case 
C)  Strategy project 
D)  Mission 
A)  Strategic plan 
B)  Business case 
C)  Strategy project 
D)  Mission

Question 15

Which of the following best describes the role of the CEO during a strategy workshop?

Accepted Answer

A)  To stay away so that all can discuss issues freely 
B)  To make frequent visits to show commitment 
C)  To open and close the proceedings but leave discussion to others 
D)  To demonstrate complete commitment by being involved throughout 
A)  To stay away so that all can discuss issues freely 
B)  To make frequent visits to show commitment 
C)  To open and close the proceedings but leave discussion to others 
D)  To demonstrate complete commitment by being involved throughout

Question 16

Which two of the following are benefits of involving middle managers in strategy formulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  It gives senior management more time to take more important decisions. 
B)  It may improve implementation. 
C)  It releases front line managers for activities relating to strategy implementation. 
D)  They have direct experience of the realities of the organisation so may make better strategic decisions. 
A)  It gives senior management more time to take more important decisions. 
B)  It may improve implementation. 
C)  It releases front line managers for activities relating to strategy implementation. 
D)  They have direct experience of the realities of the organisation so may make better strategic decisions.

Question 17

Which of the following will generally be the last consideration for a team working to create a strategic plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  Organisational analysis 
B)  Proposed strategy 
C)  The organisation's mission, vision and values 
D)  Resources 
E)  Environmental analysis 
A)  Organisational analysis 
B)  Proposed strategy 
C)  The organisation's mission, vision and values 
D)  Resources 
E)  Environmental analysis

Question 18

Analysis is now always simply about providing the information for good strategic decisions. Which of the following are other reasons why analysis my occur? Choose all that apply.

Accepted Answer

A)  To get buy- in from managers 
B)  For political reasons, forwarding the agenda of a particular manager or group 
C)  For time- management reasons, ensuring that managers are fully employed. 
D)  To symbolise analysis, even though the decision has already been taken 
E)  To procrastinate, putting off the decision 
A)  To get buy- in from managers 
B)  For political reasons, forwarding the agenda of a particular manager or group 
C)  For time- management reasons, ensuring that managers are fully employed. 
D)  To symbolise analysis, even though the decision has already been taken 
E)  To procrastinate, putting off the decision

Question 19

Which of the following is not one of the roles which consultants may play in strategy development?

Accepted Answer

A)  Transferring knowledge 
B)  Implementing strategic change 
C)  Promoting strategic decisions 
D)  Blame- taking if strategy fails 
E)  Analysing, prioritising and generating options 
A)  Transferring knowledge 
B)  Implementing strategic change 
C)  Promoting strategic decisions 
D)  Blame- taking if strategy fails 
E)  Analysing, prioritising and generating options

Question 20

Which of the following is not one of the four key needs of a strategy project?

Accepted Answer

A)  Appropriate resources 
B)  A long timescale 
C)  Top management commitment 
D)  A clear brief or mandate 
E)  Milestones and reviews 
A)  Appropriate resources 
B)  A long timescale 
C)  Top management commitment 
D)  A clear brief or mandate 
E)  Milestones and reviews

Where possible, project teams should include a mix of consultants and managers from the client organisation.

Strategy has a number of purposes. What are the two key implications for managers?

What is the key advantage of involving non- executive directors in strategy development?

Which approach to assessing options and making decisions starts with a proposition which is then tested using real- world data?

What three important tasks do strategic planners have?

Middle managers may not be formally involved in making strategy. In which three ways may they have an informal influence?

Which of the following will typically be considered to be the 'chief strategist'?

Which three of the following are key guidelines for using SWOT?

Eisenhardt suggests that managers in a fast- moving environment should aim for consensus but not at any cost. What two points result from that guideline?

A particular issue relating to an acquisition opportunity is of high urgency. Who should probably deal with it?

Most organisations have a formal channel for issue selling that moves from operational managers to divisional heads to the CEO. What term is used for this channel?

When planning strategy, many CEOs or divisional heads may ask specific departments for reports on, for example, the financial or HR implications. What term is used for this channel?

Which of the following approaches is most suitable for a public sector organisation that wants to encourage debate among a wide range of stakeholders about a controversial policy issue?

Which of the following provides the data and argument in support of, for example, investment in new equipment?

Which of the following best describes the role of the CEO during a strategy workshop?

Which two of the following are benefits of involving middle managers in strategy formulation?

Which of the following will generally be the last consideration for a team working to create a strategic plan?

Analysis is now always simply about providing the information for good strategic decisions. Which of the following are other reasons why analysis my occur? Choose all that apply.

Which of the following is not one of the roles which consultants may play in strategy development?

Which of the following is not one of the four key needs of a strategy project?

Introducing Strategy

The Environment

Strategic Capability

Governance and Stakeholders

Strategy and Culture

Business-Level Strategy

Innovation Entrepreneurship

Corporate Diversity

International Strategy

Directions Methods

Organising for Success

Enabling Success

Managing Change

Strategy Development Processes

Filters

Exam 15: The Practice of Strategy

Where possible, project teams should include a mix of consultants and managers from the client organisation.

Strategy has a number of purposes. What are the two key implications for managers?

What is the key advantage of involving non- executive directors in strategy development?

Which approach to assessing options and making decisions starts with a proposition which is then tested using real- world data?

What three important tasks do strategic planners have?

Middle managers may not be formally involved in making strategy. In which three ways may they have an informal influence?

Which of the following will typically be considered to be the 'chief strategist'?

Which three of the following are key guidelines for using SWOT?

Eisenhardt suggests that managers in a fast- moving environment should aim for consensus but not at any cost. What two points result from that guideline?

A particular issue relating to an acquisition opportunity is of high urgency. Who should probably deal with it?

Most organisations have a formal channel for issue selling that moves from operational managers to divisional heads to the CEO. What term is used for this channel?

When planning strategy, many CEOs or divisional heads may ask specific departments for reports on, for example, the financial or HR implications. What term is used for this channel?

Which of the following approaches is most suitable for a public sector organisation that wants to encourage debate among a wide range of stakeholders about a controversial policy issue?

Which of the following provides the data and argument in support of, for example, investment in new equipment?

Which of the following best describes the role of the CEO during a strategy workshop?

Which two of the following are benefits of involving middle managers in strategy formulation?

Which of the following will generally be the last consideration for a team working to create a strategic plan?

Analysis is now always simply about providing the information for good strategic decisions. Which of the following are other reasons why analysis my occur? Choose all that apply.

Which of the following is not one of the roles which consultants may play in strategy development?

Which of the following is not one of the four key needs of a strategy project?

Introducing Strategy

The Environment

Strategic Capability

Governance and Stakeholders

Strategy and Culture

Business-Level Strategy

Innovation Entrepreneurship

Corporate Diversity

International Strategy

Directions Methods

Organising for Success

Enabling Success

Managing Change

Strategy Development Processes

Filters