Question 1

To create a strategy-supportive system of rewards and incentives,a company must:

Accepted Answer

A)  reward people for accomplishing results,not just for dutifully performing assigned tasks. 
B)  focus jobholders' attention and energy on what to do as opposed to what to achieve. 
C)  demand jobholders' 100 percent attendance since it guarantees results. 
D)  hold jobholders' responsible for their function and not burden them with being accountable. 
E)  incorporate negative motivational elements to assure results. 
A)  reward people for accomplishing results,not just for dutifully performing assigned tasks. 
B)  focus jobholders' attention and energy on what to do as opposed to what to achieve. 
C)  demand jobholders' 100 percent attendance since it guarantees results. 
D)  hold jobholders' responsible for their function and not burden them with being accountable. 
E)  incorporate negative motivational elements to assure results.

Question 2

A "best practice" refers to:

Accepted Answer

A)  a method of performing an activity or business process that at least one company has demonstrated works particularly well in terms of delivering some highly positive operating outcome. 
B)  the best-known procedure for performing a specific task or activity so as to achieve the lowest possible costs. 
C)  performing activities in a manner that conforms to established industry standards. 
D)  a company's core competence. 
E)  performing a particular value chain activity in "world-class" fashion (one unmatched by any other company in the world). 
A)  a method of performing an activity or business process that at least one company has demonstrated works particularly well in terms of delivering some highly positive operating outcome. 
B)  the best-known procedure for performing a specific task or activity so as to achieve the lowest possible costs. 
C)  performing activities in a manner that conforms to established industry standards. 
D)  a company's core competence. 
E)  performing a particular value chain activity in "world-class" fashion (one unmatched by any other company in the world).

Question 3

The strategic role of a company's reward system is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  compensate employees for performing their assigned duties in a diligent fashion. 
B)  boost employee morale in ways that create widespread job satisfaction. 
C)  enlist employees' commitment to successful strategy execution by rewarding them,both monetarily and non-monetarily,for their valuable contributions. 
D)  relieve managers of the burden of closely monitoring each employee's performance. 
E)  boost labor productivity and help lower the firm's overall labor costs. 
A)  compensate employees for performing their assigned duties in a diligent fashion. 
B)  boost employee morale in ways that create widespread job satisfaction. 
C)  enlist employees' commitment to successful strategy execution by rewarding them,both monetarily and non-monetarily,for their valuable contributions. 
D)  relieve managers of the burden of closely monitoring each employee's performance. 
E)  boost labor productivity and help lower the firm's overall labor costs.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about total quality management (TQM)is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

A)  TQM aims at instilling enthusiasm and commitment to doing things right from the top to the bottom of the organization. 
B)  TQM produces significant results very quickly,with very little benefit emerging after the first six months. 
C)  TQM doctrine preaches that there's no such thing as "good enough" and that everyone has a responsibility to participate in continuous improvement. 
D)  Effective use of TQM entails creating a corporate culture bent on continuously improving the performance of every task and every value chain activity. 
E)  Total quality management (TQM)is a philosophy of managing a set of business practices that emphasizes continuous improvement in all phases of operations,100 percent accuracy in performing tasks,involvement and empowerment of employees at all levels,team-based work design,benchmarking,and total customer satisfaction. 
A)  TQM aims at instilling enthusiasm and commitment to doing things right from the top to the bottom of the organization. 
B)  TQM produces significant results very quickly,with very little benefit emerging after the first six months. 
C)  TQM doctrine preaches that there's no such thing as "good enough" and that everyone has a responsibility to participate in continuous improvement. 
D)  Effective use of TQM entails creating a corporate culture bent on continuously improving the performance of every task and every value chain activity. 
E)  Total quality management (TQM)is a philosophy of managing a set of business practices that emphasizes continuous improvement in all phases of operations,100 percent accuracy in performing tasks,involvement and empowerment of employees at all levels,team-based work design,benchmarking,and total customer satisfaction.

Question 5

The use of incentives and rewards is the single most powerful tool at management's disposal to win strong employee commitment to carrying out the strategic plan.True or false? Explain.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true.An effectively des

Question 6

Providing top-down guidance can aid the task of implementing strategy:

Accepted Answer

A)  provided they promote greater use of and commitment to best practices and total quality management. 
B)  because really effective internal policies and procedures are not easily duplicated by other firms. 
C)  because astutely conceived policies or procedures can result in competitive advantage. 
D)  by helping align the actions and behavior of company personnel with the requirements for good strategy execution,placing limits on independent action,and helping overcome resistance to change. 
E)  by making it easier to impose tight budget controls and avoid wasting scarce resources. 
A)  provided they promote greater use of and commitment to best practices and total quality management. 
B)  because really effective internal policies and procedures are not easily duplicated by other firms. 
C)  because astutely conceived policies or procedures can result in competitive advantage. 
D)  by helping align the actions and behavior of company personnel with the requirements for good strategy execution,placing limits on independent action,and helping overcome resistance to change. 
E)  by making it easier to impose tight budget controls and avoid wasting scarce resources.

Question 7

An important consideration in designing a strategy-supportive reward system is to:

Accepted Answer

A)  link the payment of all monetary rewards to the company's bottom-line profitability. 
B)  employ incentives that will help motivate employees to put in long hours and sacrifice personal ambitions and aspirations to pursue the priorities of management. 
C)  choose those types of rewards and incentives that will focus employees' attention on total customer satisfaction. 
D)  make across-the-board wage and salary increases the cornerstone of monetary rewards. 
E)  make nonmonetary rewards and recognition an integral part of the reward system. 
A)  link the payment of all monetary rewards to the company's bottom-line profitability. 
B)  employ incentives that will help motivate employees to put in long hours and sacrifice personal ambitions and aspirations to pursue the priorities of management. 
C)  choose those types of rewards and incentives that will focus employees' attention on total customer satisfaction. 
D)  make across-the-board wage and salary increases the cornerstone of monetary rewards. 
E)  make nonmonetary rewards and recognition an integral part of the reward system.

Question 8

Kimberly-Clark,the manufacturer of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers,streamlines its healthcare business by listing Halyard Health as a separately traded company.The company's move is likely to:

Accepted Answer

A)  promote healthcare wings of rival companies. 
B)  increase the cost of manufacturing medical devices. 
C)  curtail the cost of manufacturing medical devices. 
D)  enhance the strategy execution capabilities of the company. 
E)  increase the demand for personal protective equipment. 
A)  promote healthcare wings of rival companies. 
B)  increase the cost of manufacturing medical devices. 
C)  curtail the cost of manufacturing medical devices. 
D)  enhance the strategy execution capabilities of the company. 
E)  increase the demand for personal protective equipment.

Question 9

Which of the following exemplifies good strategy execution?

Accepted Answer

A)  The policy document of Dominos ensures consistency in service behavior patterns across outlets. 
B)  The policy document of Pizza Today allows for differences in product range and quality across outlets. 
C)  The policy document of Boston Pizza leaves ample scope for each member of the staff to act independently. 
D)  The policy document of Little Caesars discusses strategy but not the routines for running the outlets. 
E)  The policy document of Pizza Inn is averse to standardization of the way activities are performed. 
A)  The policy document of Dominos ensures consistency in service behavior patterns across outlets. 
B)  The policy document of Pizza Today allows for differences in product range and quality across outlets. 
C)  The policy document of Boston Pizza leaves ample scope for each member of the staff to act independently. 
D)  The policy document of Little Caesars discusses strategy but not the routines for running the outlets. 
E)  The policy document of Pizza Inn is averse to standardization of the way activities are performed.

Question 10

Identify and describe ways that policies and procedures facilitate strategy execution.

Accepted Answer

Well-conceived policies and operating pr

Question 11

Merely fine-tuning the execution of a company's existing strategy normally requires :

Accepted Answer

A)  big shifts of resources from one area to another. 
B)  a larger allocation of resources to the effort. 
C)  trimming costs and shifting resources to activities that have a higher priority. 
D)  creativity in finding ways for cost reductions,i.e.ways to do less with less . 
E)  cost-cutting in key value chain activities. 
A)  big shifts of resources from one area to another. 
B)  a larger allocation of resources to the effort. 
C)  trimming costs and shifting resources to activities that have a higher priority. 
D)  creativity in finding ways for cost reductions,i.e.ways to do less with less . 
E)  cost-cutting in key value chain activities.

Question 12

New strategies often entail budget reallocations because:

Accepted Answer

A)  revamping the performance of value chain activities can be costly. 
B)  the accompanying policy revisions and compensation incentives tend to require different levels of funding than before. 
C)  business units important in the prior strategy but having a lesser role in the new strategy may need downsizing,while units and activities that now have a bigger and more critical strategic role may need more people,new equipment,additional facilities,and above-average increases in their operating budgets. 
D)  empowering employees to carry out the new strategy elements and shifting to a total quality management type of culture to build skills in competent strategy execution typically require substantial new funding and budget revisions. 
E)  adopting best practices and pushing for continuous improvement tends to reduce costs and reduce overall resource requirements. 
A)  revamping the performance of value chain activities can be costly. 
B)  the accompanying policy revisions and compensation incentives tend to require different levels of funding than before. 
C)  business units important in the prior strategy but having a lesser role in the new strategy may need downsizing,while units and activities that now have a bigger and more critical strategic role may need more people,new equipment,additional facilities,and above-average increases in their operating budgets. 
D)  empowering employees to carry out the new strategy elements and shifting to a total quality management type of culture to build skills in competent strategy execution typically require substantial new funding and budget revisions. 
E)  adopting best practices and pushing for continuous improvement tends to reduce costs and reduce overall resource requirements.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a compensation and reward system designed to help drive successful strategy execution?

Accepted Answer

A)  Tying incentives to performance outcomes directly linked to good strategy execution and financial performance 
B)  Keeping the time between achieving the target performance outcome and the payment of the reward as short as possible 
C)  Making sure that the performance targets that each individual or team is expected to achieve involve outcomes that the individual or team can personally affect 
D)  Providing generous rewards for people who turn in outstanding performances 
E)  Offering rewards that amount to 3 percent of an employee's total compensation 
A)  Tying incentives to performance outcomes directly linked to good strategy execution and financial performance 
B)  Keeping the time between achieving the target performance outcome and the payment of the reward as short as possible 
C)  Making sure that the performance targets that each individual or team is expected to achieve involve outcomes that the individual or team can personally affect 
D)  Providing generous rewards for people who turn in outstanding performances 
E)  Offering rewards that amount to 3 percent of an employee's total compensation

Question 14

Apple decides to reallocate resources by curtailing online ad budgets and investing heavily in scratch-resistant Sapphire,the material that differentiates iPhone from competitive brands.What is MOST LIKELY the reason for reallocation of resources?

Accepted Answer

A)  Making critical value chain activities less effective 
B)  Supporting the new strategic initiative of the brand 
C)  Signalling commitment to online sales of the brand 
D)  Signalling commitment to offline sales of the brand 
E)  Impeding the efforts of rivals to hoard Sapphire 
A)  Making critical value chain activities less effective 
B)  Supporting the new strategic initiative of the brand 
C)  Signalling commitment to online sales of the brand 
D)  Signalling commitment to offline sales of the brand 
E)  Impeding the efforts of rivals to hoard Sapphire

Question 15

Name the five broad areas that information systems need to cover and explain the significance of real-time tracking and reporting.

Accepted Answer

Information systems need to cover five b

Question 16

Explain what Six Sigma quality control programs are and the two types of programs that they include.

Accepted Answer

Six Sigma programs offer a way to drive

Question 17

Well-conceived,state-of-the-art information and operating systems:

Accepted Answer

A)  are essential because business process reengineering efforts,TQM,Six Sigma,and benchmarking programs can't be carried out effectively without them. 
B)  not only enable better strategy execution but also strengthen organizational capabilities (perhaps enough to provide a competitive edge over rivals). 
C)  make it simple and easy to spot cost overruns and inefficiencies. 
D)  are valuable tools for shortening a company's value chain,boosting workforce morale and productivity,and simplifying the task of adopting best practices. 
E)  help managers run a tight ship and preserve strong,centralized control over internal activities 
A)  are essential because business process reengineering efforts,TQM,Six Sigma,and benchmarking programs can't be carried out effectively without them. 
B)  not only enable better strategy execution but also strengthen organizational capabilities (perhaps enough to provide a competitive edge over rivals). 
C)  make it simple and easy to spot cost overruns and inefficiencies. 
D)  are valuable tools for shortening a company's value chain,boosting workforce morale and productivity,and simplifying the task of adopting best practices. 
E)  help managers run a tight ship and preserve strong,centralized control over internal activities

Question 18

A company wants to plan a state-of-the-art information and operating system to enable better strategy execution.Which of the following is the most likely reason for the company's move?

Accepted Answer

A)  It wants to embrace modern technology. 
B)  It wants to gain a competitive edge over rivals. 
C)  It wants to spot cost overruns and inefficiencies. 
D)  It wants to increase workforce productivity and retention. 
E)  It wants to boost management morale. 
A)  It wants to embrace modern technology. 
B)  It wants to gain a competitive edge over rivals. 
C)  It wants to spot cost overruns and inefficiencies. 
D)  It wants to increase workforce productivity and retention. 
E)  It wants to boost management morale.

Question 19

Managers charged with implementing and executing strategy need to be deeply involved in the budgeting and resource allocation process because of all the following reasons EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A)  too little funding deprives organizational units of the necessary resources to execute their piece of the strategic plan while too much funding wastes organizational resources and reduces financial performance. 
B)  resource allocation involves screening of requests for people,facilities and equipment,and approving them,whether they contribute to the strategy execution effort or not. 
C)  without major budget reallocations there is little chance that desired core competencies and organizational capabilities will emerge. 
D)  lean,carefully managed budgets protect the company's financial condition and eliminate the wasteful use of cash. 
E)  a change in strategy nearly always calls for budget reallocations and resource shifting. 
A)  too little funding deprives organizational units of the necessary resources to execute their piece of the strategic plan while too much funding wastes organizational resources and reduces financial performance. 
B)  resource allocation involves screening of requests for people,facilities and equipment,and approving them,whether they contribute to the strategy execution effort or not. 
C)  without major budget reallocations there is little chance that desired core competencies and organizational capabilities will emerge. 
D)  lean,carefully managed budgets protect the company's financial condition and eliminate the wasteful use of cash. 
E)  a change in strategy nearly always calls for budget reallocations and resource shifting.

Question 20

From a strategy-implementing/strategy-executing perspective,operating budget allocations should:

Accepted Answer

A)  primarily be based on the number of new strategic initiatives being implemented in each operating department. 
B)  be based on the number of people employed in each of the divisions. 
C)  be strategy-driven and based on how much each organizational unit needs to carry out its piece of the strategic plan efficiently and effectively. 
D)  be linked to the costs of performing value chain activities as determined by benchmarking against best-in-industry competitors. 
E)  depend on how much stretch there is in each department's objectives and what additional resources are needed to help reach these performance targets. 
A)  primarily be based on the number of new strategic initiatives being implemented in each operating department. 
B)  be based on the number of people employed in each of the divisions. 
C)  be strategy-driven and based on how much each organizational unit needs to carry out its piece of the strategic plan efficiently and effectively. 
D)  be linked to the costs of performing value chain activities as determined by benchmarking against best-in-industry competitors. 
E)  depend on how much stretch there is in each department's objectives and what additional resources are needed to help reach these performance targets.

To create a strategy-supportive system of rewards and incentives,a company must:

A "best practice" refers to:

The strategic role of a company's reward system is to:

Which of the following statements about total quality management (TQM)is FALSE?

The use of incentives and rewards is the single most powerful tool at management's disposal to win strong employee commitment to carrying out the strategic plan.True or false? Explain.

Providing top-down guidance can aid the task of implementing strategy:

An important consideration in designing a strategy-supportive reward system is to:

Kimberly-Clark,the manufacturer of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers,streamlines its healthcare business by listing Halyard Health as a separately traded company.The company's move is likely to:

Which of the following exemplifies good strategy execution?

Identify and describe ways that policies and procedures facilitate strategy execution.

Merely fine-tuning the execution of a company's existing strategy normally requires :

New strategies often entail budget reallocations because:

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a compensation and reward system designed to help drive successful strategy execution?

Apple decides to reallocate resources by curtailing online ad budgets and investing heavily in scratch-resistant Sapphire,the material that differentiates iPhone from competitive brands.What is MOST LIKELY the reason for reallocation of resources?

Name the five broad areas that information systems need to cover and explain the significance of real-time tracking and reporting.

Explain what Six Sigma quality control programs are and the two types of programs that they include.

Well-conceived,state-of-the-art information and operating systems:

A company wants to plan a state-of-the-art information and operating system to enable better strategy execution.Which of the following is the most likely reason for the company's move?

Managers charged with implementing and executing strategy need to be deeply involved in the budgeting and resource allocation process because of all the following reasons EXCEPT:

From a strategy-implementing/strategy-executing perspective,operating budget allocations should:

What Is Strategy and Why Is It Important

Charting a Companys Direction: Its Vision, Mission, Objectives, Andstrategy

Evaluating a Companys External Environment

Evaluating a Companys Resources, Capabilities, and Competitiveness

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies

Strengthening a Companys Competitive Position

Strategies for Competing in International Markets

Corporate Strategy

Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental-Sustainability, and Strategy

Building an Organization Capable of Good Strategy Execution

Corporate Culture and Leadership

Filters

Exam 11: Managing Internal Operations

To create a strategy-supportive system of rewards and incentives,a company must:

A "best practice" refers to:

The strategic role of a company's reward system is to:

Which of the following statements about total quality management (TQM)is FALSE?

The use of incentives and rewards is the single most powerful tool at management's disposal to win strong employee commitment to carrying out the strategic plan.True or false? Explain.

Providing top-down guidance can aid the task of implementing strategy:

An important consideration in designing a strategy-supportive reward system is to:

Kimberly-Clark,the manufacturer of Kleenex tissues and Huggies diapers,streamlines its healthcare business by listing Halyard Health as a separately traded company.The company's move is likely to:

Which of the following exemplifies good strategy execution?

Identify and describe ways that policies and procedures facilitate strategy execution.

Merely fine-tuning the execution of a company's existing strategy normally requires :

New strategies often entail budget reallocations because:

Which of the following is NOT characteristic of a compensation and reward system designed to help drive successful strategy execution?

Apple decides to reallocate resources by curtailing online ad budgets and investing heavily in scratch-resistant Sapphire,the material that differentiates iPhone from competitive brands.What is MOST LIKELY the reason for reallocation of resources?

Name the five broad areas that information systems need to cover and explain the significance of real-time tracking and reporting.

Explain what Six Sigma quality control programs are and the two types of programs that they include.

Well-conceived,state-of-the-art information and operating systems:

A company wants to plan a state-of-the-art information and operating system to enable better strategy execution.Which of the following is the most likely reason for the company's move?

Managers charged with implementing and executing strategy need to be deeply involved in the budgeting and resource allocation process because of all the following reasons EXCEPT:

From a strategy-implementing/strategy-executing perspective,operating budget allocations should:

What Is Strategy and Why Is It Important

Charting a Companys Direction: Its Vision, Mission, Objectives, Andstrategy

Evaluating a Companys External Environment

Evaluating a Companys Resources, Capabilities, and Competitiveness

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies

Strengthening a Companys Competitive Position

Strategies for Competing in International Markets

Corporate Strategy

Ethics, Corporate Social Responsibility, Environmental-Sustainability, and Strategy

Building an Organization Capable of Good Strategy Execution

Corporate Culture and Leadership

Filters