Question 1

Which of the following is generally not among the practices that companies use to staff jobs with the best people they can find?

Accepted Answer

A)  careful screening and evaluation of job applicants 
B)  rotating people through jobs that span functional and geographic boundaries 
C)  weeding out the 20 percent lowest-performing employees each year 
D)  striving to retain talented,high-performing employees via promotions,salary increases,and other perks 
E)  coaching average performers to improve their skills and capabilities 
A)  careful screening and evaluation of job applicants 
B)  rotating people through jobs that span functional and geographic boundaries 
C)  weeding out the 20 percent lowest-performing employees each year 
D)  striving to retain talented,high-performing employees via promotions,salary increases,and other perks 
E)  coaching average performers to improve their skills and capabilities

Question 2

The principal managerial actions and initiatives undertaken in the strategy execution process include which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  building an organization with the capabilities,people,and structure needed for execution 
B)  instituting policies and procedures that facilitate rather than impede effective strategy execution 
C)  allocating ample resources to required activities 
D)  tying rewards directly to the achievement of performance objectives 
E)  all of these choices are correct. 
A)  building an organization with the capabilities,people,and structure needed for execution 
B)  instituting policies and procedures that facilitate rather than impede effective strategy execution 
C)  allocating ample resources to required activities 
D)  tying rewards directly to the achievement of performance objectives 
E)  all of these choices are correct.

Question 3

The purpose of managing by walking around or MBWA is to

Accepted Answer

A)  learn more about company operations and see how activities are really being done. 
B)  gather information about what is happening from people at different organizational levels and learn firsthand how well the strategy execution process is proceeding. 
C)  give employees a chance to make suggestions for improvement. 
D)  gather information about what strategy to follow and to learn what competitors are doing. 
E)  be visible and accessible to employees. 
A)  learn more about company operations and see how activities are really being done. 
B)  gather information about what is happening from people at different organizational levels and learn firsthand how well the strategy execution process is proceeding. 
C)  give employees a chance to make suggestions for improvement. 
D)  gather information about what strategy to follow and to learn what competitors are doing. 
E)  be visible and accessible to employees.

Question 4

The character of a company's corporate culture is a product of

Accepted Answer

A)  the company's core values and business principles. 
B)  its style of operating and ingrained behaviors and attitudes. 
C)  the "chemistry" that permeates its work environment. 
D)  the work practices and behaviors that define "how we do things around here." 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  the company's core values and business principles. 
B)  its style of operating and ingrained behaviors and attitudes. 
C)  the "chemistry" that permeates its work environment. 
D)  the work practices and behaviors that define "how we do things around here." 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 5

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

Accepted Answer

A)  link the payment of all monetary rewards to the company's profitability. 
B)  employ incentives that will help motivate employees to work hard at performing their assigned duties and activities. 
C)  choose those types of rewards and incentives that focus employees' attention on "what to do." 
D)  make across-the-board wage and salary increases the cornerstone of monetary rewards. 
E)  make both monetary and nonmonetary rewards integral parts of the reward system. 
A)  link the payment of all monetary rewards to the company's profitability. 
B)  employ incentives that will help motivate employees to work hard at performing their assigned duties and activities. 
C)  choose those types of rewards and incentives that focus employees' attention on "what to do." 
D)  make across-the-board wage and salary increases the cornerstone of monetary rewards. 
E)  make both monetary and nonmonetary rewards integral parts of the reward system.

Question 6

What are the distinctive features of adaptive corporate cultures?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What are the distinctive features of adaptive...

Question 7

Successfully leading the effort to foster a results-oriented,high-performance culture generally requires simple leadership practices,such as

Accepted Answer

A)  treating employees with dignity and respect. 
B)  encouraging employees to use initiatives and creativity in performing their work to continually make changes to operating practices. 
C)  setting strain objectives to push the envelope on sales efforts. 
D)  focusing attention on motivational techniques that instill self-interest,which is the cornerstone of the free enterprise system. 
E)  celebrating management's success with high incentives and loyalty trips. 
A)  treating employees with dignity and respect. 
B)  encouraging employees to use initiatives and creativity in performing their work to continually make changes to operating practices. 
C)  setting strain objectives to push the envelope on sales efforts. 
D)  focusing attention on motivational techniques that instill self-interest,which is the cornerstone of the free enterprise system. 
E)  celebrating management's success with high incentives and loyalty trips.

Question 8

Once company managers have decided on a strategy,the emphasis turns to

Accepted Answer

A)  converting the strategy into actions and good results. 
B)  empowering employees to revise and reorganize value chain activities to match the strategy. 
C)  establishing policies and procedures that instruct company personnel in the ways and means of executing the strategy. 
D)  developing a detailed implementation plan that sets forth exactly what every department and every manager needs to do to proficiently execute the company's strategy. 
E)  building the core competencies and competitive capabilities needed to execute the strategy. 
A)  converting the strategy into actions and good results. 
B)  empowering employees to revise and reorganize value chain activities to match the strategy. 
C)  establishing policies and procedures that instruct company personnel in the ways and means of executing the strategy. 
D)  developing a detailed implementation plan that sets forth exactly what every department and every manager needs to do to proficiently execute the company's strategy. 
E)  building the core competencies and competitive capabilities needed to execute the strategy.

Question 9

Changing a problem culture

Accepted Answer

A)  is one of the toughest managerial tasks because of the tendency of company personnel to cling to familiar practices and ways of doing things. 
B)  is best done by instituting an aggressive program to train employees in the ways and beliefs of the new culture to be implanted. 
C)  is best done by selecting a team of key employees to lead the culture change effort. 
D)  requires writing a new statement of core values and describing in writing the kind of culture that is needed. 
E)  can be done quickly only if managers tie incentive compensation to exhibiting the desired new cultural behaviors and if managers visibly praise people who exhibit the desired new cultural traits. 
A)  is one of the toughest managerial tasks because of the tendency of company personnel to cling to familiar practices and ways of doing things. 
B)  is best done by instituting an aggressive program to train employees in the ways and beliefs of the new culture to be implanted. 
C)  is best done by selecting a team of key employees to lead the culture change effort. 
D)  requires writing a new statement of core values and describing in writing the kind of culture that is needed. 
E)  can be done quickly only if managers tie incentive compensation to exhibiting the desired new cultural behaviors and if managers visibly praise people who exhibit the desired new cultural traits.

Question 10

Leading the strategy execution process requires

Accepted Answer

A)  senior managers to be out in the field,seeing for themselves how well operations are going. 
B)  company managers to be diligent and adept in ferreting out problems and issues. 
C)  managers to push for better results when the strategy execution effort is not going well. 
D)  managers to have good business judgment in deciding what actions to take when corrective actions are necessary. 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  senior managers to be out in the field,seeing for themselves how well operations are going. 
B)  company managers to be diligent and adept in ferreting out problems and issues. 
C)  managers to push for better results when the strategy execution effort is not going well. 
D)  managers to have good business judgment in deciding what actions to take when corrective actions are necessary. 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 11

Putting constructive pressure on the organization to achieve good results and operating excellence entails

Accepted Answer

A)  setting stretch objectives and creating an expectation that company personnel are to do their best in achieving performance targets. 
B)  utilizing the full range of motivational techniques and compensation incentives to reward high performance. 
C)  treating employees with dignity and respect. 
D)  encouraging employees to use initiative and creativity in performing their work. 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  setting stretch objectives and creating an expectation that company personnel are to do their best in achieving performance targets. 
B)  utilizing the full range of motivational techniques and compensation incentives to reward high performance. 
C)  treating employees with dignity and respect. 
D)  encouraging employees to use initiative and creativity in performing their work. 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 12

Executing strategy

Accepted Answer

A)  is primarily an operations-driven activity revolving around the management of people and business processes. 
B)  tests a manager's ability to direct organizational change and achieve continuous improvement in operations and business processes. 
C)  tests a manager's ability to create and nurture a strategy-supportive culture. 
D)  tests a manager's ability to consistently meet or beat performance targets. 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  is primarily an operations-driven activity revolving around the management of people and business processes. 
B)  tests a manager's ability to direct organizational change and achieve continuous improvement in operations and business processes. 
C)  tests a manager's ability to create and nurture a strategy-supportive culture. 
D)  tests a manager's ability to consistently meet or beat performance targets. 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 13

Ways to improve the performance of strategy-critical activities and promote superior strategy execution include

Accepted Answer

A)  business process reengineering. 
B)  a corporate culture that has a core value of operating excellence. 
C)  benchmarking. 
D)  Six Sigma quality control and TQM techniques. 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  business process reengineering. 
B)  a corporate culture that has a core value of operating excellence. 
C)  benchmarking. 
D)  Six Sigma quality control and TQM techniques. 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 14

What is meant by empowerment of employees? How does it differ from delegation of authority? In what ways can empowerment of employees aid the cause of good strategy execution?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is meant by empowerment of employees?...

Question 15

What is the value of striving for continuous improvement in processes and activities? How does TQM differ from business process reengineering?

Accepted Answer

The value of striving for continuous imp

Question 16

The disadvantages of a centralized organizational structure include

Accepted Answer

A)  making the organization sluggish in responding to changing conditions. 
B)  a loss of top management control. 
C)  putting too much decision-making authority in the hands of lower-level company personnel. 
D)  making it hard to fix accountability when things do not go well and putting the organization at risk when bad decisions are made. 
E)  impeding cross-unit coordination and capture of strategic fits. 
A)  making the organization sluggish in responding to changing conditions. 
B)  a loss of top management control. 
C)  putting too much decision-making authority in the hands of lower-level company personnel. 
D)  making it hard to fix accountability when things do not go well and putting the organization at risk when bad decisions are made. 
E)  impeding cross-unit coordination and capture of strategic fits.

Question 17

In moving to alter a problem culture,management should

Accepted Answer

A)  identify which aspects of the present culture are supportive of good strategy execution and which ones are not. 
B)  specify what new actions,behaviors,and work practices should be prominent in the "new" culture. 
C)  talk openly about the problems of the present culture and how new behaviors will improve performance. 
D)  employ visible,forceful actions-both substantive and symbolic-to ingrain a new set of behaviors,practices,and cultural norms. 
E)  All of these choices are correct. 
A)  identify which aspects of the present culture are supportive of good strategy execution and which ones are not. 
B)  specify what new actions,behaviors,and work practices should be prominent in the "new" culture. 
C)  talk openly about the problems of the present culture and how new behaviors will improve performance. 
D)  employ visible,forceful actions-both substantive and symbolic-to ingrain a new set of behaviors,practices,and cultural norms. 
E)  All of these choices are correct.

Question 18

The overriding aim in building a management team should be to

Accepted Answer

A)  select people who are committed to decentralizing decision making and empowering employees. 
B)  assemble a critical mass of talented managers who can function as agents of change and further the cause of first-rate strategy execution. 
C)  choose managers experienced in controlling costs and flattening the organization structure. 
D)  select people who have similar management styles,leadership approaches,business philosophies,and personalities. 
E)  choose managers who believe in having a strong corporate culture and deeply ingrained core values. 
A)  select people who are committed to decentralizing decision making and empowering employees. 
B)  assemble a critical mass of talented managers who can function as agents of change and further the cause of first-rate strategy execution. 
C)  choose managers experienced in controlling costs and flattening the organization structure. 
D)  select people who have similar management styles,leadership approaches,business philosophies,and personalities. 
E)  choose managers who believe in having a strong corporate culture and deeply ingrained core values.

Question 19

Unhealthy company cultures typically have such characteristics as

Accepted Answer

A)  tight budget controls,overly strict enforcement of long-standing policies and procedures,and low ethical standards. 
B)  a preference for conservative strategies,an aversion to incentive compensation,and excessive emphasis on profitability. 
C)  a politicized internal environment; hostility to change; an insular,inwardly focused culture; and unethical or greed-driven behavior on the part of executives. 
D)  overemphasis on employee empowerment,a complacent approach to building competencies and capabilities,no coherent business philosophy,and excessively bureaucratic policies and procedures. 
E)  too little emphasis on innovation,a strong preference for hiring managers from outside the company,very few core values and traditions,and a weakly enforced code of ethics. 
A)  tight budget controls,overly strict enforcement of long-standing policies and procedures,and low ethical standards. 
B)  a preference for conservative strategies,an aversion to incentive compensation,and excessive emphasis on profitability. 
C)  a politicized internal environment; hostility to change; an insular,inwardly focused culture; and unethical or greed-driven behavior on the part of executives. 
D)  overemphasis on employee empowerment,a complacent approach to building competencies and capabilities,no coherent business philosophy,and excessively bureaucratic policies and procedures. 
E)  too little emphasis on innovation,a strong preference for hiring managers from outside the company,very few core values and traditions,and a weakly enforced code of ethics.

Question 20

A decentralized organization structure is more likely to further the cause of good strategy execution than is a centralized organization structure. Justify your answer.

Accepted Answer

The statement that a decentralized organ

Which of the following is generally not among the practices that companies use to staff jobs with the best people they can find?

The principal managerial actions and initiatives undertaken in the strategy execution process include which of the following?

The purpose of managing by walking around or MBWA is to

The character of a company's corporate culture is a product of

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

What are the distinctive features of adaptive corporate cultures?

Successfully leading the effort to foster a results-oriented,high-performance culture generally requires simple leadership practices,such as

Once company managers have decided on a strategy,the emphasis turns to

Changing a problem culture

Leading the strategy execution process requires

Putting constructive pressure on the organization to achieve good results and operating excellence entails

Executing strategy

Ways to improve the performance of strategy-critical activities and promote superior strategy execution include

What is meant by empowerment of employees? How does it differ from delegation of authority? In what ways can empowerment of employees aid the cause of good strategy execution?

What is the value of striving for continuous improvement in processes and activities? How does TQM differ from business process reengineering?

The disadvantages of a centralized organizational structure include

In moving to alter a problem culture,management should

The overriding aim in building a management team should be to

Unhealthy company cultures typically have such characteristics as

A decentralized organization structure is more likely to further the cause of good strategy execution than is a centralized organization structure. Justify your answer.

Strategy,Business Models, and Competitive Advantage

Strategy Formulation, Execution, and Governance

Evaluating a Companys External Environment

Evaluating a Company Resources, Capabilities, and Competitiveness

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies

Strength-Ending a Company Competitive Position: Strategic Moves, Timing, and Scope of Operations

Strategies for Competing in International Markets

Corporate Strategy: Diversification and the Multi-Business Company

Ethics,Corporate Social Responsibility,Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy

Filters

Exam 10: Super Strategy Execution-Another Path to Competitive Advantage

Which of the following is generally not among the practices that companies use to staff jobs with the best people they can find?

The principal managerial actions and initiatives undertaken in the strategy execution process include which of the following?

The purpose of managing by walking around or MBWA is to

The character of a company's corporate culture is a product of

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

What are the distinctive features of adaptive corporate cultures?

Successfully leading the effort to foster a results-oriented,high-performance culture generally requires simple leadership practices,such as

Once company managers have decided on a strategy,the emphasis turns to

Changing a problem culture

Leading the strategy execution process requires

Putting constructive pressure on the organization to achieve good results and operating excellence entails

Executing strategy

Ways to improve the performance of strategy-critical activities and promote superior strategy execution include

What is meant by empowerment of employees? How does it differ from delegation of authority? In what ways can empowerment of employees aid the cause of good strategy execution?

What is the value of striving for continuous improvement in processes and activities? How does TQM differ from business process reengineering?

The disadvantages of a centralized organizational structure include

In moving to alter a problem culture,management should

The overriding aim in building a management team should be to

Unhealthy company cultures typically have such characteristics as

A decentralized organization structure is more likely to further the cause of good strategy execution than is a centralized organization structure. Justify your answer.

Strategy,Business Models, and Competitive Advantage

Strategy Formulation, Execution, and Governance

Evaluating a Companys External Environment

Evaluating a Company Resources, Capabilities, and Competitiveness

The Five Generic Competitive Strategies

Strength-Ending a Company Competitive Position: Strategic Moves, Timing, and Scope of Operations

Strategies for Competing in International Markets

Corporate Strategy: Diversification and the Multi-Business Company

Ethics,Corporate Social Responsibility,Environmental Sustainability, and Strategy

Filters