Deck 4: Institutional and Departmental Mission and Goals and Strategic Management

Question 1

The University of Denver Division of Athletics & Recreation provides athletic, recreational and entertainment opportunities that meet the needs of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Denver community. To fulfill the mission, the Division will do each of the following EXCEPT:

A) Serve as a positive presence and unifying force in the community.
B) Foster personal growth and development.
C) Provide diverse and equitable programming.
D) Require that all undergraduate students meet specific fitness benchmarks prior to graduation.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

An athletic department's mission statement provides each of the following EXCEPT:

A) A summary of what an organization does or seeks to do
B) A specific listing of all programs offered
C) A sense of direction for every individual and group in the organization
D) A look at the department's long-term vision―what it wants to be and whom it wants to serve

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which of the following outlines elements of the Creighton University Athletics mission statement?

A) Athletics, like all facets of the University, should be faithful to the Jesuit tradition
B) Competitive excellence is a goal to be attained regardless of impact on academics or finances
C) That justice and equity are present in the distribution of resources
D) Unity exists between the athletic program and all elements of the University

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The Mission and Goals Statement for Texas Woman's University athletics includes eight objectives so that the program can "contribute positively to the optimal development of each individual student in a learning environment that empowers and affirms the full development of women. Which of the following is not one of these objectives?

A) Contribute to the optimum level of fitness, performance and well-being of each student-athlete.
B) Encourage scholarship and the attainment of a baccalaureate degree for each student-athlete.
C) Generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships to cover all athletics expenses.
D) Provide an atmosphere for student-athletes to realize the importance of others and the value of teamwork and cooperation in attaining goals.

Question 5

The primary purpose of the athletic program at the University of the South is

A) To attract students to increase undergraduate enrollment.
B) To establish meaningful connections with alumni and off-campus stakeholder groups.
C) To generate revenue through ticket sales and sponsorships.
D) To make the most positive contribution possible to the present and future physical, emotional and social well-being of students, faculty and staff

Question 6

The University of Denver has articulated its mission to provide athletic, recreational and entertainment opportunities that meet the needs of students, faculty, staff, alumni and the Denver community. To fulfill the mission, the Division will provide diverse and equitable programming, serve as a positive presence and unifying force in the community, foster personal growth and development, and Provide powerful and meaningful experiences, which forge enduring bonds with the University vision. This is an example of considerations that impact which step of the strategic management process?

A) Step 1: Establish the organization's direction
B) Step 2: Analyze the situation and compare the organization to its environment
C) Step 3: Formulate Strategy
D) Step 4: Implement Strategy
E) Step 5: Ensure strategic control

Question 7

The general environment can be divided into which five dimensions or subcategories of change?

A) Active, financial, business, economic, technological
B) Local, particular, task, organizational, technological
C) Social, economic, political/legal, technological, global
D) Social, personal, financial, organizational, political/legal

Question 8

The University of Denver strategic plan identifies "commit to integrity and compliance" as a core value. This is an example of the influence of which task environment element?

A) Competitors
B) Customers
C) Regulators
D) Suppliers

Question 9

If the University of Denver were to add football or women's ice hockey programs, or increase emphasis on men's basketball, this would be an example of which type of business-level strategy?

A) Focus
B) Differentiation
C) Operational
D) Transformative

Question 10

University of Denver athletics has an articulated core value to "compete for championships," with a goal to "achieve Director's Cup title by finishing as the Top Division 1-AAA program in the country on an annual basis" (meaning among schools without football), referring to rankings in Learfield IMG College Directors' Cup standings, the award presented annually by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics to the best overall athletic programs in each NCAA division and the NAIA. This is an example of considerations that impact which step of the exerting of strategic control?

A) Establish/identify performance standards
B) Monitor performance
C) Compare performance to standards
D) Take corrective action

Question 11

The athletics philosophy of the University of the South states that "to the greatest extent practicable, the place of the varsity athlete shall be undifferentiated from the place of any other student. Athletic opportunities for the non-varsity student shall be conducted on a footing of seriousness as close as possible to that of varsity sports, and the non-varsity opportunities (in club, intramural, instructional, and general fitness programs) shall be as wide and of as high a quality as University resources permit."

Question 12

The last step in analyzing the organization's situation is to assess the environment for opportunities and threats. Two categories of environments must be monitored: The specific environment which is shared by every organization in a society; and the general environment, which is unique to a particular organization.

Question 13

The task environment includes the factors in the environment that directly impact a specific organization, and are the elements located closer to the organization. These elements include competitors, customers, and regulators.

Question 14

In strategic management terms, a strategy is the course of action an organization selects to minimize threats and maximize opportunities that emerge in the environment. Strategic alternatives are the options that management identifies as the possible courses of action for obtaining its goals. The three levels of strategic alternatives are corporate, bureaucratic, and functional.

Question 15

Global change has been perhaps the most volatile recent environmental factor. International politics and economic conditions have been dramatically altered by the sudden shift of whole geographic regions to more capitalist economic systems. Global change has affected University of Denver most significantly though the presence of foreign-born student-athletes, most notable in men's ice hockey, men's tennis, and women's skiing.

Question 16

Assess the athletics mission statements of Creighton and Texas Woman's University, and explain whether each meets expectations of an effective mission statement.

Question 17

Identify and explain the primary and secondary purposes of the athletic department at the University of the South (a.k.a., Sewanee), as outlined in its Athletic Philosophy statement.

Question 18

Explain what is to be achieved by investigating the "focus of the business" for intercollegiate athletic programs.

Question 19

Conduct a thorough general and task environmental analysis for the University of Denver to determine the feasibility of adding either football or a women's ice hockey program.