Deck 11: Strategic Leadership and Managing Crises and Change

Question 1

A clear vision establishes a standard of excellence.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

A vision statement is the backbone of the organization and should remain the same over time.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

A vision statement includes ideology.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

The ultimate purpose of any strategic plan is to identify and satisfy its customers' needs.

Question 5

Strategic leadership should foster and promote teamwork throughout the organization.

Question 6

An essential component of an organizational strategy includes crisis management.

Question 7

It is best to have a crisis team made up of people who share similar perceptions regarding crisis.

Question 8

A SWOT analysis is not a function of a crisis assessment.

Question 9

To prepare the organization for a crisis, simulations can be used.

Question 10

Effective leaders view crisis management as a team effort.

Question 11

Training and communication are not necessary in the change implementation process.

Question 12

Effective strategic leaders:

A) create an environment for organizational learning
B) serve as steward and role model
C) conceptualize the organization's model, mission, and core values
D) all of the answers are correct

Question 13

Managers must:

A) implement strategy
B) motivate workers
C) implement strategy and motivate workers
D) none of the answers are correct

Question 14

An effective crisis team:

A) challenge one another
B) are consistent in their thinking
C) agree with one another
D) think through high-level analysis

Question 15

All of the following are included in the five-step process for risk assessment EXCEPT:

A) risk reduction strategies
B) crisis prevention simulations
C) risk-leader selection
D) crisis management

Question 16

Leaders of crisis should:

A) stay engaged
B) focus on the big picture
C) communicate the vision
D) lead from the front
E) all of the answers are correct

Question 17

__________ change consists of the activities associated with planning, designing, implementing, and internalizing tools, procedures, routines, processes, or systems that will require people to perform their jobs differently.

A) Strategic
B) Organizational
C) Functional
D) none of the answers are correct

Question 18

Which of the following is NOT one of the major reasons why people resist change?

A) threat of one's self interest
B) threat to personal values
C) threat to personal safety
D) lack of confidence that change will succeed

Question 19

Which of the following is a guideline for overcoming resistance to people-oriented change?

A) Assemble a coalition of supporters inside and outside the organization
B) Align organizational structure with a new strategy
C) Recruit and fill key positions with competent and committed supporters
D) Ensure that change efforts are adequately staffed

Question 20

Which of the following is a guideline for overcoming resistance to task-oriented change?

A) Communicate the need and the urgency for change to everyone
B) Avoid micromanaging
C) Show relentless support and unquestionable commitment to the change process
D) Transfer the implementation process to a working team

Question 21

What are the current factors or trends that make precrisis planning an important aspect of strategic leadership?

Question 22

Why is it important to analyze the internal and external environment in developing a strategy?

Question 23

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-After a recent plane crash, the CEO pays for all the family or close friends of the victims to come to a central location and provides them with counseling services, support, and accommodations. Which guideline to effective communication is the CEO adhering?

A) be present
B) don't "spin"
C) communicate plan of action
D) be sensitive with affected parties
E) avoid conflicting messages
F) show a plan for how you will avoid a repeat in the future
G) don't make excuses for the leader
H)go the extra mile
I)take credit without being self-absorbed
J)be honest and straightforward with the media

Question 24

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-One of the largest airlines in the country is in negotiations with the pilot, flight attendant, and mechanic unions to discuss how a bankruptcy might be adverted. After a day-long conference between the CEO of the airline and the heads of the pilot, flight attendant, and mechanic unions, all four leaders take time to talk to the media together. Which guideline of effective communication are these leaders concerned with?

A) be present
B) don't "spin"
C) communicate plan of action
D) be sensitive with affected parties
E) avoid conflicting messages
F) show a plan for how you will avoid a repeat in the future
G) don't make excuses for the leader
H)go the extra mile
I)take credit without being self-absorbed
J)be honest and straightforward with the media

Question 25

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-The supervisor of the printing shop has just announced that the company will buy new machines to replace the old ones. The word through the grapevine is that workers are not very receptive to this change because they believe new machines will need fewer operators. You have just returned from a workshop on change and resistance to change. The reason for resisting this change is because of:

A) threat to one's self interest
B) uncertainty
C) lack of confidence that change will succeed
D) lack of conviction that change is necessary
E) distrust of leadership
F) threat to personal values
G) fear of being manipulated

Question 26

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-A manager announces to his department that a pay cut is being discussed as one option to cut cost and keep prices competitive. Employee reaction to this announcement is negative because they believe management is overpaid and should be the ones taking a pay cut. As one employee puts it, "We should not let them take advantage of us." The reason for resisting this change is:

A) threat to one's self interest
B) uncertainty
C) lack of confidence that change will succeed
D) lack of conviction that change is necessary
E) distrust of leadership
F) threat to personal values
G) fear of being manipulated

Question 27

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-As manager of the Information Technology (IT) department, you see a need to bring in a new network system for your organization; however, you encounter resistance because many people do not see the need for a new system when the current one is only a year old and working fine. Employees are resisting this change because of:

A) threat to one's self interest
B) uncertainty
C) lack of confidence that change will succeed
D) lack of conviction that change is necessary
E) distrust of leadership
F) threat to personal values
G) fear of being manipulated

Question 28

APPLYING THE CONCEPT

-A foreign company has just bought your company. As the news spreads concerning the buyout, employees are wondering why the decision to sell and what is known about the foreign buyer. You, as CEO, are trying to address these questions with little success. The employees' resistance is because of:

A) threat to one's self interest
B) uncertainty
C) lack of confidence that change will succeed
D) lack of conviction that change is necessary
E) distrust of leadership
F) threat to personal values
G) fear of being manipulated

Question 29

Write an inspiring vision statement for an organization you work or worked for. If the company has one, you may use it or revise it. Explain why you think it has an inspirational appeal.

Question 30

Write an inspiring mission statement for an organization you work or worked for. If it has one, you may use it or revise it. Explain the core values and core purpose of your mission statement.

Question 31

Identify the core competence of an organization you work or worked for. Explain how it differentiates the organization from its competitors.

Question 32

Identify someone who has been or is part of a crisis prevention and management team. Ask him or her to describe the makeup and functioning of this team.

Question 33

Using your college as a reference, identify five risk areas that could result in crisis. Recommend a risk reduction plan or strategy for one of these risks that can help your school avert or deal with a crisis if the risk materializes.

Question 34

Think of a leader whom you have observed in a crisis situation, either in person or on TV. Compare your evaluation of this leader's performance to former New York Mayor Guiliani's performance during the September 11, 2001 crisis.

Question 35

Based on the business you selected to start in Skill-Development Exercise 1, what would be some of your strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, compared to your competitors?

Question 36

Based on the business you selected to start in Skill-Development Exercise 1, develop a vision statement for your business.

Question 37

Based on the business you selected to start in Skill-Development Exercise 1, develop a mission statement for your business.

Question 38

Based on the business you selected to start in Skill-Development Exercise 1, identify your business's core competencies.

Question 39

Based on the planned change you selected in Skill-Development Exercise 2, write out your plan using the force-field model.