Deck 2: The Strategic Management Process

Question 1

Teach For America (TFA)has an inspiring mission,which is to eliminate educational inequality in the U.S.What is a major benefit discussed that TFA garnered by effectively using this mission?

A) An extensive network to use for job openings at the end of two years of service.
B) Significant supplemental income for the TFA workers while in the field.
C) Scholarships for graduate programs at the end of the two years.
D) A large number of applicants driving a highly selective group in the teaching jobs.

Answer 1

D
Explanation: The acceptance rates for TFA mirror those at top schools such as Harvard and Stanford.

Question 2

Intended strategy is the combination of emergent and realized strategies.

Answer 2

False
Explanation: Intended strategy is the top-down strategic plan from senior managers.

Question 3

The Real Options approach was used by Microsoft in its decision to close down the Keywords initiative.

Answer 3

False
Explanation: There is evidence Microsoft was not patient with the project, and real options tend to encourage patience with investments in small amounts.

Question 4

A situation when part or all of a firm's strategic plan falls by the wayside due to unexpected events is called an unrealized strategy.

Question 5

Realized strategy is a top-down process by which executives design a rational and structured strategic plan.

Question 6

The strategic management process describes the method by which managers conceive of and implement a strategy that can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage.

Question 7

A mission describes what an organization actually does,what its business is,and why it does it.

Question 8

A company's mission should be customer-oriented because this helps the firm retain flexibility in changing environments.

Question 9

Teach For America has an inspiring mission but it also pays above-average salaries to attract nearly 50,000 applicants each year.

Question 10

When it comes to a firm's vision,mission,and values,it can be said that:

A) Once instituted in the organization, the vision, mission, and values of a firm should be left alone, regardless of whether the company is successful or not.
B) New firms have to create these by using a driving vision to shape their mission and values, and existing firms should fine-tune their mission and values and reaffirm their values periodically.
C) New firms should modify their vision, mission, or values as they grow, but established firms should stick to what has worked in the past.
D) Existing firms should regularly discard their vision and mission in a renewal process.

Question 11

The process that describes the method by which managers conceive of and implement a strategy that can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage is called what?

A) Strategic process
B) Strategic technology
C) Strategic management
D) Strategic planning

Question 12

In order for managers to determine the vision,mission,and values for their organization,they should:

A) Begin by asking "What is our competitive advantage?"
B) Determine what strategic group they belong to first.
C) Begin with the "end in mind."
D) Seek employee feedback.

Question 13

Resource Allocation Process (RAP)describes the way in which resources are allocated,and argues that it is critical in shaping a firm's realized strategy.

Question 14

In the implementation stage of scenario planning,managers will activate the dominant strategic plan.

Question 15

Managers may use a combination of intended and emergent strategy to create a realized strategy.

Question 16

Organizational learning and flexibility are enhanced by the circular nature of scenario planning.

Question 17

Strategic intent is used by firms to help define their short-term objectives.

Question 18

Teach For America (TFA)recruits recent college graduates and professionals to teach for a two-year commitment in socially and economically disadvantaged communities.What is a major component of their recruiting campaign for applicants?

A) An extensive network to use for job openings at the end of two years of service.
B) An inspiring mission to eliminate educational inequality.
C) Significant supplemental income for the TFA workers while in the field.
D) Scholarships for graduate programs at the end of the two years.

Question 19

The analogy about building a new home is relevant to strategy because you use vision,mission,and values to begin with the end in mind.Strategic success must be created twice.Once by creating a clear mental picture of what the firm wants to accomplish and second ____________.

A) by formulating and implementing a strategy to make the vision a reality
B) by holding department meetings to communicate the vision
C) to create a strong value system that will bind the company together in tough times
D) by creating a blueprint for the organization to use in creating new mission statements

Question 20

Top-down strategic planning works best in more uncertain situations because the firm hand of senior leadership is best at seeing the future.

Question 21

As noted in Strategy Highlight 2.1,the small Japanese company with the electric rice cooker faced very long odds in getting a license from Bell Labs for using their transistor.The end result of the effort to get the license was what?

A) The Japanese firm got the license but was not able to produce the desired radio.
B) The Japanese firm got the license and used it successfully in their rice cooker.
C) The Japanese firm introduced the first pocket-sized radio, but the market was not ready for it and sales were weak.
D) The Japanese firm introduced the world's first pocket-sized radio to great market success.

Question 22

A mission describes ____________.

A) what a business will do in the future
B) what a business actually does and why it does it
C) what the norms are of the business
D) what the business has done historically

Question 23

Many of the early U.S.railroad companies defined themselves as being in the railroad business instead of being in the transportation needs business.These companies used ______________.

A) resource-based missions
B) customer-oriented missions
C) product-oriented missions
D) responsive missions

Question 24

Better World Books (BWB)wanted to fight illiteracy by donating 50 percent of its revenues,as stated in its mission.The fact that it had to later reduce the donation amount to between 7-10 percent is a reflection of the fact that:

A) The declared mission of an organization can sometimes negatively impact its financial performance.
B) The declared mission of an organization is often too complicated to execute.
C) The declared mission of an organization needs to be product-oriented.
D) The declared mission of an organization should not include financial measurements.

Question 25

Staking out a desired leadership position that far exceeds a company's current resources and capabilities is called what?

A) Strategic planning
B) Strategic management
C) Strategic intent
D) Strategic process

Question 26

As noted in Strategy Highlight 2.1,the small Japanese company with the electric rice cooker became the highly successful firm Sony.However,more recently Sony has not performed very well.To what can this be attributed?

A) Large competitive pressures in their strategic group has cost Sony much market share and thus revenue opportunity.
B) A failure to set new stretch goals after accomplishing many of their older ones.
C) The strategic planning process was highly flawed.
D) The recent economic downturn was too much for the firm to adjust to.

Question 27

Which one of the following best describes a product-oriented mission?

A) It defines the means of how a customer need will be met.
B) It is the best type of mission for most firms to have.
C) It has a higher likelihood of remaining relevant in the long-term.
D) It defines a business in terms of a good or service provided.

Question 28

Visionary companies differ from their competition in that:

A) Employees in visionary organizations find meaning in their work and are motivated.
B) A visionary company focuses on scenario planning and future competitive threats.
C) In a visionary company it is the CEO's managerial style that gives the company its emergent strategy.
D) Visionary companies typically emphasize measuring financial performance.

Question 29

Customer-oriented missions are defined as __________________.

A) providing solutions to employee needs
B) providing solutions to customer needs
C) providing solutions to executive needs
D) providing solutions to stockholder needs

Question 30

When Disney says its mission is "to make people happy," they translate that mission into which of the following actions as discussed in the text?

A) Employees are screened for their acting ability at all levels of the organization.
B) They bought Pixar to make more movies that audiences would enjoy.
C) They adjust their ticket prices seasonally to meet customer demand.
D) Employees are cast members to help the customers enjoy the "show" throughout the park.

Question 31

It is important to separate having a customer-oriented mission from listening to your customers.If Henry Ford had merely listened to his customers of 100 years ago what would he have done?

A) He would have teamed up with the Wright brothers in making bicycles.
B) He would have built more comfortable passenger cars for trains.
C) He would have built a better horse and buggy.
D) He would have invested in steam ships for riding the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

Question 32

Which of the following is NOT true concerning a customer-oriented mission?

A) It defines the means of how a customer need will be met.
B) It has more flexibility than a product-oriented mission.
C) It has a higher likelihood of remaining relevant in the long-term.
D) Organizations that have customer-oriented missions are more likely to be successful.

Question 33

A business statement defined in terms of a good or service provided is called a _______________.

A) customized mission
B) service-centered mission
C) product-oriented mission
D) customer-centered mission

Question 34

Mission statements can also be used to help refocus a firm on its main line of business.One example of this given in the text is:

A) Ben & Jerry's expanding beyond ice cream into other food categories.
B) Disney selling off its theme parks to focus on movies.
C) Shell Canada selling off its chemicals and forestry businesses.
D) Ford Motors moving into hybrid cars and SUVs.

Question 35

Strategic intent is considered to be forward-looking and future-oriented.It is most useful in situations where _______________.

A) large firms are close competitors with others
B) all the firms competing in a market are very similar
C) small firms are wanting to compete against bigger, more established firms
D) the dominant plan from a scenario planning process is identified

Question 36

It has been found that visionary companies outperform other companies by more than 1,400 percent.One reason for this is:

A) Their stated missions encapsulate their aspirations.
B) Their employees are better trained.
C) They are focused on profits.
D) They are typically start-ups and are thus more highly motivated.

Question 37

Mission statements have been shown to be associated with firm performance.In many cases,organizations with sound missions are more successful; however,what is far less clear is ________.

A) that customer-oriented missions provide more flexibility than product-oriented ones
B) whether this mission actually causes a firm to have a competitive advantage
C) whether missions can be inspirational for both employees and customers
D) whether the mission should describe what the firm actually does

Question 38

If the early U.S.railroad companies defined themselves as being in the transportation needs business,which is more customer-oriented,they might have successfully moved into what product/service before any other firm?

A) Commercial aviation (such as Delta and United)
B) Modern shipping and logistics (such as FedEx and UPS)
C) International cargo containers on large ocean ships
D) Fuel efficient automobiles (such as Toyota and Ford)

Question 39

When an organization briefly describes what its business is about and why it does it,they have articulated a _______________.

A) Values statement
B) Mission statement
C) Strategic plan
D) Competitive advantage

Question 40

Chinese companies such as BYD and Lenovo made global leadership their mission.One of the tools they used to accomplish this position is what?

A) Stretch goals
B) Efficient goals
C) Reach goals
D) Enhanced goals

Question 41

One of Henry Mintzberg's criticisms of the strategic planning process is that:

A) It does not allow for strategic thinking.
B) It rarely, if ever, gets implemented.
C) It is too reliant on employee feedback.
D) Managers do not like to use it.

Question 42

When strategizing for competitive advantage,managers rely on different approaches that can complement one other.Which one of the following is NOT an approach a firm may use?

A) Strategic planning
B) Strategy as planned emergence
C) Strategy implantation
D) Scenario planning

Question 43

Questions such as "What resources do we need if this happens?" and "How can we shape our anticipated future environment?" are performed under what stage of the AFI framework?

A) The formulation stage
B) The forecasting stage
C) The installation stage
D) The iteration stage

Question 44

McKesson,a $110 billion health care company,is provided as an example firm with clear and compelling organizational values.All of the following items are examples of living the values EXCEPT which one?

A) The ethics and behavior models are the cornerstones of building the business.
B) ICARE values are printed out on all their marketing materials for new customers.
C) Employees worked long overtime hours to meet urgent needs during hurricane Katrina.
D) The ICARE values serve as a framework for how to deal with their customers.

Question 45

A set of values illustrates the firm's __________.

A) choice of where to do business
B) definition of what business is and why it does it
C) ethical standards and norms
D) positioning of what the business did in the past

Question 46

Google's decision in 2010 to pull its servers out of mainland China and operate out of Hong Kong was a response to what?

A) A drive to increase profits with a broader footprint in Asia.
B) A request from the Chinese government to leave the country.
C) A move to cut costs due to intense competition with the local search firm Baidu.
D) Google's decision to stop using self-censoring, as required by the Chinese government to stay operating in mainland China.

Question 47

To be effective,firms must implement their mission statements in strategic actions.The decision that Boeing made to develop the 787 Dreamliner is an example of what?

A) A costly and long-term strategic commitment
B) An attempt to win U.S. military contracts
C) The results of an emergent strategy
D) A customer-oriented mission statement

Question 48

The 2001 collapse of Enron resulted in the loss of jobs for over 20,000 employees.Arthur Anderson was also impacted by the Enron collapse and 30,000 employees lost their jobs.Why was Arthur Anderson so adversely affected by Enron's collapse?

A) Enron was a major client and Arthur Anderson could not survive the business downturn from the bankruptcy.
B) The firm was an accomplice in the accounting scandal at Enron.
C) Arthur Anderson was the target of a hostile takeover directly after Enron's collapse.
D) The accounting firm decided to get out of the entire energy sector as a result of the collapse of Enron.

Question 49

The 2001 collapse of Enron,resulting in one of the biggest bankruptcies in U.S.history,demonstrates that:

A) An organization may have a mission statement promoting ethical behavior, but it must have strong organizational values to guide the behavior of employees.
B) Employees observe managerial behavior and tend to follow it.
C) Having strong ethical values inside an organization is important for long-term success.
D) All of these.

Question 50

The fact that many organizations were caught off-guard by the recent economic downturn reflects that:

A) It is impossible to prepare for future situations.
B) There is a tendency to ignore negative outcomes when creating future scenarios.
C) "What if" questions are actually not that useful.
D) Managers usually wait until it is too late to implement strategic initiatives.

Question 51

Strategic planning differs from scenario planning in that:

A) Strategic planning is long-term planning; scenario planning is not.
B) Strategic planning is bottom-up from the employees, and scenario planning is top-down from the CEO.
C) Strategic planning is performed by many layers in the organization, while scenario planning is limited to top executives.
D) Strategic planning assumes that future success can be predicted; scenario planning allows for more unforeseen events.

Question 52

A dominant strategic plan in the scenario planning tool is which of the following managerial options?

A) It most accurately matches reality.
B) It matches the intended strategy.
C) It will be the only correct strategic plan.
D) It will be the only correct competitive advantage plan.

Question 53

When managers envision different what-if scenarios to anticipate possible futures,the approach that is used is called:

A) Strategic planning
B) Strategy as planned emergence
C) Strategy implantation
D) Scenario planning

Question 54

Johnson Homes was a real estate development firm with $25 million in available capital.The owner's mission was to "develop the highest-quality housing communities that deliver the ultimate lifestyle." His goal was to build high-end homes on a lake and develop biking trails and other recreational offerings.In order to accomplish this,he needed to pay 15 million dollars for a 10-year project to put in new water facilities,pave new entry and exit roads,and hire consultants to help him navigate state,city,and county regulations.Four years into the project,the owner did not hire the consultants and had only invested 25 percent of the required capital to build the water facility.In addition,he began to travel frequently and did not listen to his employees' complaints.Not surprisingly,the company went bankrupt.Which of these statements is most likely to be true?

A) The company failed because it did not have sufficient financial resources.
B) The company failed because it was too diversified.
C) The company failed because it was not backed up with strategic commitment.
D) The company failed because it was not a visionary company.

Question 55

In scenario planning,what is the key question to ask to begin to generate different scenarios?

A) What's happening now?
B) Where are we?
C) What if?
D) Where are we going?

Question 56

Shell Oil is provided as an example of a firm effectively using scenario planning.In the 1960s,they prepared for a strong OPEC and therefore rising oil prices.What are they now predicting about future energy needs?

A) Energy needs will continue to grow, spurred by BRIC countries.
B) In 2025, that 20 percent of our energy will be generated from renewable technologies.
C) That the Middle East leadership will fracture and oil prices will drop.
D) In 2025, that 50 percent of our energy will be generated from renewable technologies.

Question 57

The strategic management process follows which strategy framework?

A) AFI; Analyze-Formulate-Implement
B) AFE; Analyze-Formulate-Execute
C) API; Analyze-Plan-Implement
D) APE; Analyze-Plan-Execute

Question 58

Organizational values help people make choices that are ethical and company-goal-oriented.These values answer which strategic management question?

A) What do we want to accomplish as a firm?
B) How do we accomplish our goals in the organization?
C) What are we about as a firm relative to our competitors?
D) What is the best way to compete in the marketplace?

Question 59

The ethical standards and norms that should govern the behavior of the individuals within the firm are called what?

A) Values
B) The mission
C) The strategic plan
D) Competitive advantage

Question 60

Intel is provided as an example of a firm that has continuously changed its mission statement,including most recently moving to a customer-focused mission.This is an indication of what?

A) Missions are best left as they were originally crafted for the firm.
B) Intel's mission likely created its superior performance over this period.
C) Missions can be inspirational for both employees and customers.
D) The mission was changed after Intel had already changed its business focus.

Question 61

What is wrong with the following statement? "Intended strategies tend to be generated using a bottom-up approach."

A) Intended strategies are generated through emergent ideas.
B) Intended strategy is the final result of the AFI process.
C) Intended strategies lose the unrealized strategies along the process.
D) Intended strategies are generated using a top-down approach.

Question 62

One concept behind linking RAP,decision making,and strategy is:

A) How an organization uses its resources drives the decisions it makes, which can alter the strategy.
B) Decision making is based on realized strategy, not the resources available.
C) Firm resources and decision making do not affect intended strategy except in times of crisis.
D) In line with the tenets of strategic planning on a five-year cycle.

Question 63

Understanding the Resource Allocation Process (RAP)will have large effects on shaping a firm's realized strategy.Which of the following is an example of such an allocation of resources?

A) Starbucks' launch of iced drinks
B) Teach For America's mission statement
C) Shell's prediction about future energy sources
D) Intel's rule to "maximize margin-per-wafer-start"

Question 64

Japan Railways diversifying into bottled water is an example of turning a problem into a business opportunity.What type of strategy process does this represent?

A) Top-down strategic planning
B) An emergent strategy
C) An unrealized strategy
D) Scenario planning

Question 65

In Strategy Highlight 2.3,what type of strategy is the store manager of Starbucks using to develop new drinks for the stores?

A) She is using a rational planning approach to strategy.
B) She is creating a dominant strategy plan.
C) She is using scenario planning.
D) She is using an emergent strategy process.

Question 66

Animals Doll Company has manufactured and sold children's dolls for 25 years.In order to keep costs low,it sources its materials from China.An employee in one of its retail stores has noticed that there is increasing concern regarding the potential toxicity of the materials in the dolls.In response,she researched and found a supplier that provides organic,non-toxic cloth and filling.She has taken this information to her manager and has suggested that the company consider producing dolls with these materials.This is an example of:

A) A rational planning approach to strategy.
B) An emergent strategy process.
C) A good use of scenario planning.
D) A new dominant action plan.

Question 67

Strategic flexibility is achieved by:

A) Managers developing a dominant plan and sticking to it.
B) Managers responding when reality changes by activating alternate dominant plans.
C) Ignoring feedback from the marketplace while creating new plans.
D) Breaking the cycle of strategic planning-monitoring-responding.

Question 68

Unrealized strategy is when a part of the firm's strategy ________________________.

A) is discontinued due to unexpected events
B) is evaluated because of expected events
C) is eliminated due to expected events
D) is incorporated due to unexpected events

Question 69

Nucor Corporation is the largest steel company in the U.S.,has been profitable for decades,and has never laid off an employee.Yet,Nucor has no written strategic plan,no written mission statement and no written objectives.What does this tell us?

A) Nucor should have had written these down but they were fortunate because they had first-mover advantages.
B) Nucor is a monopoly and therefore it is not important to have written plans, mission statements, or objectives.
C) Not having a written strategic plan does not indicate a lack of strategy; it is the pattern of actions across the organization that is important.
D) Not having a written strategic plan could make Nucor vulnerable in the future because it does not have a strong organizational culture.

Question 70

Managers may use _____ perspective to decision making where a large investment decision is broken down into a set of smaller decisions that are staged sequentially over time to obtain more information.

A) a real options
B) a realized strategy
C) a net present value
D) scenario planning

Question 71

Strategic thinking is different than strategic planning in that:

A) Strategic thinking includes "soft" information and employee experience; strategic planning does not.
B) Strategic thinking relies more on hard numbers than strategic planning.
C) There really isn't that much that differentiates the two.
D) Strategic thinking can create an illusion of control, while strategic planning avoids this.

Question 72

The combination of intended and emergent strategies is called a(n)_______________.

A) unrealized strategy
B) realized strategy
C) dominant strategy
D) developing strategy

Question 73

Based on external and internal analyses,top-level executives design a rational and structured strategic plan that is called ____________.

A) scenario planning
B) an emergent strategy
C) an intended strategy
D) an unrealized strategy

Question 74

Firms that are willing to pursue exploring and developing new products and processes,and thus new markets or new ventures,by definition use a(n)_________________.

A) emergent strategy
B) developing strategy
C) dominant strategic plan
D) strategic initiative

Question 75

Planned emergence in strategy-making is when:

A) An organization plans to emerge into a new market using current initiatives.
B) An organization has a succession plan when the current CEO is preparing to retire.
C) An organization communicates its strategy to the lower levels during a planned event.
D) An organization allows bottom-up initiatives to emerge and be considered by the top.

Question 76

Bottom-up strategies can emerge as a consequence of the firm's RAP.What is the meaning of RAP?

A) Realized Allowance Process
B) Resource Allowance Program
C) Resource Allocation Process
D) Realized Allocation Program

Question 77

Employees at Google spend one day a week working on their own ideas.This is an example of a ________________.

A) planned initiative
B) strategic initiative
C) product-oriented strategy
D) consumer-oriented strategy

Question 78

Any unplanned strategic initiative undertaken by mid-level employees of their own volition is a(n)________________.

A) dominant strategic plan
B) developing strategy
C) emergent strategy
D) strategic initiative

Question 79

Strategic initiatives describe the activities of firms when they explore and develop new products and processes,and new markets or new ventures.Where do strategic initiatives come from within the organization?

A) They may be the result of top-down OR bottom-up processes.
B) They only emerge using a bottom-up process.
C) They only result from a top-down approach.
D) None of these.

Question 80

The strategy originally planned by senior management is known as:

A) Purposed strategy
B) Impact strategy
C) Intended strategy
D) Emergent strategy