Deck 2: Leading the Process of Crafting and Executing Strategy

Question 1

A strategic vision constitutes management's view and conclusions about the company's

A) long-term direction and what product-market-customer mix seems optimal.
B) business model and the kind of value that it is trying to deliver to customers.
C) justification of why the business will be a moneymaker.
D) past and present scope of work.
E) long-term plan for outcompeting rivals and achieving a competitive advantage.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT an accurate attribute of an organization's strategic vision?

A) providing a panoramic view of "where we are going"
B) outlining how the company intends to implement and execute its business model
C) pointing an organization in a particular direction and charting a strategic path for it to follow
D) helping mold an organization's character and identity
E) describing the company's future product-market-customer focus

Answer 2

B

Question 3

One of the important benefits of a well-conceived and well-stated strategic vision is to

A) clearly delineate how the company's business model will be implemented and executed.
B) clearly communicate management's aspirations for the company to stakeholders and help steer the energies of company personnel in a common direction.
C) set forth the firm budgetary objectives in clear and fairly precise terms.
D) help create a "balanced scorecard" approach to objective-setting and not stretch the company's resources too thin across different products, technologies, and geographic markets.
E) indicate what kind of sustainable competitive advantage the company will try to create in the course of becoming the industry leader.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Well-conceived visions are ________ and ____________ to a particular organization and they avoid generic, feel-good statements that could apply to hundreds of organizations.

A) widespread; unique
B) recurring; customary
C) distinctive; specific
D) customary; familiar
E) universal; established

Question 5

Which of the following are integral parts of the managerial process of crafting and executing strategy?

A) developing a strategic vision, Strategic Management, and crafting a strategy
B) developing a proven business model, deciding on the company's strategic intent, and crafting a strategy
C) Strategic Management, crafting a strategy, implementing and executing the chosen strategy, and deciding how much of the company's resources to employ in the pursuit of sustainable competitive advantage
D) coming up with a statement of the company's mission and purpose, Strategic Management, choosing what business approaches to employ, selecting a business model, and monitoring developments
E) deciding on the company's strategic intent, setting financial objectives, crafting a strategy, and choosing what business approaches and operating practices to employ

Question 6

Which of the following are characteristics of an effectively worded strategic vision statement?

A) balanced, responsible, and rational
B) challenging, competitive, and "set in concrete"
C) graphic, directional, and focused
D) realistic, customer-focused, and market-driven
E) achievable, profitable, and ethical

Question 7

The managerial task of developing a strategic vision for a company

A) concerns deciding what approach the company should take to implement and execute its business model.
B) entails coming up with a fairly specific answer to "who are we, what do we do, and why are we here?"
C) is chiefly concerned with addressing what a company needs to do to successfully outcompete rivals in the marketplace.
D) involves deciding upon what strategic course a company should pursue in preparing for the future and why this directional path makes good business sense.
E) entails coming up with a concrete plan for how the company intends to make money.

Question 8

Management's strategic vision for an organization

A) charts a strategic course for the organization ("where we are going") and provides a rationale for why this directional path makes good sense.
B) describes in fairly specific terms the organization's strategic objectives, and strategy.
C) spells out how the company will become a big moneymaker and boost shareholder value.
D) addresses the critical issue of "why our business model needs to change and how we plan to change it."
E) spells out the organization's strategic intent and the actions and moves that will be undertaken to achieve it.

Question 9

What a company's top executives are saying about where the company is headed long term with respect to its future product-market-customer-technology mix

A) indicates what kind of business model the company is going to have in the future.
B) constitutes the strategic vision for the company.
C) signals what the firm's emergent strategy will be.
D) serves to define the company's business plan.
E) indicates what kind of products and services the company plans to offer in the future.

Question 10

The strategy-making, strategy-executing process is shaped by

A) management's strategic vision, strategic and financial objectives, and strategy.
B) the decisions made by the compensation and audit committees of the board of directors.
C) external factors such as the industry's economic and competitive conditions and internal factors such as the company's collection of resources and capabilities.
D) the challenges of developing a sound business model.
E) top executives and the board of directors; very few managers below this level are involved in the process.

Question 11

When companies adopt the strategy-making and strategy-execution process, it requires they start by

A) developing a strategic vision, mission, and values.
B) developing a proven business model, deciding on the company's top management team, and crafting a strategy.
C) Strategic Management, developing a business model, crafting a strategy, and deciding how much of the company's resources to employ in the pursuit of sustainable competitive advantage.
D) coming up with a statement of the company's mission and communicating it to all employees, Strategic Management, selecting a business model, and monitoring developments and initiating corrective adjustments to the business model when necessary.
E) deciding on the company's board of directors, setting financial objectives, crafting a strategy, and choosing what business approaches and operating practices to employ.

Question 12

Which of the following is an integral part of the managerial process of crafting and executing strategy?

A) developing a proven business model
B) deciding how much of the company's resources to employ in the pursuit of sustainable competitive advantage
C) Strategic Management and using them as yardsticks for measuring the company's performance and progress
D) communicating the company's values and code of conduct to all employees
E) deciding on the company's strategic intent

Question 13

Which of the following questions is NOT something that company managers should consider in choosing to pursue one strategic course or directional path versus another?

A) Are changing market and competitive conditions acting to enhance or weaken the company's business outlook?
B) Is the company stretching its resources too thinly by trying to compete in too many markets or segments, some of which are unprofitable?
C) Will our present business generate sufficient growth and profitability in the years ahead to please shareholders?
D) What market opportunities should the company pursue and which ones should not be pursued?
E) Do we have a better business model than key rivals?

Question 14

Which of the following questions is NOT pertinent to company managers in thinking strategically about what directional path should be taken by the company and about developing a strategic vision?

A) Is the outlook for the company promising if it continues with its present product offerings?
B) Are changing market and competitive conditions acting to enhance or weaken the company's prospects?
C) What business approaches and operating practices should we consider in trying to implement and execute our business model?
D) What strategic course offers attractive opportunity for growth and profitability?
E) What, if any, new customer groups and/or geographic markets should the company get in position to serve?

Question 15

The real purpose of the company's strategic vision

A) lays out how management plans to implement and execute a profitable business model.
B) describes what business the company is presently in and why it has chosen certain operating practices to meet the needs of customers.
C) serves as management's tool for giving the organization a sense of direction.
D) defines "who we are and what we do."
E) spells out a company's strategic intent, its strategic and financial objectives, and the business approaches and operating practices that will underpin its efforts to achieve sustainable competitive advantage.

Question 16

Which one of the following is NOT one of the five basic tasks of the strategy-making, strategy-executing process?

A) developing a strategic vision of where the company needs to head and what its future business makeup will be
B) Strategic Management to convert the strategic vision into specific strategic and financial performance outcomes for the company to achieve
C) crafting a strategy to achieve the objectives and get the company where it wants to go
D) developing a profitable business model
E) executing the chosen strategy efficiently and effectively

Question 17

The defining characteristic of a well-conceived strategic vision is

A) what it says about the company's future strategic course-"the direction we are headed and what our future product-market-customer focus will be."
B) that it not stretch the company's resources too thin across different products, technologies, and geographic markets.
C) clarity and specificity about "who we are, what we do, and why we are here."
D) that it be flexible and operate in the mainstream.
E) that it be within the realm of what the company can reasonably expect to achieve within four years.

Question 18

A company's strategic vision concerns

A) management's storyline of how it intends to make a profit with the chosen strategy "who we are and what we do."
B) what future actions the enterprise will likely undertake to outmaneuver rivals and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage.
C) "who we are and what we do."
D) a company's directional path and future product-customer-market-technology focus.
E) why the company does certain things in trying to please its customers.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of an effectively worded strategic vision statement?

A) directional (is forward-looking, describes the strategic course that management has charted that will help the company prepare for the future)
B) easy to communicate (is explainable in 5-10 minutes, and can be reduced to a memorable slogan)
C) graphic (paints a picture of the kind of company management is trying to create and the market position(s) the company is striving to stake out)
D) consensus-driven (commits the company to a "mainstream" directional path that almost all stakeholders will enthusiastically support)
E) focused (provides guidance to managers in making decisions and allocating resources)

Question 20

A company's strategic plan

A) maps out the company's history.
B) links the company's financial targets to control mechanisms.
C) outlines the competitive moves and approaches to be used in achieving the desired business results.
D) focuses on offering a more appealing product than rivals.
E) lists methods of making money in its chosen business.

Question 21

An engaging and convincing strategic vision

A) ought to put "who we were and what we are doing" in writing rather than orally so as to leave no room for company personnel to misinterpret what the strategic vision really is.
B) should be done in language that inspires and motivates company personnel to unite behind executive efforts to get the company moving in the intended direction.
C) tends to be more effective when top management avoids trying to capture the essence of the strategic vision in a catchy slogan.
D) is most efficiently and effectively done by posting the strategic vision prominently on the company's website and encouraging employees to read it.
E) should be explained after the company's strategic intent, strategy, and business model have been conveyed to company personnel.

Question 22

A sound, well-communicated strategic vision matters, and the related payoffs occur in several respects, EXCEPT in connection with

A) reducing the risks of rudderless decision-making.
B) helping the organization prepare for the future.
C) avoiding strategic inflection points and management's reaction in aligning decision choices.
D) helping to crystallize top management's own view about the firm's long-term direction.
E) providing a tool for winning the support of organizational members for internal changes that will help make the vision a reality.

Question 23

A company needs financial objectives

A) to overtake key competitors on such important measures as net profit margins and return on investment.
B) because without adequate profitability and financial strength, the company's ultimate survival is jeopardized.
C) to convince shareholders that top management is acting in their interests.
D) to translate the company's business model into action items.
E) to indicate to employees that financial objectives always take precedence over strategic objectives.

Question 24

Which of the following is NOT a common shortcoming when wording a company's vision statement? When the statement is somewhat

A) vague or incomplete-short on specifics.
B) flexible-is adjusted according to changing circumstances.
C) bland or uninspiring-short on inspiration.
D) generic-could apply to almost any company (or at least several others in the same industry).
E) reliant on superlatives (best, most successful, recognized leader, global or worldwide leader, first choice of customers).

Question 25

Which of the following is NOT the result of a well-conceived and communicated strategic vision?

A) Senior executives solidify their own view of the firm's long-term direction.
B) The risk of rudderless decision-making is minimized.
C) Organizational members support the changes internally that will help make the vision a reality.
D) The vision assists the organization in preparing for the future.
E) Stockholders protest that the business is rudderless.

Question 26

The managerial purpose of Strategic Management includes all of the following EXCEPT

A) converting the strategic vision into specific performance targets-results and outcomes the organization wants to achieve.
B) using the objectives as yardsticks for tracking the company's progress and performance.
C) challenging and helping stretch the organization to perform at its full potential and deliver the best possible results.
D) pushing company personnel to be more inventive and to exhibit more urgency in improving the company's financial performance and business position.
E) delineating management's aspirations for the business and providing a panoramic view of "where we are going."

Question 27

A company's mission statement does NOT

A) identify the company's services and products.
B) specify the buyer's needs that the company seeks to satisfy.
C) identify the customer or market that the company intends to serve.
D) give the company its own identity.
E) explain "where we are headed."

Question 28

Which of the following ARE common shortcomings of company vision statements?

A) too specific and too flexible
B) unrealistic, unconventional, and un-businesslike
C) too broad, vague or incomplete, bland/uninspiring, not distinctive, and too reliant on superlatives
D) too graphic, too narrow, and too risky
E) not customer-driven, out of step with emerging technological trends, and too ambitious

Question 29

Perhaps the most important benefit of a vivid, engaging, and convincing strategic vision is

A) helping gain managerial consensus on what resources must be developed to successfully achieve strategic objectives.
B) uniting company personnel behind managerial efforts to get the company moving in the intended direction.
C) helping justify the company's mission of making a profit.
D) helping company personnel understand the logic of the company's business model.
E) keeping company personnel well-informed.

Question 30

The managerial task of effectively conveying the essence of the strategic vision is made easier by

A) having operating strategies that are easy for company personnel to understand and execute.
B) combining the strategic vision and the company's values statement into a single document.
C) adopting a catchy slogan and then using it repeatedly to illuminate the direction and purpose of "where we are headed and why."
D) waiting until the company realizes its mission and ensures the existing corporate culture is compatible with the new vision and direction.
E) distributing written statements that explain "where we are going and why."

Question 31

The benefit of a vivid, engaging, and convincing strategic vision is NOT its ability to

A) crystallize top management's own view about the company's long-term direction.
B) reduce the risk of rudderless decision making by managers at all levels of the organization.
C) help an organization prepare for the future.
D) unite company personnel behind managerial efforts to get the company moving in the intended direction.
E) help company personnel understand the logic of the company's business model.

Question 32

A company's values or core values concern

A) whether and to what extent it intends to operate in an ethical and socially responsible manner.
B) how aggressively it will seek to maximize profits and enforce high ethical standards.
C) the beliefs and operating principles built into the company's "balanced scorecard" for measuring performance.
D) the beliefs, traits, and behavioral norms that company personnel are expected to display in conducting the company's business and pursuing its strategic vision and mission.
E) the beliefs, principles, and ethical standards that are incorporated into the company's strategic intent and business model.

Question 33

A company should not couch its mission in terms of making a profit because a profit is more correctly an

A) obligation and a reason for what a company does.
B) objective and a result of what a company does.
C) outlay and a rationale for what a company does.
D) obligation and a responsibility for what a company does.
E) outflow and a right of what a company does.

Question 34

The difference between the concept of a company mission statement and the concept of a strategic vision is that

A) a mission concerns what to do to achieve short-term objectives, while a strategic vision concerns what to do to achieve long-term performance targets.
B) a mission statement focuses on the methods needed to make a profit, whereas a strategic vision concerns what business model to employ in striving to make a profit.
C) a mission statement deals with what to accomplish on behalf of shareholders, while a strategic vision concerns what to accomplish on behalf of customers.
D) a mission statement typically concerns a company's purpose and its present business scope, whereas the principal concern of a strategic vision is a company's aspirations for its future.
E) a mission statement deals with "where we are headed," whereas a strategic vision provides the critical answer to "how will we get there?"

Question 35

Breaking down resistance to a new strategic vision typically requires that management, on an as needed basis,

A) institute a Balanced Scorecard to measuring company performance, with the "balance" including a mixture of both old and new performance measures.
B) inform company personnel about forthcoming changes in the company's strategy.
C) reiterate the company's need for the new direction, while addressing employee concerns head-on, calming fears, lifting spirits, and providing them with updates and progress reports as events unfold.
D) explain all updates and merits of the company's business model to align strategy with employee concerns.
E) raise wages and salaries to win the support of company personnel for the company's new direction.

Question 36

The primary difference between a company's mission statement and the company's strategic vision is that

A) a mission statement explains why it is essential to make a profit, whereas the strategic vision explains how the company will be a moneymaker.
B) a mission statement typically concerns a company's present business scope and purpose, whereas a strategic vision sets forth "where we are going and why."
C) a mission deals with how to please customers, whereas a strategic vision deals with how to please shareholders.
D) a mission statement deals with "where we are headed," whereas a strategic vision provides the critical answer to "how will we get there?"
E) a mission statement addresses "how we are trying to make a profit today," while a strategic vision concerns "how will we make money in the markets of tomorrow?"

Question 37

A company's values relate to such things as

A) how it will balance its pursuit of financial objectives against the pursuit of its strategic objectives.
B) how it will balance the pursuit of its business purpose/mission against the pursuit of its strategic vision.
C) fair treatment, integrity, ethical behavior, innovativeness, teamwork, top-notch quality, superior customer service, social responsibility, and community citizenship.
D) whether it will emphasize stock price appreciation or higher dividend payments to shareholders.
E) whether it will put more emphasis on the achievement of short-term performance targets or long-range performance targets.

Question 38

A company's mission statement typically addresses which of the following questions?

A) Who are we and what do we do?
B) What objectives and level of performance do we want to achieve?
C) Where are we going and what should our strategy be?
D) What approach should we take to achieve sustainable competitive advantage?
E) What business model should we employ to achieve our objectives and our vision?

Question 39

Effectively communicating the strategic vision down the line to lower-level managers and employees has the value of

A) explaining "where we are going and why" and, more importantly, inspiring and energizing company personnel to unite to get the company moving in the intended direction.
B) helping company personnel understand why "making a profit" and "having a business plan" are so important.
C) making it easier for top executives to set and communicate the company's stretch objectives.
D) helping lower-level managers and employees better understand the company's business model.
E) aiding lower-level managers and employees in formulating and achieving a balanced scorecard.

Question 40

Well-stated objectives are

A) quantifiable or measurable, and contain deadlines for achievement.
B) succinct and concise so as to identify the company's risk and return options.
C) broad and take into account views of all the stakeholders.
D) directly related to the dividend payout ratio for stockholder returns.
E) representative of customers' aspirations for company performance.

Question 41

A company needs performance targets or objectives

A) to help guide managers in deciding what strategic path to take in the event that a strategic inflection point is encountered.
B) because they give the company clear-cut strategic intent.
C) in order to unify the company's strategic vision and business model.
D) for its operations as a whole and also for each of its separate businesses, product lines, functional departments, and individual work units.
E) in order to prevent lower-level organizational units from establishing their own objectives.

Question 42

The faster a company's business environment is changing, the more critical it becomes for its managers to

A) pay attention to early warnings of future change and be willing to experiment to establish a market position in the future.
B) determine whether the company has a balanced scorecard for judging its performance.
C) establish controls to monitor the impact of external changes appropriately and ensure the internal environment is maintained.
D) replicate and implement only those strategies that have worked for rivals.
E) determine what changes should be made to its customer value proposition.

Question 43

A "balanced scorecard" that includes both strategic and financial performance targets is a conceptually strong approach for judging a company's overall performance because

A) it assists managers in putting roughly equal emphasis on short-term and long-term performance targets.
B) it entails putting equal emphasis on good strategy execution and good business model execution.
C) a balanced-scorecard approach pushes managers to avoid Strategic Management that reflect the results of past decisions and organizational activities.
D) financial performance measures are lagging indicators that reflect the results of past decisions and organizational activities, whereas strategic performance measures are leading indicators of a company's future financial performance and business prospects.
E) it forces managers to put equal emphasis on financial and strategic objectives.

Question 44

What does a company specifically exhibit when it relentlessly pursues an ambitious strategic objective, concentrating the full force of its resources and competitive actions on achieving that objective?

A) competitive edge
B) sustainable advantage
C) strategic intent
D) financial strength
E) strategic vision

Question 45

Strategic objectives

A) are more essential in achieving a company's strategic vision than are financial objectives.
B) relate to strengthening a company's overall market standing and competitive position.
C) are more difficult to achieve and harder to measure than financial objectives.
D) are generally less important than financial objectives.
E) help managers track an organization's true progress better than financial objectives.

Question 46

Perhaps the most reliable way for a company to improve its financial performance over time is to

A) put 100 percent emphasis on the achievement of its short-term and long-term financial objectives.
B) recognize that the achievement of strategic objectives signals that the company is well positioned to sustain or improve its performance.
C) substitute financial intent for strategic intent and judiciously concentrate on the mission of making a profit.
D) not allocate any resources to the achievement of strategic objectives until it is very clear that the company can meet or beat its stretch financial performance targets.
E) avoid use of the balanced-scorecard philosophy since achievement of financial performance targets is obviously more important than the achievement of strategic performance targets.

Question 47

Which of the following is NOT an advantage of setting "stretch" objectives?

A) helping to avoid mediocre results
B) pushing company personnel to be more inventive and innovative
C) helping clarify the company's strategic vision and strategic intent
D) helping a company be more focused and intentional in its actions
E) spurring exceptional performance and helping build a firewall against contentment with modest performance gains

Question 48

When trade-offs have to be made between achieving long-term and achieving short-term objectives

A) long-term objectives should take precedence unless the short-term performance targets have unique importance.
B) long-term objectives should take precedence because of the need for future survival.
C) short-term objectives should take precedence because they focus attention on delivering performance improvement.
D) short-term objectives should take precedence unless the long-term performance targets are not achievable.
E) long-term objectives should never take precedence until the short-term objective is achieved.

Question 49

Which of the following is the best example of a well-stated strategic objective?

A) Increase revenues by more than the industry average.
B) Be among the top five companies in the industry in customer service.
C) Overtake key competitors on product performance or quality within three years.
D) Improve manufacturing performance by 5 percent within 12 months.
E) Obtain 150 new customers during the current fiscal year.

Question 50

A company that pursues and achieves strategic objectives

A) is likely to weaken the achievement of its short-term and long-term financial objectives.
B) believes that the company's financial performance is not as important as it really is.
C) is generally not strongly focused on its true mission of making a profit.
D) is frequently in a better position to improve its future financial performance because of the increased competitiveness that flows from the achievement of strategic objectives.
E) is likely to be a weak financial performer because diverting resources to the pursuit of strategic objectives takes away from the achievement of financial performance targets.

Question 51

A company needs financial objectives to

A) spur company personnel to help the company overtake key competitors on such important measures as net profit margins and return on investment.
B) communicate management's targets for financial performance and achieve strategic objectives.
C) indicate to employees whether the emphasis should be on earnings per share, return on investment, return on assets, or positive cash flow.
D) convince shareholders that top management is acting in their interests.
E) counterbalance its pursuit of strategic objectives and have a balanced scorecard for judging the caliber of its overall performance.

Question 52

Which of the following is the best example of a well-stated financial objective?

A) Increase earnings per share by 15 percent annually.
B) Gradually boost market share from 10 percent to 15 percent over the next several years.
C) Achieve lower costs than any other industry competitor.
D) Boost revenues by a percentage margin greater than the industry average.
E) Maximize total company profits and return on investment.

Question 53

Adopting a set of "stretch" financial and "stretch" strategic objectives

A) pushes the company to strive for lesser but adequate profitability levels, because the stretch objectives are considered unattainable.
B) is a widely held method for creating a "scorecard" for monitoring company performance.
C) helps convert the mission statement into meaningful company values.
D) challenges company personnel to execute the strategy with greater enthusiasm, proficiency, and understanding.
E) is an effective tool for pushing the company to perform at its full potential and deliver the best possible results.

Question 54

Strategic intent refers to a situation where a company

A) commits to using a particular business model to make money.
B) decides to adopt a particular strategy.
C) relentlessly pursues an ambitious strategic objective.
D) commits to pursuing balanced-scorecard objectives.
E) changes its long-term direction and decides to pursue a newly adopted strategic vision.

Question 55

Managers can deliberately set challenging performance targets at levels high enough to promote outstanding company performance by establishing

A) stretch objectives which challenge the organization to deliver stretch gains in performance.
B) mainstay objectives that although are easily attainable, and the company is obligated to meet, they are designed to spur motivation in the workforce.
C) financial objectives that drive standardization of cost-efficiency and unify stringent operating specifications.
D) a specifically detailed and integrated model of operating policies, practices, and procedures.
E) why the company does certain things in trying to please its customers.

Question 56

Company objectives

A) are needed only in those areas directly related to a company's short-term and long-term financial strength.
B) need to be broken down into performance targets for separate businesses, product lines, functional departments, and individual work units.
C) play the important role of establishing the direction towards which an organization needs to be headed.
D) are important because they help guide managers in deciding what the company's strategic intent should be.
E) should support, but not conflict with, the performance targets of lower-level organizational units.

Question 57

A "balanced scorecard" for measuring company performance

A) entails putting equal emphasis on financial and strategic objectives.
B) entails putting balanced emphasis on profit and non-profit objectives.
C) prevents the drive for achieving financial objectives from overwhelming the pursuit of strategic objectives.
D) prevents the drive for achieving strategic objectives from overwhelming the pursuit of financial objectives.
E) strikes a "balance" between financial and strategic objectives.

Question 58

Masterful strategies come from

A) successful managerial efforts to develop a sound strategic vision.
B) doing a very thorough job of strategic planning.
C) involving as many company personnel as possible in the strategy-making process.
D) crafting a strategy that mimics the best parts of the strategies of the industry leaders.
E) doing things differently from competitors where it counts rather than running with the herd.

Question 59

The task of stitching together a strategy

A) entails addressing a series of hows: how to grow the business, how to please customers, how to outcompete rivals, how to respond to changing market conditions, and how to achieve strategic and financial objectives.
B) is primarily an exercise in deciding which of several freshly emerging market opportunities to pursue.
C) is mainly an exercise that should be dictated by what is comfortable to management from a risk perspective and what is acceptable in terms of capital requirements.
D) requires trying to copy the strategies of industry leaders as closely as possible.
E) is mainly an exercise in good planning.

Question 60

A company exhibits strategic intent when

A) management crafts and adopts a strategic plan.
B) it relentlessly pursues an ambitious strategic objective, concentrating the full force of its resources and competitive actions on achieving that objective.
C) it aggressively pursues financial objectives, establishing a priority on meeting the performance metrics and instilling a sense of urgency throughout the company.
D) management establishes a comprehensive set of financial objectives that meet stockholder expectations.
E) it capitalizes on its primary competitive advantage and ensures resources are allocated to maintain its strategy.

Question 61

Managerial jobs with strategy-making responsibility

A) extend throughout the managerial ranks and exist in every part of a company-business units, operating divisions, functional departments, manufacturing plants, and sales districts.
B) are primarily located in the strategic planning departments of large corporations.
C) are relatively rare because most strategy-making is done by the members of a company's board of directors.
D) seldom exist within a functional department because these levels of the organization structure are well below the level where strategic decisions are typically made.
E) are found only at the vice-president level and above in most companies.

Question 62

In a single-business company, the strategy-making hierarchy consists of

A) business strategy, divisional strategies, and departmental strategies.
B) business strategy, functional strategies, and operating strategies.
C) business strategy and operating strategy.
D) managerial strategy, business strategy, and divisional strategies.
E) corporate strategy, divisional strategies, and departmental strategies.

Question 63

According to the Balanced Scorecard depicted in Table 2.4, boosting internal cash flows for reinvestment purposes, such as R&D, is a financial objective, while new product introductions, reduction of product development cycle time, improving information technology, improving teamwork, and increases in returns on equity are all strategic objectives.
Strategy-making is

A) primarily the responsibility of key executives rather than a task for a company's entire management team.
B) more of a collaborative group effort that involves all managers and sometimes key employees, as opposed to being the function and responsibility of a few high-level executives.
C) first and foremost the function and responsibility of a company's strategic planning staff.
D) first and foremost the function and responsibility of a company's board of directors.
E) first and foremost the function of a company's chief executive officer, who formulates strategic initiatives and submits them to the board of directors for approval.

Question 64

Why should long-run objectives take precedence over short-run objectives?

A) The focus is placed on improving performance in the near term.
B) Long-run objectives are necessary for achieving long-term performance and stand as a barrier to undue focus on short-term results.
C) Long-run objectives will satisfy shareholder expectations for progress.
D) Long-run objectives will force the company to deliver performance improvement in the current period.
E) Long-run objectives will keep the company in line with its balanced scorecard.

Question 65

Functional-area strategies

A) concern the actions, approaches, and practices to be employed in managing particular functions within a business.
B) specify what actions a company should take to resolve specific strategic issues and problems.
C) are normally crafted by operating-level managers.
D) are concerned with how to unify the firm's several different operating strategies into a cohesive whole.
E) are normally crafted by the company's CEO and other senior executives.

Question 66

Business strategy concerns

A) strengthening the market position and building competitive advantage for a single line of business.
B) ensuring consistency in strategic approach among the businesses of a diversified company.
C) selecting a model for a single line of business to use in pursuing objectives that contribute to the whole of a diversified company.
D) selecting a set of stretch financial and strategic objectives for a single business unit.
E) choosing the most appropriate strategic intent for a specific line of business.

Question 67

A company's strategic plan

A) details key objectives and the strategy for achieving them.
B) lays out its future direction and business purpose, performance targets and strategy.
C) identifies the company's strategy and management's specific, detailed plans for implementation.
D) consists of a company's strategic vision, strategic objectives, strategic intent, and strategy.
E) summarizes the company's strategic vision, a strategy, and a business model.

Question 68

Which of the following is NOT an example of a financial objective?

A) Receive a bond rating of AA or higher.
B) Achieve a return on equity greater than ten percent.
C) Increase revenues at a pace greater than the rate of inflation.
D) Raise earnings per share by two percent.
E) Achieve a market share of nine percent.

Question 69

Corporate strategy for a diversified or multibusiness enterprise

A) is orchestrated by mid-level managers and focuses on how to create a competitive advantage in each specific line of business the total enterprise is in.
B) concerns how best to allocate resources across the departments of each line of business the company is in.
C) is orchestrated by senior corporate executives and centers around the kinds of initiatives the company uses to establish business positions in different industries.
D) deals chiefly with what the strategic intent of each of its business units should be.
E) involves how functional strategies should be aligned with business strategies in each of the various lines of business the company is in.

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT an accurate description of the task of crafting a company's strategy?

A) In most companies, crafting strategy is a team effort, involving managers and often key employees at many organization levels.
B) Ultimate responsibility for leading the strategy-making task rests with the chief executive officer.
C) The task of crafting strategy is best done by a company's chief strategic planning officer, who should report directly to the company's CEO and board of directors.
D) It is the responsibility and duty of a company's board of directors to ensure that new strategy proposals can be defended as superior to alternatives and, ultimately, to approve or disapprove of the strategy formulated and proposed by the company's management.
E) In most of today's companies, every company manager has a strategy-making role, ranging from major to minor, for his or her area of responsibility.

Question 71

Management is obligated to monitor new external developments, evaluate the company's progress, and make corrective adjustments in order to

A) determine whether the company has a balanced scorecard for judging its performance.
B) stay on track in achieving the company's mission and strategic vision.
C) keep the company's board of directors well-informed about the company's future outlook.
D) determine whether the company's business model is well-matched to changing market and competitive circumstances.
E) decide whether to continue or change the company's strategic vision, objectives, strategy and/or strategy execution methods.

Question 72

Business strategy, as distinct from corporate strategy, is chiefly concerned with

A) deciding what new businesses to enter, which existing businesses to get out of, and which existing business to remain in.
B) deciding how to build competitive advantage and improve performance in a particular line of business.
C) making sure the strategic intent of a particular business is in step with the company's overall strategic intent and strategy.
D) coordinating the competitive approaches of a company's different business units.
E) what business model to employ in each of the company's different businesses.

Question 73

Operating strategies are primarily concerned with

A) what the firm's operating departments are doing and plan to do to unify the company's functional and business strategies.
B) the specific plans for building competitive advantage in each major department and operating unit.
C) how to manage initiatives of strategic significance within each functional area, and adding detail and completeness in ways that support functional strategies and the overall business strategy.
D) how best to carry out the company's corporate strategy.
E) how best to implement and execute the company's different business-level strategies.

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT among the principal managerial tasks associated with managing the strategy execution process?

A) ensuring that policies and procedures facilitate rather than impede effective execution
B) creating a company culture and work climate conducive to successful strategy implementation and execution
C) surveying employees' opinions on how costs can be reduced and how employee morale and job satisfaction can be improved
D) exerting the internal leadership needed to drive implementation forward and keep improving on how the strategy is being executed
E) motivating people and tying rewards and incentives directly to the achievement of performance objectives and good strategy execution

Question 75

In a diversified company, the strategy-making hierarchy consists of

A) corporate strategy and a group of business strategies (one for each line of business the corporation has diversified into).
B) corporate or managerial strategy, a set of business strategies, and divisional strategies within each business.
C) business strategies, functional strategies, and operating strategies.
D) corporate strategy, business strategies, functional strategies, and operating strategies.
E) its diversification strategy, its line of business strategies, and its operating strategies.

Question 76

A company's overall strategy

A) determines whether its strategic intent is proactive or reactive.
B) is subject to being changed much less frequently than either its objectives or its mission statement and thus serves as the base of its strategy-making pyramid.
C) should be based on a flexible strategic vision and strategic intent.
D) is customarily reviewed and approved level-by-level by the company board of directors.
E) is really a collection of strategic initiatives and actions devised by managers and key employees up and down the whole organizational hierarchy.

Question 77

Which of the following principal aspects should be included in managing the strategy execution process?

A) describing the strategic course that will help the company prepare for the future
B) organizing the company along the lines of best practice
C) surveying employees on how they think costs can be reduced and how employee morale and job satisfaction can be improved
D) exerting the external leadership needed to drive stabilization
E) tying rewards and incentives directly to profit

Question 78

According to the Balanced Scorecard depicted in Table 2.4, capturing market share is a strategic objective, while bond ratings, growth in earnings per share, revenue growth, and increases in returns on equity are all financial objectives.
Which of the following is NOT an example of a strategic objective?

A) Introduce five new products over the next ten years.
B) Reduce product development time by one third to half the current rate of 24 months.
C) Improve teamwork across business units by doubling the number of intra-company projects.
D) Boost internal cash flows by seven percent to fund new research and development activities.
E) Improve security and stability of information technology capabilities to prevent breaches and outages.

Question 79

The primary role of a functional strategy is to

A) unify the company's various operating-level strategies.
B) specify how to build and strengthen the skills, expertise, and competencies needed to execute operating-level strategies successfully.
C) support and add power to the corporate-level strategy.
D) create compatible degrees of strategic intent among a company's different business functions.
E) determine how to support particular activities in ways that support the overall business strategy and competitive approach.

Question 80

Which of the following most accurately describes the task of crafting a company's strategy?

A) In most companies, strategy-making is the exclusive province of top management-owner-entrepreneurs, CEOs, and other very senior executives.
B) The more a company's operations cut across different products, industries, and geographical areas, the more that headquarters executives have little option but to delegate considerable strategy-making authority to down-the-line managers in charge of particular subsidiaries, product lines, geographic sales offices, and plants.
C) A company's board of directors generally takes the lead role in crafting a company's strategy.
D) In most of today's companies, the lead strategy-making role is being assumed by an elite group of corporate entrepreneurs.
E) Masterful strategies are nearly always the product of brilliant corporate entrepreneurs.