Question 1

According to a study of downsizing in the automobile-related industry, all of the following are problems associated with inappropriate downsizing EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A)  outsourcing was eliminated. 
B)  blanket offers for early retirement prompted even valuable employees to leave. 
C)  surviving employees experienced decreased morale. 
D)  surviving employees had to do extra work in addition to their own. 
E)  the wrong jobs were eliminated.

Question 2

Executives with a particular mix of skills and experiences may be classified as an executive type and paired with

Accepted Answer

A)  a specific personal characteristic. 
B)  a specific corporate strategy. 
C)  a certain educational background. 
D)  a specific experience background. 
E)  a specific industry.

Question 3

According to Hofstede's dimensions of national culture, long-term orientation is the extent to which society is oriented toward the long versus the short term.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

Strategic goals can be accomplished through defining an action plan. Which one of the following is NOT one of the components which make up an action plan?

Accepted Answer

A)  the specific actions to be taken 
B)  who will perform the action 
C)  during what time frame the action will be completed 
D)  where the action will be done 
E)  what are the expected results of the action

Question 5

Which of the following statements is True concerning the career life cycle for top executives?

Accepted Answer

A)  During the early years of executives' tenures, they tend to experiment extensively with product lines to learn about their business. 
B)  It is possible that a current CEO may not be appropriate to implement a new strategy. 
C)  The harvest stage occurs when executives' accumulated knowledge allows them to reduce experimentation and increase performance. 
D)  There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between top executive tenure and the firm's financial performance. 
E)  all of the above

Question 6

According to Hofstede's dimensions of national culture, uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which a society accepts an unequal distribution of power in organizations.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

According to the text, what is the "key" to effective management of change in culture?

Accepted Answer

A)  planning 
B)  operationalization 
C)  evaluation 
D)  staffing 
E)  communication

Question 8

According to the text, the process of replacing a key top manager is called

Accepted Answer

A)  executive succession. 
B)  executive placement. 
C)  executive strategy. 
D)  executive search. 
E)  executive outside succession.

Question 9

Companies that pursue related diversification strategies through internal development make greater use of interdivisional transfers of people than do companies that grow through unrelated acquisitions.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

According to Hofstede, which cultural dimension describes the extent to which a society accepts an unequal distribution of power in organizations?

Accepted Answer

A)  uncertainty avoidance 
B)  masculinity-femininity 
C)  power distance 
D)  individualism-collectivism 
E)  long-term orientation

Question 11

Which of the following is NOT a guideline proposed for successful downsizing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Contract out work that others can do cheaper. 
B)  Plan for long-run efficiencies. 
C)  Make across-the-board cuts. 
D)  Communicate the reasons for actions. 
E)  Invest in the remaining employees.

Question 12

The key to the effective management of change is communication.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

Which type of chief executive officer who is highly knowledgeable in other industries and can manage diverse product lines would be appropriate for a corporation following a diversification strategy?

Accepted Answer

A)  professional liquidator 
B)  dynamic industry expert 
C)  turnaround specialist 
D)  analytical portfolio manager 
E)  cautious profit planner

Question 14

Executive succession is the process of replacing a key top manager.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Which one of the following is NOT one of the characteristics possessed by companies that have made successful major culture changes?

Accepted Answer

A)  The CEO has a strategic vision of what the company could become. 
B)  If the vision is difficult, the CEO immediately terminates the goal. 
C)  The vision is translated into objective, well-defined goals with appropriate incentives and recognition aides. 
D)  The CEO communicates to all employees where the organization stands in relation to the competition and its outlook on the future. 
E)  The CEO constantly updates the workforce as to the progress of the company in achieving those elements identified as important in attaining the vision.

Question 16

An action plan states what actions are going to be taken, by whom, during what time frame, and with what expected results.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Staffing issues can involve hiring new people with new skills, firing people with inappropriate or substandard skills, and/or training existing employees to learn new skills.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

According to Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which country scored lowest on power distance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Malaysia 
B)  Mexico 
C)  Germany 
D)  United States 
E)  Great Britain

Question 19

According to Hofstede, which cultural dimension describes the extent to which a society values individual freedom and independence of action compared with a tight social framework and loyalty to the group?

Accepted Answer

A)  uncertainty avoidance 
B)  masculinity-femininity 
C)  individualism-collectivism 
D)  power distance 
E)  long-term orientation

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT descriptive of the purpose of MBO?

Accepted Answer

A)  MBO provides an opportunity for the corporation to connect the objectives of people at each level to those at the next higher level. 
B)  MBO operates independently and requires very little supervision or administration. 
C)  The goals at each level ideally contribute directly towards overall organizational objectives. 
D)  MBO provides a potential method of integrating the physical, financial and human resource plans of an organization as it relates to the goals of the individual. 
E)  MBO ties the corporate, business, and functional objectives together along with the strategies used to achieve them.

Exam 10: Strategy Implementation: Staffing and Directing

According to a study of downsizing in the automobile-related industry, all of the following are problems associated with inappropriate downsizing EXCEPT

Executives with a particular mix of skills and experiences may be classified as an executive type and paired with

According to Hofstede's dimensions of national culture, long-term orientation is the extent to which society is oriented toward the long versus the short term.

Strategic goals can be accomplished through defining an action plan. Which one of the following is NOT one of the components which make up an action plan?

Which of the following statements is True concerning the career life cycle for top executives?

According to Hofstede's dimensions of national culture, uncertainty avoidance is the extent to which a society accepts an unequal distribution of power in organizations.

According to the text, what is the "key" to effective management of change in culture?

According to the text, the process of replacing a key top manager is called

Companies that pursue related diversification strategies through internal development make greater use of interdivisional transfers of people than do companies that grow through unrelated acquisitions.

According to Hofstede, which cultural dimension describes the extent to which a society accepts an unequal distribution of power in organizations?

Which of the following is NOT a guideline proposed for successful downsizing?

The key to the effective management of change is communication.

Which type of chief executive officer who is highly knowledgeable in other industries and can manage diverse product lines would be appropriate for a corporation following a diversification strategy?

Executive succession is the process of replacing a key top manager.

Which one of the following is NOT one of the characteristics possessed by companies that have made successful major culture changes?

An action plan states what actions are going to be taken, by whom, during what time frame, and with what expected results.

Staffing issues can involve hiring new people with new skills, firing people with inappropriate or substandard skills, and/or training existing employees to learn new skills.

According to Hofstede's cultural dimensions, which country scored lowest on power distance?

According to Hofstede, which cultural dimension describes the extent to which a society values individual freedom and independence of action compared with a tight social framework and loyalty to the group?

Which of the following is NOT descriptive of the purpose of MBO?