Deck 7: Strategy Formation

Question 1

The textbook discusses the strategy formation activities.What is the ideal order of these activities?
A.Identifying, diagnosing, realizing, and conceiving
B.Identifying, diagnosing, conceiving, and realizing
C.Identifying, conceiving, diagnosing, and realizing
D.Diagnosing, identifying, conceiving, and realizing.

Answer 1

Identifying, diagnosing, conceiving, and realizing

Question 2

What would Mintzberg & Waters (1985) call a strategy that came about despite, or in the absence of, intentions?
A.Intended strategy
B.Deliberated strategy
C.Emergent strategy
D.Realized strategy.

Answer 2

Emergent strategy

Question 3

When it comes to strategic behaviour there are, according to De Wit, some prominent advantages which strongly pressure organizations to engage in deliberate planning.Which of the following does the author NOT mention?
A.Coordination
B.Optimization
C.Direction
D.Learning.

Answer 3

Learning.

Question 4

What are the two sub-categories of identifying (within strategy formation)?
A.Examining and judging
B.Mission setting and agenda setting
C.Internal and external assessment
D.Observing and initiating.

Question 5

What is the major feature of the strategic planning perspective?
A.Strategy is an emergent process
B.Strategy is a learning process
C.Strategy is deliberately planned and executed
D.Strategy is a successful pattern of actions.

Question 6

How is incrementalism different to muddling through?
A.There is no difference between them
B.Incrementalism is always predicated on formal logic, whereas muddling through is not
C.Muddling through is incremental in nature, yet it is also reactive and ad hoc
D.Incrementalism is like muddling through, yet incrementalism is also reactive and ad hoc in nature.

Question 7

When it comes to strategic behaviour there are, according to De Wit, some prominent advantages which strongly pressure organizations into letting strategy emerge.Which of the following does the author NOT mention?
A.Entrepreneurship
B.Opportunism
C.Support
D.Adaptation

Question 8

What are the two sub-categories of diagnosing (within strategy formation)?
A.Examining and judging
B.Mission and agenda setting
C.Internal and external assessment
D.Observing and initiating.

Question 9

Why does De Wit describe it as odd that formal planning systems are popular in countries such as Australia, Britain, Canada, New Zealand and the United States?
A.Because English speaking countries have had a strong development of a distinct managerial class.
B.Because these countries have a strong preference for a market economy.
C.Because these countries are known for a high level of individualism.
D.All of the above

Question 10

The textbook lists some strategy formation roles but which of the following is NOT included:
A.Top/middle/bottom roles
B.Corporate/business roles
C.Line/staff roles
D.Internal/external roles.

Question 11

What is the main paradox of the formation part of strategy?
A.Logic vs.creativeness
B.Realized vs.unrealized strategy
C.Planning vs.incrementalism
D.Deliberateness vs.emergence.

Question 12

How would you describe the formation process in the planning perspective?
A.Directed by organizational culture
B.Political and flexible
C.Structured and comprehensive
D.Unstructured and fragmented.