Deck 8: Strategy Implementation: Organizing for Action

Question 1

Stage III in the organizational life-cycle is the

A) birth stage.
B) growth stage.
C) maturity stage.
D) decline stage.
E) death stage.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

The term used in strategy implementation that describes a statement of activities or steps needed to accomplish a single-use plan and whose use is to make the strategy action-oriented is

A) program.
B) guidelines.
C) budgets.
D) course of action.
E) procedures.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Objectives which are personal and subjective and are typified by an entrepreneurial spirit describe what stage of corporate development?

A) Stage I company.
B) Stage II company.
C) Stage III company.
D) Stage IV company.
E) Stage V company.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which structure simultaneously combines functional and product forms at the same level of the organization?

A) strategic business units
B) functional structure
C) network structure
D) divisional structure
E) matrix structure

Question 5

According to Chandler and others, which factors MUST be closely aligned or else face the consequences of poor organizational performance?

A) management, workforce, and customers
B) operations, marketing, and finance
C) strategy, structure, and environment
D) rules, goals, and tasks
E) hierarchy, contacts, and integrators

Question 6

Which structure is described as a "non-structure" by its virtual elimination of in-house business functions?

A) strategic business units
B) functional structure
C) network structure
D) divisional structure
E) matrix structure

Question 7

In what stage does a corporation typically decentralize into profit or investment centers?

A) Stage I company.
B) Stage II company.
C) Stage III company.
D) Stage IV company.
E) Stage V company.

Question 8

Who typically implements strategy in large, multi-industry corporations?

A) the board of directors
B) top management
C) middle management
D) first level management
E) everyone in the organization.

Question 9

What term refers to the study of individual tasks in an attempt to make them more relevant to the company and to the employees)?

A) position matching
B) functional duties
C) job design
D) task conversion
E) responsibility shift

Question 10

The radical redesign of business processes to achieve major gains in cost, service, or time is called

A) total quality management.
B) reengineering.
C) management by objectives.
D) action planning.
E) statistical process control.

Question 11

The term used in strategy implementation that describes a system of sequential steps or techniques that describe in detail how a particular task or job is to be done is

A) program.
B) guidelines.
C) budgets.
D) course of action.
E) procedures.

Question 12

Which management program aims to reduce manufacturing defects to only 3.4 per million?

A) Reengineering
B) Total quality management
C) Management by objectives
D) Six sigma
E) Strategic planning

Question 13

Which statement below is NOT true of "strategy implementation?"

A) It is the process by which strategies and policies are put into action through the development of programs, budgets, and procedures.
B) Implementation is often considered after strategy has been formulated.
C) Strategy implementation is the sum total of the activities and choices required for the execution of a strategic plan.
D) Strategy implementation is not an important part of strategic management.
E) Strategy formulation and strategy implementation are two sides of the same coin.

Question 14

Alfred Chandler, known for his study of large American corporations, concluded that

A) organic structure is best for firms in a changing environment.
B) mechanistic structure is best for firms in a changing environment.
C) structure follows strategy.
D) strategy follows structure.
E) strategic business units are the key to effective decentralization.

Question 15

A corporation run by a team of managers with functional specializations and which successfully operates in one industry is said to be a

A) Stage I company.
B) Stage II company.
C) Stage III company.
D) Stage IV company.
E) Stage V company.

Question 16

Which management program asks the question: "If this were a new company, how would we run this place?"

A) Reengineering
B) Total quality management
C) Management by objectives
D) Six sigma
E) Strategic planning

Question 17

It is advisable to have management from all levels participate in the strategy formulation process

A) because it is a legal requirement.
B) because collective bargaining agreements often mandate worker participation.
C) to gain an insight as to what work needs to be done and to gain cooperation in the implementation of the strategy.
D) it is part of their job responsibilities to provide input regarding their respective area of expertise.
E) it helps boost the self-image and ego of all managers to be asked for advice.

Question 18

To combat the adverse consequences of task specialization, what function does job enrichment perform?

A) By training the workers to do one job over and over again, they become experts on the one best way to do that job.
B) By moving workers through several jobs, they are exposed to increased variety.
C) By combining different tasks, a worker is given more of the same type of duties to perform.
D) By giving the worker more autonomy, the worker has control over job activities.
E) none of these

Question 19

Which type of structure enables a company to introduce and manage a similar line of products around the world?

A) geographic-area structure
B) matrix structure
C) product-group structure
D) international structure
E) functional structure

Question 20

Synergy can take place in all but which one of the following?

A) Shared know-how
B) Coordinated strategies
C) Six sigma
D) Shared tangible resources
E) Pooled negotiating power

Question 21

Which type of structure enables a company to tailor products to regional differences and to achieve regional coordination?

A) geographic-area structure
B) matrix structure
C) product-group structure
D) international structure
E) functional structure