Question 1

________ often function as product champions.
A) Boundary spanners
B) Whistle-blowers
C) Free riders
D) Heavyweight team leaders

Accepted Answer

Heavyweight team leaders often function as product champions because they have the authority and responsibility to drive a product's development and ensure its success within an organization.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true regarding skunk works?
A) A skunk works assumes full responsibility for the commercialization of the new product and for achieving the desired profit targets.
B) A skunk works is a team of employees working in the finance department in an organization who look after the financial viability of the new product.
C) A skunk works is dissolved when the product is brought to market.
D) A skunk works is a team in an organization that is responsible for quality control.

Accepted Answer

Skunk works is a team within an organization, usually functioning in a semi-autonomous way, that is responsible for developing and producing a new product. Once the product is brought to market, the skunk works team is typically dissolved. Therefore, option C is the only true statement regarding skunk works.

Question 3

Interacting with individuals and groups outside the organization to obtain valuable information and knowledge from the environment is known as a ________ activity.
A) reciprocal logrolling
B) business process reengineering
C) vale engineering
D) boundary-spanning

Accepted Answer

Boundary-spanning refers to the activities that involve interaction with individuals and groups outside the organization to gain information and knowledge from the environment. Reciprocal logrolling refers to the exchange of favors or benefits between two parties, business process reengineering is the redesign of business processes to improve performance, and vale engineering is not a recognized term in organizational theory.

Question 4

A ________ is a mid-level functional manager who has lower status than the head of a functional department and he or she is not given control over human, financial, and functional resources.
A) business agent
B) boundary spanner
C) lightweight team leader
D) product champion

Accepted Answer

Based on the given description, a lightweight team leader fits the criteria. They are mid-level functional managers with lower status than department heads and are not given control over resources. The other options, such as a business agent, boundary spanner, or product champion, do not fully fit the given definition.

Question 5

Which of the following is most likely to help an organization align the interests of their talented employees with those of the organization?
A) mechanistic organizational structure
B) strong property rights
C) centralized decision-making authority
D) a tall organizational hierarchy

Accepted Answer

Strong property rights can provide employees with a sense of ownership in the organization and its success, aligning their interests with those of the organization. Mechanistic organizational structures, centralized decision-making authority, and tall organizational hierarchies may actually hinder alignment by limiting employee autonomy and decision-making power.

Question 6

To speed innovation, many organizations have begun to ________.
A) adopt mechanistic organizational structures
B) increase the length of the organizational hierarchy
C) implement total quality management
D) move decision-making to lower levels in the organization

Accepted Answer

Moving decision-making to lower levels in the organization allows for more collaboration, diverse perspectives, and quicker response times, all of which can speed up innovation. Mechanistic structures can be too rigid and slow down decision-making, while increasing the length of the organizational hierarchy can create more bureaucracy and delay progress. Total quality management may improve the quality of products or services, but it may not necessarily accelerate innovation.

Question 7

Which of the following functions is most likely to be true regarding a product champion?
A) A product champion is always appointed by the top-management team in an organization.
B) A product champion takes ownership of the project.
C) A product champion is the head of the R&D department in an organization.
D) A product champion is a lightweight team leader.

Accepted Answer

A product champion is someone who takes ownership of a project and is passionate about it. While they may be appointed by top management or be the head of the R&D department in some organizations, these are not defining characteristics of a product champion. Being a lightweight team leader is also not a defining characteristic.

Question 8

A "________" is a task force, a temporary team that is created to expedite new product design and to promote innovation by coordinating the activities of functional groups. Typically, this team operates at a separate facility, at a location isolated from the rest of the organization.
A) workers' union
B) kaizen group
C) skunk works
D) quality circle

Accepted Answer

The term "skunk works" is often used to describe a temporary team created to promote innovation and expedite new product design by coordinating the activities of functional groups. This team typically operates separately from the rest of the organization and may be situated at a different location. The other options refer to different concepts, such as labor unions (A), continuous improvement teams (B), and quality control groups (D), which are not necessarily associated with skunk works.

Question 9

Which of the following takes place during the second stage of a stage-gate development funnel?
A) The product development proposal is reviewed in terms of its fit with the goals and strategies of the organization.
B) A senior management committee reviews the new product development plan.
C) Organizational resources are allocated for developing a prototype of the product.
D) A cross-functional team of managers is formed to develop a detailed plan for product development.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following takes place during...

Question 10

Which of the following statements is true regarding a lightweight team leader?
A) A lightweight team leader remains under the control of a functional department head.
B) A lightweight team leader often functions as a product champion.
C) A lightweight team leader is a top-level manager.
D) A lightweight team leader is given primary control over key human, technological, and financial resources for the duration of the project.

Accepted Answer

A lightweight team leader typically remains under the control of a functional department head, focusing on coordination rather than having full control over resources.

Question 11

Define innovation.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define innovation....

Question 12

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding core team members in a new product development project?
A) They work on several projects simultaneously.
B) They mainly look after the marketing aspect of the project.
C) They stay with the project from inception to completion of the development effort.
D) The top-managers involved in a product development project are referred to as the core members of the project.

Accepted Answer

Core team members are usually assigned to a project from the very beginning and are expected to stay with the project until it is completed. They are responsible for the overall development effort of the product, and therefore their role goes beyond just marketing. They may work on other projects as well, but their commitment to the new product development project is expected to be consistent. Top managers may or may not be part of the core team, depending on the organization's structure and approach to product development.

Question 13

Which of the following statements is true regarding heavyweight team leaders?
A) Heavyweight team leaders are not given control over human, financial, and functional resources.
B) As compared to a lightweight team leader, a heavyweight team leader has less ability to assemble a cross-functional team with the skills needed to develop a successful new product.
C) Heavyweight team leaders can acquire resources only after they have obtained a permission from the appropriate functional heads and they cannot override the wishes of the functional heads.
D) Heavyweight team leaders often function as product champions.

Accepted Answer

Heavyweight team leaders are often product champions and are given significant control over human, financial, and functional resources. They also have the ability to assemble cross-functional teams with the skills needed to develop successful new products. They may need to obtain permission from functional heads, but they are not restricted by their wishes.

Question 14

Which of the following is most likely to promote innovation in an organization?
A) adopting a product team structure
B) increasing vertical differentiation
C) decreasing the flexibility of the organization
D) increasing the number of levels in the organizational hierarchy

Accepted Answer

Adopting a product team structure promotes cross-functional collaboration and allows for more experimentation and idea generation, leading to greater innovation. Increasing vertical differentiation, decreasing flexibility, and increasing levels in the hierarchy can all stifle innovation by creating silos, reducing autonomy, and increasing bureaucracy.

Question 15

A lightweight team leader would be appropriate for an organization seeking a(n) ________.
A) quantum innovations
B) revolutionary change
C) technological discontinuities
D) incremental innovation

Accepted Answer

A lightweight team leader is appropriate for an organization seeking incremental innovation, which involves making small improvements or adaptations to existing products, services, or processes. This type of innovation does not require radical change or major breakthroughs, but rather continuous improvement to stay ahead of competitors.

Question 16

Which of the following terms best represents the knowledge building created when two or more individuals or subunits pool their resources and cooperate and collaborate across role or subunit boundaries?
A) technical discontinuities
B) economies of scale
C) information synergies
D) economies of scope

Accepted Answer

Information synergies refer to the knowledge building that occurs when people or units pool their resources and work together across boundaries. Technical discontinuities refer to a gap in technological knowledge or understanding, economies of scale refer to cost savings achieved through increased production, and economies of scope refer to cost savings achieved through offering a variety of products or services.

Question 17

At which stage of a stage-gate development funnel do prospective managers develop a detailed product development plan that includes information about factors such as strategic and financial objectives and human resource requirements?
A) stage 1
B) stage 2
C) stage 3
D) stage 4

Accepted Answer

Stage 2 is the concept development stage, where a detailed product development plan is developed.

Question 18

Which of the following is a difference between a skunk works and a new venture division?
A) A skunk works is formed for marketing a newly developed product whereas a new venture division is formed for improving the quality of a newly developed product.
B) A skunk works consists of top-level managers whereas a new venture division consists of low-level managers.
C) A skunk works is dissolved when the product is brought to market whereas a new venture division assumes full responsibility for the commercialization of the product.
D) A skunk works is formed for achieving an incremental innovation whereas a new venture division is formed for achieving a quantum innovation.

Accepted Answer

A skunk works is a temporary, autonomous team formed to work on a specific project and dissolved once the project is complete. On the other hand, a new venture division is a semi-autonomous unit within a company responsible for developing and launching new products. It assumes full responsibility for the commercialization of the product and continues to operate even after the product is brought to the market.

Question 19

Which of the following actions taken by an organization leads to the creation of strong property rights?
A) using 360 degrees performance evaluation method for conducting employee appraisals
B) centralizing decision-making authority
C) giving innovative employees stock options proportional to the increase in profitability that can be attributed to their efforts
D) giving employees an opportunity to learn new skills with the help of job rotation

Accepted Answer

Giving innovative employees stock options proportional to the increase in profitability that can be attributed to their efforts creates strong property rights as it incentivizes employees to create value for the organization and rewards them accordingly. This ownership stake also increases employees' commitment to the success of the organization. The other options do not directly relate to property rights.

Question 20

Which of the following structures is most suitable for managing innovation in high-tech organizations?
A) functional structure
B) market structure
C) product team structure
D) geographic structure

Accepted Answer

A product team structure is most suitable for managing innovation in high-tech organizations because it allows for cross-functional collaboration and a dedicated focus on a specific product or project. This structure also enables faster decision-making and promotes a culture of innovation and experimentation. The other structures listed do not have the same level of flexibility and focus on innovation.

Quiz 13: Innovation, Intrapreneurship, and Creativity

________ often function as product champions.

Which of the following statements is true regarding skunk works?

Interacting with individuals and groups outside the organization to obtain valuable information and knowledge from the environment is known as a ________ activity.

A ________ is a mid-level functional manager who has lower status than the head of a functional department and he or she is not given control over human, financial, and functional resources.

Which of the following is most likely to help an organization align the interests of their talented employees with those of the organization?

To speed innovation, many organizations have begun to ________.

Which of the following functions is most likely to be true regarding a product champion?

A "________" is a task force, a temporary team that is created to expedite new product design and to promote innovation by coordinating the activities of functional groups. Typically, this team operates at a separate facility, at a location isolated from the rest of the organization.

Which of the following takes place during the second stage of a stage-gate development funnel?

Which of the following statements is true regarding a lightweight team leader?

Define innovation.

Which of the following statements is most likely to be true regarding core team members in a new product development project?

Which of the following statements is true regarding heavyweight team leaders?

Which of the following is most likely to promote innovation in an organization?

A lightweight team leader would be appropriate for an organization seeking a(n) ________.

Which of the following terms best represents the knowledge building created when two or more individuals or subunits pool their resources and cooperate and collaborate across role or subunit boundaries?

At which stage of a stage-gate development funnel do prospective managers develop a detailed product development plan that includes information about factors such as strategic and financial objectives and human resource requirements?

Which of the following is a difference between a skunk works and a new venture division?

Which of the following actions taken by an organization leads to the creation of strong property rights?

Which of the following structures is most suitable for managing innovation in high-tech organizations?