Question 1

Ackermann and Eden (2011) describe strategy as a:&#10;A) Social and political process&#10;B) Social and organizational process&#10;C) Social and collegiate process&#10;D) Social and necessary process

Accepted Answer

Ackermann and Eden (2011) describe strategy as a social and political process, emphasizing the influence of power dynamics and relationships in strategic decision-making.

Question 2

Political feasibility means that participants won't&#8230;&#10;A) subvert or work against the implementation of an outcome&#10;B) Contribute to new initiatives&#10;C) Vote to decide of strategy stage gates&#10;D) Check feasibility with all actors

Accepted Answer

Political feasibility refers to whether or not stakeholders involved in implementing an outcome will support or oppose it. If participants are actively working against the implementation, it is not politically feasible.

Question 3

In iterative, experimental working environments, for what reason would a 'sponsor' provide participants with the required sense of psychological safety and support? (Kupp et al. 2019)&#10;A) To accept a tolerance of failure and ambiguity&#10;B) To develop an apportionment of blame&#10;C) To assign credit for success&#10;D) To ensure limits of resource exposure

Accepted Answer

In iterative, experimental working environments, participants must be willing to take risks and try new ideas, which can lead to failure and uncertainty. Therefore, psychological safety and support from a sponsor are necessary to create an environment where participants feel comfortable taking such risks without fear of negative consequences. This requires acceptance of failure and ambiguity without blame or retribution, making choice A the best answer. Choices B and C suggest a culture of assigning blame or claiming credit, which can inhibit experimentation and innovation. Choice D is unrelated to the question.

Question 4

How is design thinking characterized?&#10;A) Human-centred, creative, iterative&#10;B) Process driven&#10;C) Outcome focussed&#10;D) Blue skies in character

Accepted Answer

Design thinking is characterized by being human-centred, meaning that the focus is on understanding the needs and perspectives of the user. It is also creative in nature, encouraging divergent thinking and brainstorming. Additionally, design thinking is iterative, meaning that it involves prototyping and testing, as well as the ability to learn from failures and make necessary adjustments. Design thinking is not necessarily process-driven or outcome-focused, as the focus is on the journey and the user experience, rather than the end result. It is also not necessarily characterized by blue skies thinking, as it often involves working within constraints and finding innovative solutions to practical problems.

Question 5

A useful way to understand design thinking is as a management philosophy or as a&#8230;&#10;A) social technology&#10;B) human imperative&#10;C) strategic necessity&#10;D) resource requirement

Accepted Answer

Design thinking is often referred to as a social technology because it involves a systematic approach to solving complex problems through understanding human needs and using empathy to design solutions. While it can be considered a strategic necessity and a resource requirement, it is primarily a management philosophy that emphasizes innovation and user-centered design.

Question 6

Which of the following is not a design team problem?&#10;A) Overwhelmed by too many good ideas&#10;B) Trapped in their own experience and expertise&#10;C) Confronted by too many disparate but similar ideas&#10;D) Constrained by existing biases about what works and what doesn't work

Accepted Answer

While having too many good ideas can pose a challenge for a design team in terms of prioritization and focus, it is not necessarily a problem in itself. In fact, it may indicate a team that is generating innovative and creative solutions. The other options (B, C, and D) are all common design team problems that can impede progress and success.

Question 7

Which two of the following are factors that influence engagement?&#10;A) Procedural rationality&#10;B) Social acceptability&#10;C) Role description&#10;D) Contractual obligation

Accepted Answer

Procedural rationality, which involves the fairness and transparency of processes, and social acceptability, which pertains to the extent to which actions are deemed appropriate by societal standards, both significantly influence engagement by affecting how individuals perceive and interact within various contexts.

Question 8

In the knowledge loop model (Keates, S. and J. Clarkson 2003) which two of the following are steps in the loop?&#10;A) The design team discusses the target outcomes&#10;B) Design or refine blueprints for strategy activity&#10;C) A framework is issues to the team&#10;D) Quantitative data is used exclusively to furnish analysis

Accepted Answer

The knowledge loop model includes the following steps: (1) identify target outcomes, (2) capture knowledge, (3) assemble knowledge, (4) interpret knowledge, (5) translate knowledge into action, and (6) evaluate outcomes. Choice A (discussing target outcomes) is part of step 1 and choice B (designing or refining blueprints) is part of step 4. Choice C (issuing a framework) is not mentioned in the model and choice D (using only quantitative data) is too specific and not reflective of the model's emphasis on capturing and interpreting a variety of knowledge sources.

Question 9

Inclusion in strategizing can connect employees with a sense of organizational purpose

Accepted Answer

Including employees in strategizing can help them understand the organization's goals and vision, which can increase their sense of purpose and connection to the company.

Deck 15: Designing Effective Strategy Activities