Question 1

Competitive strategies are easily transferable between products and services, as long as you have a skilled manager to lead the process.

Accepted Answer

Competitive strategies often need to be tailored to the specific characteristics and demands of the product or service being offered, as well as the market conditions, which can vary significantly between products and services.

Question 2

A business cannot accomplish its strategy or communicate its desired image without which of the following elements?

Accepted Answer

Strategic alignment ensures that all aspects of the business are coordinated and working towards the same goals, which is essential for executing a strategy and maintaining a consistent image.

Question 3

When FedEx claims that it can get your package delivered overnight, it is proving that it is a distribution-driven company.

Accepted Answer

FedEx's ability to deliver packages overnight highlights its focus on efficient logistics and distribution, which are key aspects of a distribution-driven company.

Question 4

The ability to think, reason, and make decisions is identified as which of the following basic skills that employees are expected to possess?

Accepted Answer

Foundational abilities are basic skills that include the capacity to think, reason, and make decisions, which are essential for most job roles.

Question 5

Developing a competitive strategy is always a complex process.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Developing a competitive strategy is always a...

Question 6

The 7-S model is also referred to as the "anti-strategy" strategy.

Accepted Answer

The 7-S model is a framework for analyzing organizations and their effectiveness, focusing on seven internal elements (strategy, structure, systems, shared values, skills, style, and staff), rather than opposing strategy.

Question 7

Managers are rarely involved in the training and development process. If they are involved, it is usually only during the initial training of an employee.

Accepted Answer

Managers play a crucial role in the ongoing training and development of employees, not just during the initial training period but also in identifying ongoing training needs, providing coaching, and supporting career development.

Question 8

Even with a formal system in place, most managers go with their "gut feeling" and play favorites during performance reviews.

Accepted Answer

While some managers may rely on intuition, many organizations have formal systems to ensure objective and fair performance reviews, reducing the likelihood of favoritism.

Question 9

The "birth" of an organization is concerned mainly with developing a strategy and finding a niche.

Accepted Answer

The "birth" of an organization involves initial stages such as developing a strategy to guide its operations and identifying a niche in the market where it can effectively compete or meet a specific demand.

Question 10

During which of the following stages of an organization's life cycle do companies face the important process of letting go of old business practices in favor of new ones?

Accepted Answer

The answer of During which of the following stages of...

Question 11

The most progressive companies make sure that there are clear links between training and development programs and performance reviews.

Accepted Answer

Progressive companies understand that aligning training and development programs with performance reviews helps ensure that employee growth is directly connected to organizational goals, leading to improved performance and job satisfaction.

Question 12

Crafting a competitive strategy from a communication perspective involves attention to message design.

Accepted Answer

Crafting a competitive strategy from a communication perspective indeed involves attention to message design, as the way a message is crafted and delivered can significantly impact its effectiveness and the overall perception of the brand or product in the competitive market.

Question 13

Strategic alignment is most successful when management keeps it secretive, especially among lower-level employees in the organization.

Accepted Answer

Strategic alignment involves aligning a company's structure, resources, and objectives with its strategy and goals. It is most successful when there is transparency and communication across all levels of the organization, as this fosters understanding, cooperation, and commitment to shared objectives.

Question 14

Organizations that treat people as their most important asset are also the most profitable.

Accepted Answer

Organizations that prioritize their employees' well-being and development tend to have higher levels of employee engagement, productivity, and customer satisfaction, which ultimately contribute to increased profitability.

Question 15

The strategic-alignment process is best approached by thinking of the organization as a total communication system.

Accepted Answer

The strategic-alignment process involves aligning an organization's strategy with its structure, processes, and people to achieve its goals. Thinking of the organization as a total communication system is crucial because effective communication ensures that everyone understands the strategy, their role in it, and how different parts of the organization need to coordinate and share information to achieve the strategic objectives.

Question 16

Strategic alignment is usually a gradual process.

Accepted Answer

Strategic alignment involves aligning a company's structure, resources, and processes with its strategy and objectives. This usually requires iterative adjustments and continuous improvement, making it a gradual process rather than an instantaneous one.

Question 17

Positioning involves selecting a strategy or purpose that distinguishes the organization from its competitors.

Accepted Answer

Positioning is about defining how you want your organization, product, or service to be perceived in the market relative to your competitors, focusing on the unique value or characteristics that set you apart.

Question 18

The successful implementation of any communication technology will consider both the social and the political environments of the organization before attempting any sort of technological change.

Accepted Answer

Considering both the social and political environments of an organization is crucial for the successful implementation of communication technology, as these factors significantly influence user acceptance, integration into existing processes, and the overall effectiveness of the technology within the organizational context.

Question 19

According to the text, the competitive strategy of McDonald's focuses the least on which of the following items?

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, the competitive strategy...

Question 20

According to the text, which of the following concepts is NOT considered to be a progressive human resource practice of organizations that seek talented employees?

Accepted Answer

Job security, while important for employee satisfaction, is not typically classified as a progressive human resource practice aimed at attracting talent. Progressive practices often focus on empowerment, development, and team dynamics to enhance innovation and productivity.

Quiz 10: Organizational Alignment: Managing the Total Enterprise