Question 1

One of the characteristics of core competence is that it is difficult for competitors to imitate.

Accepted Answer

Core competence is a unique combination of skills, resources, and knowledge that provides value to customers and gives a company a competitive advantage, making it difficult for competitors to imitate.

Question 2

According to Carly Fiorina,former CEO of Hewlett-Packard,leadership is not about:

Accepted Answer

Leadership, as described by Carly Fiorina, focuses on challenging minds, connecting at multiple levels, capturing hearts, and empowering others, rather than on boasting or bragging rights.

Question 3

Rebecca Van Dyck is the chief marketing officer of:

Accepted Answer

Rebecca Van Dyck has served as the chief marketing officer of Facebook, a position that highlights her role in leading marketing strategies for the tech giant in the United States.

Question 4

Carly Fiorina,former CEO of Hewlett-Packard,said that leadership is not about hierarchy or title or status;it's about having influence and mastering change.

Accepted Answer

Carly Fiorina, during her tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard and in her subsequent career, has often spoken about leadership in terms that emphasize influence, adaptability, and the ability to drive change over traditional markers of status such as hierarchy and title. This reflects her broader views on effective leadership and management.

Question 5

In addition to "selling" their vision,top management at both Whirlpool and GE face the formidable task of building:

Accepted Answer

Building a cadre of globally oriented managers is essential for top management at companies like Whirlpool and GE to effectively implement and sell their vision on a global scale, ensuring the company can navigate and succeed in diverse international markets.

Question 6

Jack Welch encountered resistance at GE and said that,"The lower you are in the organization,the less clear it is that globalization is great."

Accepted Answer

Jack Welch, the former CEO of General Electric (GE), acknowledged the challenges of globalization, including the resistance encountered within different levels of the organization. He recognized that perspectives on globalization could vary significantly, with those lower in the organization often seeing less of its benefits, hence the quote.

Question 7

Yong Nam,CEO of LG,recently stipulated that English would be required throughout the company.His reasons for this action included all of the following statements except:

Accepted Answer

Yong Nam's reasons for requiring English throughout the company would logically include facilitating seamless communication, not depending on a small group of people, facilitating decision making, and utilizing everybody's wisdom. Option C, "impede information sharing," contradicts the goal of improving communication and efficiency within the company, making it the correct answer as the exception.

Question 8

When Brazilian Carlos Ghosn was installed as chief executive,he introduced two new words into Nissan's lexicon:

Accepted Answer

Ghosn introduced the words "speed and commitment" to emphasize the importance of rapid action and dedication to the company's turnaround and success.

Question 9

The ability to speak foreign languages is one difference between managers born and raised in the United States and those born and raised elsewhere.Which of the following is true and reflects this statement?

Accepted Answer

A) reflects the statement by indicating a significant number of individuals (in this case, Chinese children) learning a foreign language (English), highlighting the global emphasis on bilingual or multilingual abilities, which contrasts with the typical monolingual trend in the United States.

Question 10

Nokia's reversal of fortune at the hands of Apple and Google underscores the fact that today's executives must rethink the concept of the corporation if they wish to operationalize the concept of core competencies.

Accepted Answer

Nokia's decline in the mobile phone market due to competition from Apple and Google illustrates the need for executives to adapt and evolve their understanding of what makes a corporation successful, including the focus on core competencies.

Question 11

According to Prahalad and Hamel,a core competence has all of the following characteristics except:

Accepted Answer

Core competencies, as defined by Prahalad and Hamel, are unique strengths within an organization that are difficult for competitors to imitate, provide access to a variety of markets, contribute significantly to the customer benefits of the end product, and thus, are not easy for competitors to imitate. This makes option C ("it is easy for competitors to imitate") the characteristic that does not belong.

Question 12

Former Whirlpool CEO David Whitwam described his own staffs' resistance in the early 1990s after he had approved the acquisition of Royal Philips Electronics' European home appliance division.

Accepted Answer

David Whitwam, as CEO of Whirlpool, did indeed face resistance from his staff following the acquisition of Royal Philips Electronics' European home appliance division in the early 1990s, as it was a significant strategic move for the company.

Question 13

During his years as chief executive of GE,Jack Welch discovered that many employees resisted his ideas about the need to globalize the company.

Accepted Answer

Jack Welch, during his tenure as CEO of General Electric (GE) from 1981 to 2001, faced resistance from some employees regarding his initiatives, including the push towards globalization. This resistance was part of the broader challenges he encountered as he sought to transform the company into a more efficient, competitive, and globally oriented organization.

Question 14

The ability to speak at least one other foreign language is one difference between managers born and raised in the United States and those born and raised elsewhere.

Accepted Answer

Managers born and raised outside the United States are more likely to be bilingual or multilingual due to the global emphasis on learning additional languages, whereas in the U.S., there is less emphasis on learning foreign languages from a young age.

Question 15

Which one of the following companies has a woman as the global chief marketing officer in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Brady Brewer is the Chief Marketing Officer of Starbucks, and as of the latest information, Starbucks has had women in significant leadership roles, including marketing.

Question 16

Sigismundus Lubsen,the former president and CEO of Quaker Chemical Corporation,is a good example of today's cosmopolitan executive.Born in the Netherlands and educated in Rotterdam as well as New York,Lubsen speaks Dutch,English,French,and German.

Accepted Answer

Sigismundus Lubsen's international background, multilingual abilities, and leadership roles in a global corporation exemplify the characteristics of a cosmopolitan executive.

Question 17

Satya Nadella is the chief executive officer of:

Accepted Answer

Satya Nadella is the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft, a position he has held since February 2014.

Question 18

Victor Luis is the chief executive officer of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Victor Luis is the chief executive officer...

Question 19

An important leadership task involves articulating all of the following points except:

Accepted Answer

Articulating status is not typically considered an important leadership task. Leaders focus on communicating beliefs, values, policies, and activities to guide and motivate their teams, rather than emphasizing their own or the organization's status.

Question 20

Before retiring at the end of 2008,Unilever Group Chief Executive Patrick Cescau wanted to reconnect the company with its heritage of sustainability and concern for the environment.This and other values reflect Unilever's philosophy of "doing well by doing good."

Accepted Answer

Patrick Cescau, during his tenure as Unilever's Group Chief Executive, emphasized reconnecting the company with its heritage of sustainability and environmental concern, aligning with Unilever's philosophy of "doing well by doing good," which focuses on achieving business success while positively impacting society and the environment.

Quiz 17: Leadership, organization, and Corporate Social Responsibility