Question 1

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation may decide that the best long-term way to implement its strategic goal of providing financial returns to its shareholders could be to explore for oil in other parts of the world where it has not yet explored, such as Africa. This is an example of Miles' and Snows' _____ typology.

Accepted Answer

Anadarko Petroleum Corporation's decision to explore for oil in Africa, which is a new and unexplored market for them, is an example of the prospector typology according to Miles' and Snows' strategic typology. Prospectors are known for taking risks and exploring new markets in order to grow and expand their businesses.

Question 2

Organizational_____ involves implementation of a different business or cultural path for an organization.

Accepted Answer

Organizational change refers to the process of implementing a different business or cultural path for an organization. This includes changes in strategies, structures, processes, and systems. It can involve significant adjustments to the organization's operations or even a complete overhaul of its culture. Therefore, option B is the best choice for this question.

Question 3

_____controls involve establishing specific goals given metrics and then measuring to what extent these goals are being achieved at certain time intervals.

Accepted Answer

Output controls involve setting specific goals and metrics to measure the extent to which those goals are being achieved at certain time intervals. It focuses on the results or outputs of a process or system. Interpersonal and intrapersonal refer to relationships between individuals or within an individual, respectively. Organic and input controls do not specifically relate to setting and measuring goals.

Question 4

Altria Group, Inc., may feel that the importance of "fiscal discipline" in its stated mission mandates that it reduce its operations and concentrate upon making its existing U.S.-based Marlboro operations as efficient and profitable as possible. In short, Altria will be most concerned with maintaining its existing strategic position. This is an example of Miles' and Snows' _____ typology.

Accepted Answer

Altria Group, Inc.'s focus on maintaining its existing strategic position and making its existing U.S.-based Marlboro operations as efficient and profitable as possible aligns with Miles' and Snows' defender typology. The defender type emphasizes maintaining a stable and secure position within a known product or market domain.

Question 5

Smithfield Foods Company, the world's largest pork-producer, has set the clear organizational goal of getting $0.10 profit for each of its processed pork products that is sold. Which of the following output controls and measurement is Smithfield Foods Company using?

Accepted Answer

The company is using profit as an output control and measurement by setting a clear goal to get $0.10 profit for each processed pork product sold.

Question 6

A special cake recipe from a family member that calls for "a pinch of this" and "pinch of that" is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

The recipe calling for "a pinch of this" and "a pinch of that" suggests that the knowledge of how to make the cake is based on the family member's personal experience and understanding - this is tacit knowledge. It is not explicitly written out in precise measurements, but rather understood through familiarity and repetition.

Question 7

Companies that are _____ take a middle ground between being prospectors and defenders.

Accepted Answer

Analyzers take a middle ground between being prospectors and defenders by balancing their focus on both innovation and efficiency. They imitate successful products and services of other companies while also making improvements and adaptations to maintain a competitive edge.

Question 8

Knowledge that is codifiable and easy to communicate or write down is called _____ knowledge.

Accepted Answer

Explicit knowledge is knowledge that can be easily communicated or written down. It is typically codified and can take various forms such as manuals, procedures, or databases. Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is more implicit and personal, and is often difficult to communicate or transfer to others. Absorptive knowledge refers to the ability of an organization to acquire new knowledge from external sources, while working knowledge refers to knowledge that is needed to perform a specific task or job. Stored knowledge is not a commonly used term in knowledge management.

Question 9

Organizations that have basic strategic implementations involving extending their success through global expansions and finding new market opportunities are called _____.

Accepted Answer

Prospectors are organizations that focus on seeking out and exploiting new market opportunities through global expansion and product innovation. Defenders prioritize maintaining their current market position and stability, reactors have no clear strategic plan and react to changes in the environment, analyzers balance between defending current markets and exploring new opportunities, and coordinators focus on integration and coordination among different parts of the organization.

Question 10

Of the following, which is NOT true about knowledge management and systems?

Accepted Answer

Absorptive capacity refers to the ability of an organization to recognize, assimilate, and apply new knowledge, it does not refer to systems of rules and regulations. Choice E is the only option that is not true about knowledge management and systems.

Question 11

To achieve its longer-term "low price" strategic objectives, Wal-Mart could have a plan to buy more apparel products from lower-priced Chinese manufacturers during the next six months. This is an example of a(n)_____ plan.

Accepted Answer

The answer of To achieve its longer-term "low price" strategic...

Question 12

In the banking industry, a particular bank's efficiency ratio is a closely monitored metric. If one bank can achieve a profit of $2 million per year with 90 employees, and another bank needs to employ 200 employees to achieve the same level of profits, the first bank's employees are more efficient than the second. Which of the following output controls and measurement is the banking industry using?

Accepted Answer

The metric being used in the banking industry is productivity, which is measured by comparing the bank's profits to the number of employees. The bank with fewer employees achieving the same level of profit is considered more productive and efficient.

Question 13

Michael Dell, the founder of Dell Corporation, interacted directly with every single employee during the early days of the company. Michael was practicing _____ control.

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal control involves direct interaction between a manager and their employees. Michael Dell personally interacting with every employee demonstrates this type of control. Intrapersonal control refers to self-control, while bureaucratic control involves following specific procedures and rules. Output control focuses on the end result of a process, while input control focuses on the resources used to achieve that result.

Question 14

A(n)_____ plan for Wal-Mart might be to build and open a textile manufacturing plant in China within the next two-and-one-half years.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A(n)_____ plan for Wal-Mart might be to...

Question 15

Hershey Corporation has assiduously expanded and extended its business by developing new products and increasing global reach, but it has done so in a very careful manner, avoiding undue risks and protecting its existing business operations. This is an example of Miles' and Snows' _____ typology.

Accepted Answer

Hershey Corporation's strategy of expanding and developing new products while carefully avoiding undue risks and protecting its existing operations aligns with the characteristics of the "analyzer" typology in Miles and Snow's framework. Analyzers maintain a balance between stability and innovation, exploring new opportunities while ensuring the core business remains secure.

Question 16

Toyota Motor Company has frequently sent hundreds of workers hired at a plant it is opening in a new country to Japan for months of training in the special "Toyota way" of auto manufacturing. This is an example of _____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Toyota Motor Company has frequently sent hundreds...

Question 17

For generations there has been a norm of "highest quality in journalism" at the New York Times newspaper. In this context, the newspaper's reporters don't require close supervision to do great journalistic work. This is an example of the organizational _____ at the New York Times.

Accepted Answer

The term "organizational culture" refers to a set of shared values, beliefs, and practices within an organization. In this case, the New York Times has a culture of prioritizing high-quality journalism, which has become a norm within the organization. This culture has resulted in reporters who are trusted to produce great work without close supervision.

Question 18

While ______ are the owners of the given business, ______ are individuals or groups that have a vested interest in the business.

Accepted Answer

Shareholders are the owners of the business, while stakeholders are individuals or groups who have a vested interest in the success and well-being of the business, such as customers, employees, suppliers, and the local community.

Question 19

Smithfield Foods CEO Larry Pope says his focus upon what happens with the company's Chinese operations is on "five or ten years" from now. Smithfield may be willing to lose some money with respect to its unprocessed pork sales in China in order to gain a toe-hold in that country's huge pork market. Which of the following output controls and measurement is Larry Pope using?

Accepted Answer

Larry Pope is focused on the growth of Smithfield's Chinese operations over the next five to ten years, indicating that his output control and measurement is centered on expanding the company's market share in China's pork market. While profits, quality control, and productivity are important considerations in any business, Pope's statement emphasizes the company's longer-term growth strategy rather than short-term financial or operational metrics. Therefore, Option C (Growth) is the best choice.

Question 20

A rule that all employees in the organization (including the CEO)must fly coach when they travel on commercial airlines represents a consistent _____ control within an organization.

Accepted Answer

A rule that applies to all employees in the organization, including the CEO, represents a bureaucratic control because it is a formal policy that outlines a specific requirement for all employees to follow. This control helps ensure consistency and fairness within the organization.

Quiz 9: Control of Global Business