Question 1

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

The statement accurately describes Unilever's philosophy as stated by the retired CEO.

Question 2

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

The passage clearly states that Lubsen was born in the Netherlands and educated in both Rotterdam and New York, and he speaks multiple languages, indicating that he is a cosmopolitan executive.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

According to Prahalad and Hamel, a core competence should be difficult for competitors to imitate. Therefore, option C - "it is easy for competitors to imitate" is not a characteristic of a core competence. The other options, A, B, D, and E, are all characteristics of a core competence.

Question 4

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 include the need for seamless communication, not depending on a small group of people, facilitating decision making, and utilizing everybody's wisdom. He did not mention impeding information sharing as a reason for this action.

Question 5

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 faced resistance at GE from lower levels of the organization who were less convinced that globalization was a positive thing.

Question 6

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 of the United States often have the advantage of being multilingual due to their exposure to other languages and cultures. However, this does not apply to all managers born and raised in the US, as some may have learned a foreign language later in life or through education.

Question 7

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 8

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

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which one of the following companies has...

Question 9

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

The statement suggests that Nokia's decline can be attributed to a failure to adapt to changing technological environments, and that executives must be willing to reassess their corporation's strategies in order to effectively utilize their strengths (core competencies).

Question 10

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

According to various sources, including Welch's autobiography "Jack: Straight from the Gut," some employees initially resisted his ideas about globalization but eventually came around.

Question 11

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 12

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

Accepted Answer

According to the context, Carlos Ghosn introduced the two new words "speed and commitment" into Nissan's lexicon.

Question 13

Victor Luis is the chief executive officer of:

Accepted Answer

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

Question 14

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's statement emphasizes the importance of influence and adaptability in leadership, rather than simply holding a high position in a hierarchy.

Question 15

Satya Nadella is the chief executive officer of:

Accepted Answer

Satya Nadella is the CEO of Microsoft, as of 2021.

Question 16

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

In the article, it is stated that former Whirlpool CEO David Whitwam "encountered hesitation within his own company when he bought Philips' European appliance unit in the early 1990s."

Question 17

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 critical for both Whirlpool and GE as they are global companies operating in multiple countries. It is important for top management to have a team of managers who understand cultural differences, market needs, and international business practices to succeed in the global market. Building a team of managers with global expertise is key to achieving the company's vision and goals.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Core competence involves a unique set of skills, knowledge, and abilities that are difficult for competitors to imitate, making it a source of competitive advantage for the organization that possesses it.

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

While articulating beliefs, values, policies, and activities are important leadership tasks, status is not. The leader's status should be evident through their actions and behaviors, rather than being articulated as a separate point.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Carly Fiorina states that leadership is not about "bragging rights," so option D is the correct choice. Fiorina emphasizes that leadership is about challenging minds, connecting at multiple levels, capturing hearts, and empowering others.

Quiz 17: Leadership, Organization, and Corporate Social Responsibility