Question 1

Once Fairchild Semiconductor had software in place to manage day-to-day activities, they began another major change effort. This time the goal was to:

Accepted Answer

The goal was to design and deploy a comprehensive solution for forecasting demand and managing their supply chain, which is a common next step for companies looking to optimize operations after implementing basic software for day-to-day activities.

Question 2

__________ is the process of creating and implementing a new idea.

Accepted Answer

Innovation is the process of creating and implementing a new idea, which involves introducing something new or making changes to an existing product, service, or process.

Question 3

When Alan Lafley first became CEO of Procter & Gamble, he spent his first three months on the road talking to:

Accepted Answer

When Alan Lafley first became CEO of Procter & Gamble, he dedicated his initial three months to engaging with employees, customers, and suppliers, indicating a comprehensive approach to understanding the business from multiple perspectives.

Question 4

Eventually, Alan Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble, wants only ________ percent of P&G's new products to be created internally. The rest would come from outside initially and then be fine-tuned in P&G's labs.

Accepted Answer

Alan Lafley, CEO of Procter & Gamble, aimed for 50 percent of P&G's new products to be created internally, with the rest sourced from outside and then refined within P&G's labs.

Question 5

Which of the following is not considered a basic type of innovation?

Accepted Answer

Behavioral innovation is not typically classified among the basic types of innovation. The basic types often include technical (or technological), process, and administrative innovations, which relate to products, how things are made, and organizational structure, respectively. Behavioral innovation, while important, doesn't fit into the standard categorization of innovation types.

Question 6

Susan Tillery's organization Silk Flowers, Inc., has created and adopted a substantially new method of producing silk flowers. This is an example of ____________ innovation.

Accepted Answer

Process innovation involves the implementation of a new or significantly improved production or delivery method. In this case, Silk Flowers, Inc. adopting a new method of producing silk flowers is an example of process innovation, as it directly relates to how the product is made.

Question 7

The shift to wireless communications systems represents ______________ innovation.

Accepted Answer

The shift to wireless communications systems is considered a technical innovation because it involves the development and application of new technologies or improvements in technology to enhance communication methods.

Question 8

The introduction of do-it-yourself online stock trading represents _________ innovation.

Accepted Answer

The introduction of do-it-yourself online stock trading represents a process innovation because it changes the way in which stock trading services are delivered, making it more efficient and accessible for individuals to trade stocks without the need for traditional brokerages.

Question 9

At Toyota, oobeya was a process innovation that enabled the company to __________.

Accepted Answer

Oobeya, which translates to "big room" in Japanese, is a process innovation at Toyota that involves bringing together all key personnel involved in a project into one room. This approach facilitates better communication, coordination, and problem-solving among team members, leading to more efficient production processes and dramatically lower production costs.

Question 10

All of the following are examples of administrative innovation except __________.

Accepted Answer

New product designs are considered a type of product innovation rather than administrative innovation. Administrative innovations relate to the organization's internal work processes and structures, such as flexible work schedules, telecommuting, and virtual work teams.

Question 11

An architecture for innovation builds an infrastructure that encourages innovation and change. All of the following are key features of that architecture except __________.

Accepted Answer

All the options listed (developing a learning environment, fostering workforce resilience, and providing a support system for innovation) are key features of an architecture for innovation. Therefore, none of them is an exception.

Question 12

A(n) __________ organization has both the drive and the capabilities to improve its performance continuously.

Accepted Answer

A learning organization is characterized by its ability to continuously transform itself by acquiring and applying new knowledge, thus improving its performance. This concept emphasizes the importance of organizational learning and adaptability.

Question 13

Which of the following are learning organizations least likely to learn from?

Accepted Answer

Learning organizations are designed to adapt and grow from various sources of information and experiences. However, they are least likely to rely on textbooks for learning because textbooks often contain static, outdated information compared to the dynamic, real-time learning from past experiences, other companies, and customers.

Question 14

Using a variety of communication technologies, including ___________, HP Labs employees assessed their current situation and agreed on a set of indicators to use to assess their progress toward their goal of becoming the best lab in the world.

Accepted Answer

The use of a variety of communication technologies implies the inclusion of all listed methods: surveys, electronic groupware, and face-to-face discussions, to assess their situation and progress.

Question 15

At HP Labs, employees had the tendency to focus on their own work and "never talk to each other." The solution to the problem was something called ____________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of At HP Labs, employees had the tendency...

Question 16

All of the following are considered distinctive features of learning organizations except __________.

Accepted Answer

Learning organizations emphasize shared leadership, a culture of innovation, and strategies focused on culture rather than a hierarchical chain of command, which is more characteristic of traditional organizational structures.

Question 17

When people feel they are part of a community, they are more willing to __________.

Accepted Answer

Feeling part of a community fosters a sense of belonging and responsibility, encouraging individuals to share solutions, identify problems, and make extra efforts for the collective good.

Question 18

Learning organizations encourage individual learning in which of the following ways?

Accepted Answer

Empowerment encourages individual learning by giving employees the authority and responsibility to make decisions, which fosters a learning environment.

Question 19

A ___________ organizational structure facilitates learning.

Accepted Answer

Flat and team-based organizational structures facilitate learning by promoting open communication and collaboration, which are essential for sharing knowledge and fostering innovation.

Question 20

The design of learning organizations emphasizes the use of all of the following except __________.

Accepted Answer

Learning organizations emphasize multidisciplinary teams, communities-of-practice, and network organizational design to foster knowledge sharing and innovation.

Quiz 12: Guiding Organizational Change and Innovation