Question 1

Which of the following expressions is used to describe one class of transnational innovation developed by worldwide functional managers
A) internally initiated innovations.
B) nationally integrated innovations.
C) globally linked innovations.
D) internationally targeted innovations.

Accepted Answer

(The two types of transnational innovation developed by worldwide functional manager include locally leveraged innovations and globally linked innovations).

Question 2

Worldwide functional managers would not occupy the following executive role in the MNE
A) Vice-President, Research and Development.
B) President, Marketing.
C) Chief Financial Officer.
D) Vice-President, South America.

Accepted Answer

(Worldwide functional management refers to individuals with the specialist responsibility for activities such as R&D, manufacturing and marketing, as well as support activities such as the CFO. Geographic (country) managers typically assume executive roles associated with countries or geographic regions).

Question 3

The top-level management team should balance all of the following processes in order to fully exploit the MNE's assets and resources and greatly leverage its performance, except
A) formalizing goods flow.
B) decentralizing decision making.
C) centralizing scarce resources.
D) socializing information and knowledge.

Accepted Answer

(Formalization of goods flow, centralization of scarce resources, and socialization of information and knowledge through managing personal contacts are the lifeblood of the MNE. The stronger the top management's ability to develop a rich portfolio of coordinative mechanisms, the more efficient and effective these processes are).

Question 4

The challenges facing a geographic (country) manager's who must convert corporate strategy into actionable plans for the subsidiary do not include
A) the multiplicity and diversity of constituents whose demands and pressures compete for the geographic (country) manager's attention.
B) failure of the country manager to identify and communicate worldwide best practices.
C) the expectations of headquarters that the country manager will translate broad corporate goals and strategies into specific actions which are responsive to the needs of the subsidiary's national environment.
D) the need to garner commitment and enthusiasm for the among constituents of the subsidiary with respect to the corporate strategy and the associated actionable plans.

Accepted Answer

(The implementation of corporate strategy by the geographic (country) manager does not contemplate efforts to identify and communicate worldwide best practices. Instead, the identification and communication of worldwide best practices is typically the responsibility of the worldwide functional manager).

Question 5

To overcome the not-invented-here (NIH) syndrome that often prevails in international firms, which of the following techniques are not employed by the worldwide functional manager when facilitating the transfer of new ideas and innovations throughout the MNE
A) identifying best practices through informal contacts and formal evaluations.
B) replacing geographic (country) managers that resist the adoption of best practices.
C) arranging cross-unit visits and transfers.
D) hosting conferences and forming task forces.

Accepted Answer

(As a cross-pollinator of "best practices", the worldwide functional manager plays a vital role in facilitating the transfer of new ideas, developments and innovations throughout the MNE. As such, the worldwide functional manager concentrates on activities that expose individuals in the MNE to new ideas. This responsibility does not contemplate replacing geographic (country) managers that initially resist the adoption of best practices).

Question 6

Which of the following do not constitute part of the strategic tension facing the geographic (country) manager
A) initiating the worldwide diffusion of best practices and innovations developed within the host country.
B) presenting the "face" of the entire organization at the country level.
C) responding to the needs and demands of the host country government.
D) leveraging the MNE's local resources and capabilities to strengthen the firm's worldwide competitive position.

Accepted Answer

(Initiating the worldwide diffusion of best practices and innovations developed within the host country is not typically the responsibility of the geographic (country) manager. Instead, it is the responsibility of the worldwide functional manager).

Question 7

In their role as worldwide intelligence scanners, worldwide functional managers lead efforts to diffuse innovations throughout the MNE by engaging in all of the following activities, except
A) sensing strategically important changes or information in the environments of foreign subsidiaries.
B) acting as repositories for specialist information.
C) leading disruptive innovations.
D) facilitating the communication and transmission of strategically important information to specialists in the business groups or geographic groups.

Accepted Answer

(As worldwide intelligence scanners, worldwide functional managers are tasked with the role of capturing and transmitting information across national boundaries to enhance the communication of strategically important information among subsidiaries in different countries. This strategically important information is not always transmitted effectively by geographic (country) managers and global business managers primarily because the information is usually of a specialist nature. After sensing the existence of strategically important information within the MNE, worldwide functional managers leverage informal networks and global contacts to rapidly transmit information throughout the MNE).

Question 8

The role of geographic (country) manager is often considered the acid test of general management potential and a necessary qualification on the resume of any candidate for a top management position. Discuss the critical role of the geographic (country) manager as a bicultural interpreter and detail some of the reasons for failure in both upward communication and downward communication between the subsidiary and headquarters.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The role of geographic (country) manager is...

Question 9

Worldwide functional managers are frequently promoted into their positions after having demonstrated functional knowledge that is highly specialized, such as technological capability, marketing expertise or manufacturing know-how, to name a few. This promotion requires that functional managers evolve from secondary staff roles to take active roles in transnational management. While the tasks facing worldwide functional managers will vary widely by specific function, the core roles and responsibilities that all worldwide functional managers should be expected to fulfill are more predictable. Discuss the three core roles and responsibilities, explaining why they are integral to the success of the modern transnational organization. Provide examples to illustrate these roles and responsibilities.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Worldwide functional managers are frequently promoted into...

Question 10

The characteristics that distinguish an effective and energizing global strategic vision do not include
A) shared by all in the transnational organization.
B) simple, relevant and continuously reinforced.
C) tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual group in the MNE.
D) provides direction and purpose.

Accepted Answer

(The global strategic visions must be consistent across organizational units in order to ensure that the vision is shared by all. This requirement precludes efforts to tailor the strategic vision to meet the unique needs of each individual group in the MNE. The cost of inconsistency can be horrendous. At a minimum, it can result in confusion and inefficiency; at the extreme, it can lead individuals and organizational units to pursue agendas that are mutually debilitating).

Question 11

You are employed at the headquarters of a large MNE. While visiting one of the firm's foreign operations, you overhear the following comment, "Top-level corporate management has become an increasingly burdensome cost centre in the modern transnational. Our company employs well-trained and highly skilled individuals as global business managers, worldwide functional managers and geographic (country) managers. To enhance performance, our firm should thin the ranks at the corporate executive level and allow the business, functional and geographic managers more liberty to coordinate their own activities." Upon returning to headquarters, you are advised that you are being promoted to a country manager position within the MNE. However, you have been asked to prepare a report on your observations from your recent trip before you leave to start your new role. Use this report as an opportunity to discuss your position in support of, or against, this perspective regarding top-level management.

Accepted Answer

The answer of You are employed at the headquarters of...

Question 12

While the role of the geographic (country) subsidiary manager has traditionally concentrated on responsibilities such as identifying sales and profit opportunities, accessing local factors of production and leveraging parent company assets and resources, the modern geographic subsidiary manager's role has evolved to include an expanded set of responsibilities. Discuss the tasks executed by the country manager and propose an associated set of skills that you think would be required by a country manager. Be sure to link these skills to the list of tasks.

Accepted Answer

The answer of While the role of the geographic (country)...

Question 13

Top-level management teams strive to pursue continual renewal within the transnational by engaging in all of the following activities, except
A) questioning and challenging all business groups.
B) devoting considerable time and effort to reviewing below-budget financial results.
C) reducing internal bureaucracy and constantly orienting the organization to its customers.
D) forcing adaptation and learning.

Accepted Answer

(Top-level managers who permit successful strategies to become elevated to the status of unquestioned wisdom and who watch effective organizational processes become institutionalized as routines risk ossification- management loses its flexibility and eventually the organization sees its role as protecting its past heritage. Questioning and challenging all business groups, forcing adaptation and learning and reducing internal bureaucracy are three means by which top-level managers can pursue continual renewal with respect to its strategies and processes).

Question 14

In the geographic (country) manager's role as an information broker, the individual must engage in all of the following activities, except
A) formulate and implement cross-border transfer policies to be used when coordinating the flow of materials, components and finished products from the host country to related business units situated in other host countries.
B) interpret the environmental and cultural differences of the host country, using this information to predict feasible outcomes to the headquarters.
C) translate corporate goals, strategies and values into meaningful objectives for employees situated in the host country.
D) communicate the corporation's goals, strategies and values to the employees situated in the foreign country.

Accepted Answer

(Formulating and implementing cross-border transfer policies to be used when coordinating the flow of materials, components and finished products from the host country to related business units situated in other host countries is not typically the responsibility of the geographic (country) manager. Instead, it is the responsibility of the global business manager).

Quiz 7: Implementing the Strategy: Building Multidimensional Capabilities

Which of the following expressions is used to describe one class of transnational innovation developed by worldwide functional managers

Worldwide functional managers would not occupy the following executive role in the MNE

The top-level management team should balance all of the following processes in order to fully exploit the MNE's assets and resources and greatly leverage its performance, except

The challenges facing a geographic (country) manager's who must convert corporate strategy into actionable plans for the subsidiary do not include

To overcome the not-invented-here (NIH) syndrome that often prevails in international firms, which of the following techniques are not employed by the worldwide functional manager when facilitating the transfer of new ideas and innovations throughout the MNE

Which of the following do not constitute part of the strategic tension facing the geographic (country) manager

In their role as worldwide intelligence scanners, worldwide functional managers lead efforts to diffuse innovations throughout the MNE by engaging in all of the following activities, except

The characteristics that distinguish an effective and energizing global strategic vision do not include

Top-level management teams strive to pursue continual renewal within the transnational by engaging in all of the following activities, except

In the geographic (country) manager's role as an information broker, the individual must engage in all of the following activities, except