CBC Business Strategy & Goal Setting 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A coaching client wants to "grow the business" but cannot define what growth means. What should the coach do first?
- Help the client convert the vague aspiration into a specific, measurable goal (Correct answer)
- Recommend a marketing budget increase
- Set the goal on the client's behalf based on industry norms
- Advise the client to postpone goal setting until revenue improves
Correct answer: Help the client convert the vague aspiration into a specific, measurable goal
Coaches guide clients to translate vague aspirations into specific, measurable goals rather than prescribing solutions.
Question 2: In a SWOT analysis, a competitor's new product launch would be classified as which element?
- Threat (Correct answer)
- Weakness
- Opportunity
- Strength
Correct answer: Threat
External factors that could harm the business, such as competitor moves, are threats in SWOT.
Question 3: Which statement best distinguishes a business's mission from its vision?
- Mission describes current purpose; vision describes the desired future state (Correct answer)
- Mission is for employees only; vision is for customers only
- Mission covers finances; vision covers operations
- Mission changes quarterly; vision changes monthly
Correct answer: Mission describes current purpose; vision describes the desired future state
A mission states why the organization exists today, while a vision paints the future it aims to achieve.
Question 4: A client sets a goal to "increase monthly revenue by 15% within six months." Which SMART criterion is most clearly missing?
- None — the goal is specific, measurable, and time-bound (Correct answer)
- Measurable
- Time-bound
- Specific
Correct answer: None — the goal is specific, measurable, and time-bound
The goal names a metric, a target amount, and a deadline, satisfying the visible SMART criteria.
Question 5: During strategic planning, what is the primary purpose of identifying key performance indicators (KPIs)?
- To track measurable progress toward strategic objectives (Correct answer)
- To replace the need for financial statements
- To evaluate employee personalities
- To satisfy legal reporting requirements
Correct answer: To track measurable progress toward strategic objectives
KPIs quantify progress toward objectives so leaders can monitor and adjust strategy.
Question 6: A business coach notices a client's goals conflict — cutting costs 20% while doubling the sales team. What is the most appropriate coaching response?
- Facilitate a conversation to help the client prioritize and reconcile the conflicting goals (Correct answer)
- Tell the client which goal to abandon
- Ignore the conflict since both goals are ambitious
- Report the conflict to the client's board
Correct answer: Facilitate a conversation to help the client prioritize and reconcile the conflicting goals
Coaches surface conflicts and help clients think through priorities rather than deciding for them.
Question 7: Which planning horizon is most typical for an operational plan compared to a strategic plan?
- One year or less, versus three to five years for strategic plans (Correct answer)
- Ten years, versus one year for strategic plans
- Both cover identical timeframes
- One month, versus one quarter for strategic plans
Correct answer: One year or less, versus three to five years for strategic plans
Operational plans usually cover a year or less, while strategic plans typically span three to five years.
CBC Business Strategy & Goal Setting 2
A coaching client wants to "grow the business" but cannot define what growth means.
What should the coach do first?