Strategic Planning & Execution Flashcards
7 cards from real CSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Strategic Planning & Execution flashcards as text
A company's strategy states it will 'be the most innovative company in the industry.' This statement is problematic because it:
Answer: Is not measurable and cannot guide execution decisions
Effective strategic objectives must be specific and measurable; vague aspirational statements cannot be operationalized or tracked for execution purposes.
Which of the following BEST describes 'strategic fit' in the context of mergers and acquisitions?
Answer: The degree to which the combined entities' strategies, resources, and capabilities are complementary
Strategic fit evaluates whether an acquisition will reinforce and enhance the acquiring company's strategy by adding complementary capabilities or market access.
When executing strategy, 'resource allocation' decisions are MOST critical because they:
Answer: Signal organizational priorities and directly fund or starve strategic initiatives
How resources—capital, talent, and time—are allocated reveals true organizational priorities and determines which strategies receive the fuel needed to succeed.
In strategic management, a 'first-mover advantage' can be eroded by all of the following EXCEPT:
Answer: The pioneer having higher brand recognition than followers
Higher brand recognition from being first is a BENEFIT of first-mover advantage, not a factor that erodes it.
A strategic manager uses a 'forcing function' to accelerate execution. A forcing function is BEST described as:
Answer: A constraint or commitment that makes it necessary for the organization to act
A forcing function is a structural mechanism—like a hard deadline, a public commitment, or a resource constraint—that compels action and prevents delay.
The concept of 'strategic intent,' as defined by Hamel and Prahalad, emphasizes:
Answer: Setting an ambitious long-term goal that stretches the organization beyond its current capabilities
Strategic intent is an ambitious desired leadership position that creates a sense of direction and discovery, motivating the organization to build new capabilities over time.
Which of the following is a key difference between 'emergent strategy' and 'deliberate strategy'?
Answer: Emergent strategy arises from patterns of actions taken over time, while deliberate strategy is planned in advance
Mintzberg distinguished deliberate strategy (planned and intentional) from emergent strategy (patterns that arise from unplanned actions and responses to the environment).