Strategic Planning & Analysis 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 & Analysis flashcards as text
In Porter's Five Forces, which force directly addresses the threat posed by companies from outside the current industry entering the market?
Answer: Threat of new entrants
The threat of new entrants assesses how easily companies from other industries or markets could enter and compete.
A software organization decides to focus on serving a narrow customer segment with highly specialized features. This is an example of which generic strategy?
Answer: Focus strategy
Porter's focus strategy involves targeting a narrow market segment with either cost or differentiation emphasis.
Which of the following best describes a 'lagging indicator' in a strategic performance measurement system?
Answer: A metric that reflects outcomes after they have occurred
Lagging indicators measure results that have already happened, such as revenue or customer churn, rather than predicting future outcomes.
An organization mapping its value chain for software delivery is most likely trying to:
Answer: Identify activities that create value and those that are sources of competitive advantage
Value chain analysis identifies primary and support activities to determine where competitive advantage and value creation occur.
Which strategic planning horizon is typically associated with an organization's mission and vision?
Answer: Long-term (3–10 years)
Mission and vision statements guide long-term direction, typically spanning 3–10 years or beyond.
What does a 'make-or-buy' analysis help a software manager determine?
Answer: Whether to develop a capability internally or outsource/purchase it
A make-or-buy analysis evaluates the cost, risk, and strategic value of building a capability in-house versus acquiring it externally.
In strategic planning, 'strategic fit' refers to:
Answer: The alignment between a strategy and the organization's resources, capabilities, and environment
Strategic fit means that the chosen strategy matches the organization's internal capabilities and the external environment it operates in.