CSM Strategic Planning & Execution 2

Question 1

A company conducting a PESTEL analysis identifies rising interest rates as a major concern. Under which PESTEL category does this factor fall?

Accepted Answer

Economic

Answer

Interest rates are an economic factor that affects borrowing costs, consumer spending, and investment decisions.

Question 2

Which strategic planning tool maps an organization's activities along a series of steps to identify where value is created or lost?

Accepted Answer

Value Chain Analysis

Answer

Value Chain Analysis, developed by Michael Porter, dissects a firm's activities to identify sources of competitive advantage and areas of value creation.

Question 3

When a strategic plan consistently fails to translate into operational results, the most likely root cause is:

Accepted Answer

A gap between strategy formulation and execution alignment

Answer

The execution gap occurs when strategies are not operationalized through aligned processes, incentives, and accountability structures.

Question 4

In the context of strategic execution, what does the acronym OKR stand for?

Accepted Answer

Objectives and Key Results

Answer

OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) is a goal-setting framework that links ambitious objectives to measurable outcomes to drive execution.

Question 5

A firm's core competency is BEST described as:

Accepted Answer

A unique bundle of skills and technologies that delivers value competitors cannot easily imitate

Answer

Core competencies, as defined by Prahalad and Hamel, are deeply embedded capabilities that differentiate a firm and are difficult for competitors to replicate.

(CSM) Certified Strategic Manager Practice Test

(CSM) Certified Strategic Manager Practice Test

CSM Strategic Planning & Execution 2