People form coalitions in order to:

People form coalitions in order to:



Answer: Share topic information, get support and understanding, have a sense of belonging, and gain power.

Conflict triangles can be:

Conflict triangles can be:



Answer: Stable, unstable, or toxic.

Bossidy and Charan believe that to excel at execution, a leader should

Bossidy and Charan believe that to excel at execution, a leader should 



A. be hands-off once the strategy is set.
B. micromanage the tactics.
C. empower employees to take over the execution.
D. probe for weaknesses in the substance and details.
E. let the plan run its course before attempting to revise it.





Answer: D

Which of the following is not a question that Bossidy and Charan believe a strong strategic plan must address?

Which of the following is not a question that Bossidy and Charan believe a strong strategic plan must address? 



A. How will deviations from the plan be handled?
B. What is the assessment of the external environment?
C. What are the critical issues facing the business?
D. Can the business execute the strategy?
E. Are the short term and long term balanced?



Answer: A

Daniel is assessing his company's portfolio of products. One of them is the best-selling brand of mayonnaise, although this is now a slow-growing market. If Daniel uses the BCG matrix, he would classify this product as a

Daniel is assessing his company's portfolio of products. One of them is the best-selling brand of mayonnaise, although this is now a slow-growing market. If Daniel uses the BCG matrix, he would classify this product as a 




A. star.
B. cloud.
C. question mark.
D. cash cow.
E. dog.




Answer: D

Which of the following strategy tools suggests that an organization will do better in fast-growing markets in which it has a high market share rather than in slow-growing markets in which it has a low market share?

Which of the following strategy tools suggests that an organization will do better in fast-growing markets in which it has a high market share rather than in slow-growing markets in which it has a low market share? 



A. SWOT analysis
B. Porter's model for industry analysis
C. Porter's competitive strategies
D. The BCG matrix
E. Trend analysis





Answer: D

________ refers to the idea that the economic value of separate, related businesses under one ownership and management is greater together than the businesses are worth separately.

________ refers to the idea that the economic value of separate, related businesses under one ownership and management is greater together than the businesses are worth separately. 




A. Structural benefit
B. Synergy
C. Selective function
D. Alignment
E. Consolidation




Answer: B

An organization is developing a low-cost line of environmentally friendly cleaning products that it intends to distribute internationally. Here, the organization is following a ______ strategy.

An organization is developing a low-cost line of environmentally friendly cleaning products that it intends to distribute internationally. Here, the organization is following a ______ strategy. 



A. cost leadership
B. differentiation
C. cost focus
D. retrenchment
E. focused-differentiation





Answer: A

Porter's competitive strategies include

Porter's competitive strategies include 




A. prospector, defender, analyzer, and reactor.
B. growth, stability, and retrenchment.
C. cost leadership, differentiation, cost focus, and focused differentiation.
D. strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
E. stars, questions marks, cash cows, and dogs.




Answer: C

Oil companies must be aware of other firms' development of ethanol products since this is an example of which one force in Porter's model for industry analysis?

Oil companies must be aware of other firms' development of ethanol products since this is an example of which one force in Porter's model for industry analysis? 




A. Bargaining power of buyers.
B. Rivalry among competitors.
C. Bargaining power of suppliers.
D. Threats of new entrants.
E. Threats of substitute products and services.



Answer: E

Which of the following is not one of the forces that affects industry competition, according to Porter's model for industry analysis?

Which of the following is not one of the forces that affects industry competition, according to Porter's model for industry analysis? 




A. Threats of new entrants.
B. Threats of substitute products and services.
C. Bargaining power of buyers.
D. Threats of government interference.
E. Bargaining power of suppliers.



Answer: D

Alexis has prepared a report that details how prices for several raw materials her firm uses in production have risen by up to 30% in the last year. Her report would be an input into the __________ part of a SWOT analysis.

Alexis has prepared a report that details how prices for several raw materials her firm uses in production have risen by up to 30% in the last year. Her report would be an input into the __________ part of a SWOT analysis. 



A. strengths
B. weaknesses
C. opportunities
D. threats
E. structure





Answer: D

Amanda has just determined that her employees will require extensive training if they are to acquire the necessary technological expertise to produce a new product line. She has discovered one of her firm's

Amanda has just determined that her employees will require extensive training if they are to acquire the necessary technological expertise to produce a new product line. She has discovered one of her firm's 



A. strengths.
B. weaknesses.
C. opportunities.
D. threats.
E. market challenges.





Answer: B

When analyzing the "W" in SWOT analysis, a manager might take note of

When analyzing the "W" in SWOT analysis, a manager might take note of 




A. a decrease in consumer demand.
B. a competitor's bankruptcy.
C. high turnover of employees.
D. good financial resources of the firm.
E. institution of a tariff on foreign competitors.





Answer: C

When analyzing the "S" in a SWOT analysis, a manager might take note of

When analyzing the "S" in a SWOT analysis, a manager might take note of 




A. a decrease in the size of the market.
B. competitors' new products.
C. high turnover of employees.
D. strong financial resources of the firm.
E. lifting of governmental regulations.






Answer: D

A situational analysis is also known as

A situational analysis is also known as 




A. strategic control.
B. SWOT analysis.
C. trend analysis.
D. contingency planning.
E. forecasting.





Answer: B

Careful monitoring of an organization's internal and external environment to detect early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence the firm's plans is called

Careful monitoring of an organization's internal and external environment to detect early signs of opportunities and threats that may influence the firm's plans is called 




A. competitive intelligence.
B. forecasting.
C. contingency planning.
D. trend analysis.
E. environmental scanning.




Answer: E

Rafaela is interested in learning more about what one of her competitors is doing so that she can anticipate its upcoming moves and react quickly. Which of the following would you suggest to her for this purpose?

Rafaela is interested in learning more about what one of her competitors is doing so that she can anticipate its upcoming moves and react quickly. Which of the following would you suggest to her for this purpose? 




A. Go through the competitor's trash on its property.
B. Pose as an applicant for a job with the competitor.
C. Use investor information.
D. Call the competitor, explain who you are, and ask directly.
E. Pay the competitor's customers for information.



Answer: C

Recently ConocoPhillips, America's third-biggest oil company, spun off its refineries, pipelines, and chemicals division to form a new company called Phillips 66. Now ConocoPhillips will concentrate on its upstream operations. This is a variation of which of these grand strategies?

Recently ConocoPhillips, America's third-biggest oil company, spun off its refineries, pipelines, and chemicals division to form a new company called Phillips 66. Now ConocoPhillips will concentrate on its upstream operations. This is a variation of which of these grand strategies? 



A. Right-size
B. Growth
C. Stability
D. Defensive
E. Reorganization





Answer: D

An Iowa ethanol production company has been suffering from a combination of lower demand for gasoline (into which its product is mixed) and higher corn prices (which is the largest input cost). It has responded by selling off land, buildings, and some of its reserve product inventory. This is a variation of which of these grand strategies?

An Iowa ethanol production company has been suffering from a combination of lower demand for gasoline (into which its product is mixed) and higher corn prices (which is the largest input cost). It has responded by selling off land, buildings, and some of its reserve product inventory. This is a variation of which of these grand strategies? 




A. Right-size
B. Growth
C. Stability
D. Defensive
E. Reorganization




Answer: D

Faisal has been running a commercial real estate business for nearly 30 years. As he approaches retirement, he is content to simply lease the commercial space he currently has, rather than make new deals to develop additional properties. Faisal is using which grand strategy?

Faisal has been running a commercial real estate business for nearly 30 years. As he approaches retirement, he is content to simply lease the commercial space he currently has, rather than make new deals to develop additional properties. Faisal is using which grand strategy? 





A. Stability
B. Retrenchment
C. Inducement
D. Defensive
E. Growth



Answer: A

High Peaks Skate and Snowboard is a small shop that provides equipment for Utah snowboarders in winter months. It has decided to increase advertising during this period in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Park Record in Park City, as well as to sponsor a new on-mountain competition. It is following which strategy?

High Peaks Skate and Snowboard is a small shop that provides equipment for Utah snowboarders in winter months. It has decided to increase advertising during this period in the Salt Lake Tribune and the Park Record in Park City, as well as to sponsor a new on-mountain competition. It is following which strategy? 




A. Inducement
B. Defensive
C. Growth
D. Stability
E. Enhancement



Answer: C

Computer technology corporation Dell recently acquired Quest software, an IT management software provider, in order to expand upon its software expertise and offerings. Dell is pursuing a(n) ______ strategy.

Computer technology corporation Dell recently acquired Quest software, an IT management software provider, in order to expand upon its software expertise and offerings. Dell is pursuing a(n) ______ strategy. 



A. escalation
B. growth
C. stability
D. merger
E. defensive




Answer: B

The common grand strategies are

The common grand strategies are 




A. star, question mark, cash cow, and dog.
B. cost-leadership, differentiation, cost focus, and focused differentiation.
C. growth, stability, and defensive.
D. strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.
E. defender, prospector, analyzer, and reactor.





Answer: C

Which of the following should be included in a good vision statement?

Which of the following should be included in a good vision statement? 




A. Firm's attitude toward its employees.
B. Geographical areas in which the firm will compete.
C. Firm's basic technology.
D. Firm's standards of excellence and high ideals.
E. Firm's major products or services.





Answer: D

Which of the following best represents a currently popular strategy among big companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon?

Which of the following best represents a currently popular strategy among big companies like Apple, Google, and Amazon? 




A. Become involved in the community.
B. Seek niches where there is less competition.
C. Get consumers tightly connected to the company's ecosystem.
D. Offer personal or emotional connections to customers.
E. Discourage price comparisons.




Answer: C

Milo owns and manages a small bike repair store. In order to determine if strategic planning will be likely to help his business, Milo should primarily assess

Milo owns and manages a small bike repair store. In order to determine if strategic planning will be likely to help his business, Milo should primarily assess 




A. how many competitors he has.
B. foot traffic by his location.
C. his profitability in the prior six months.
D. industry trends.
E. how much he intends to grow in the next five years.




Answer: A

Anne runs a small bakery on the main street of a resort town. Though hers was the only bakery around, the business had been suffering during the economic slowdown, and she was contemplating whether she should attempt strategic planning. Anne should be aware of what research finding regarding strategic planning?

Anne runs a small bakery on the main street of a resort town. Though hers was the only bakery around, the business had been suffering during the economic slowdown, and she was contemplating whether she should attempt strategic planning. Anne should be aware of what research finding regarding strategic planning? 




A. Only large firms show performance gains from strategic planning.
B. Only small firms show performance gains from strategic planning.
C. Performance gains from strategic planning are equal among small and large firms.
D. Both small and large firms benefit from strategic planning, but small firms get a larger boost in performance.
E Both small and large firms benefit from strategic planning, but the small improvement in . performance may not be worth the effort for small firms.





Answer: E

A small firm is likely to benefit significantly from strategic planning

A small firm is likely to benefit significantly from strategic planning 



A. regardless of the nature of its industry or market.
B. when it is in a very competitive industry.
C. when it is in a very new industry.
D. when it is in a very stable industry.
E. when it has a very small market.






Answer: B

Consumers can use a national company called Service Magic to receive bids from quality providers of a variety of services, including home remodel, landscaping, plumbing, and housecleaning. Service Magic charges service providers for the leads it provides to them monthly. Which of the following is the source of Service Magic's strategic position?

Consumers can use a national company called Service Magic to receive bids from quality providers of a variety of services, including home remodel, landscaping, plumbing, and housecleaning. Service Magic charges service providers for the leads it provides to them monthly. Which of the following is the source of Service Magic's strategic position? 



A. Low-profit margin and many customers.
B. Broad needs and few customers.
C. Broad needs and many customers.
D. High-profit margin and many customers.
E. High-profit margin and few customers.





Answer: C

Which of the following statements about strategy and strategic positioning is false?

Which of the following statements about strategy and strategic positioning is false? 





A. Many customers with broad needs can be a source of strategic position.
B. A company has to choose not only what strategy to follow but what strategy not to follow.
C. Few customers with broad needs can be a source of strategic position.
D. Strategy involves creating a "fit" among activities.
E. Few customers with narrow needs can be a source of strategic position.




Answer: E

Which of the following is not a typical cause of bad planning?

Which of the following is not a typical cause of bad planning? 





A. Information overload.
B. Inadequate planning budgets.
C. Ineffective group dynamics.
D. Poor assessment of an organization's capabilities.
E. Faulty assumptions about the future.





Answer: B

Which of the following statements about strategic planning and strategic management is true?

Which of the following statements about strategic planning and strategic management is true? 



A. Strategic planning is rarely used in the current environment of fast change because it does not allow for flexibility.
B. Strategic management is a process completed by top managers.
C. Both should be implemented because they can provide direction and momentum.
D. Middle managers need not understand strategies; they simply follow them.
E. Strategic planning is used to accomplish tactical goals.





Answer: C

Which of the following would be considered a reason for adopting strategic management and strategic planning?

Which of the following would be considered a reason for adopting strategic management and strategic planning? 




A. To enhance employee loyalty.
B. To keep corporate taxes at a minimum.
C. To develop independent work from the staff.
D. To provide develop a sustainable competitive advantage.
E. To increase market dominance with repeat purchase.




Answer: D

Effective strategic management involves

Effective strategic management involves 




A. only top management.
B. only top and middle management.
C. only middle and lower management levels.
D. only lower management level.
E. managers from all parts of the organization.




Answer: E

The bill of materials:

The bill of materials: 



A. Shows how much inventory is available
B. Is a bill sent to the customer for material ordered
C. Is a list of all materials required to produce a part
D. None of the above



Answer: C

The parts explosion results in the following outputs:

The parts explosion results in the following outputs: 



A. Purchase orders and S&OP (aggregate planning)
B. Purchase orders and bill of materials
C. Purchase orders and shop orders
D. Shop orders and inventory orders




Answer: C

Planned lead times:

Planned lead times: 



A. Usually are longer than actual working times
B. Ignore interference from other jobs
C. Usually are shorter than actual working times
D. Assume the work is expedited and completed as quickly as possible



Answer: A

Successful MRP implementation requires:

Successful MRP implementation requires: 



A. Management support, parts explosion, and adequate computer support
B. Marketing support, master schedule, and bill of materials
C. Management support, accurate data, and adequate computer support
D. None of the above



Answer: C

The three inputs for an MRP parts explosion are:

The three inputs for an MRP parts explosion are: 



A. Inventory, master schedule, and bill of materials
B. Forecast, inventory, and bill of materials
C. Capacity, master schedule, and inventory
D. Forecast, bill of materials, and master schedule





Answer: A

Transportation cost is an example of:

Transportation cost is an example of: 



A. Item cost
B. Ordering cost
C. Carrying cost
D. Storage cost




Answer: B

Which cost defines the cost of capital?

Which cost defines the cost of capital? 



A. Item cost
B. Storage cost
C. Deterioration cost
D. Opportunity cost of investment in inventory




Answer: D

The carrying cost for inventory consists of which cost components?

The carrying cost for inventory consists of which cost components? 



A. Capital cost, obsolescence cost, and ordering cost
B. Obsolescence cost, capital cost, and stockout cost
C. Obsolescence cost, storage cost, and capital cost
D. Storage cost, handling cost, and obsolescence cost




Answer: C

"Slack" refers to the difference between:

"Slack" refers to the difference between: 


A. Late and early times
B. Finish and start times
C. Observed and predicted times
D. Optimistic and pessimistic times




Answer: A

Project managers' work includes:

Project managers' work includes: 



A. Planning, Scheduling, Control, and Closing
B. Planning, Scheduling, Starting, and Ending
C. Scheduling, Control, Starting, and Ending
D. None of the above





Answer: A

Project management requires:

Project management requires: 



A. Scheduling, planning, and controlling
B. Quantitative skills
C. Behavioral skills
D. All of the above




Answer: D

The purpose of performing a forward pass is to:

The purpose of performing a forward pass is to: 



A. Identify the critical path
B. Determine the early start and the early finish times
C. Determine the late start and the late finish times
D. Determine the slack available in the process




Answer: B

The job of the project manager is to:

The job of the project manager is to: 



A. Control all costs
B. Control costs, schedule, and performance of the project
C. Keep within the budget, no matter what
D. All of the above




Answer: B

Scheduling systems answer all of the following questions EXCEPT:

Scheduling systems answer all of the following questions EXCEPT: 



A. What delivery date do I promise?
B. How much will the schedule cost?
C. When should I start each particular activity or task?
D. How do I make sure that the job is completed on time?




Answer: B

A bottleneck is:

A bottleneck is: 




A. A resource that has the maximum capacity in the facility
B. A resource whose capacity is less than the capacity of all other resources and whose capacity is less than the demand placed on it
C. A resource that blocks labor productivity
D. A resource that has the fastest processing time



Answer: B

Scheduling deals with which three conflicting objectives?

Scheduling deals with which three conflicting objectives? 



A. High efficiency, high profits, and short lead-time
B. High profits, low inventories, and good customer service
C. Low inventories, high efficiency, and good customer service
D. Low inventories, good customer service, and short lead-time



Answer: C

Aggregate planning and scheduling differ in that:

Aggregate planning and scheduling differ in that: 




A. The former ensures capacity is efficiently used whereas the latter is the acquisition of resources.
B. The former is short term in nature while the latter is medium term.
C. The former is last in the hierarchy of capacity planning decisions and the latter is first.
D. The former deals with acquiring resources and the latter deals with allocating resources.



Answer: D

The difference between actual demand and the forecast is:

The difference between actual demand and the forecast is: 



A. Forecast error
B. Mean absolute percentage error
C. Absolute deviation of forecast error
D. Mean absolute deviation of forecast error




Answer: A

When should qualitative methods NOT be used?

When should qualitative methods NOT be used? 



A. When historic data are unreliable
B. When it is impossible to obtain historic data
C. For short-range, repetitive decisions
D. When making major, costly decisions, such as facilities location





Answer: C

The five measures of supply chain performance are:

The five measures of supply chain performance are: 



A. Cost, quality, flexibility, delivery, and time
B. Cost, quality, time, delivery, and reliability
C. Inventory, quality, time, delivery, and flexibility
D. Inventory, cost, quality, time, and delivery



Answer: A

Which of the following statements is NOT true about six sigma quality?

Which of the following statements is NOT true about six sigma quality? 



A. Six sigma results in 3.4 ppm defects
B. Six sigma corresponds to 3 standard deviations on either side of the mean
C. Six sigma can be applied to administrative and service processes as well
D. Motorola invented the term "six sigma quality" in the mid-80s




Answer: B

A cause-and-effect diagram:

A cause-and-effect diagram: 



A. Identifies common causes of quality defects
B. Is often used in conjunction with a Pareto chart
C. Is also called a fishbone diagram
D. All of the above are true



Answer: D

A process control chart:

A process control chart: 





A. Assumes that 99.74% of special cause variation will fall between upper and lower limits
B. Has upper and lower control limits set at 2 standard deviations from the center line
C. Separates the assignable cause of variation from the common cause of variation


Answer: C

A complete system of quality control:

A complete system of quality control: 



A. Is defined by critical control points, inspectors, measurements, costs, and other considerations
B. Involves a zero defects philosophy
C. Requires a continuous scale for measurement of defects
D. Must include both variable and attribute measurements


Answer: A

The quality cycle:

The quality cycle: 



A. Begins with defining customer needs
B. Is stated as tolerances or minimum and maximum acceptable limits
C. Is used for services, not products
D. Produces control points and inspection techniques




Answer: A

The number of defects in a product measures:

The number of defects in a product measures: 



A. Reliability of the process
B. Conformance quality of the process
C. Repeatability of the process
D. Performance quality of the process


Answer: B

SERVQUAL measures which dimension of service quality

SERVQUAL measures which dimension of service quality



A. Reliability, Tangibles, Assurance, Empathy, and Conformance Quality
B. Performance Quality, Tangibles, Responsiveness, Reliability, and Assurance
C. Responsiveness, Tangibles, Empathy, Assurance, and Reliability
D. Reliability, Tangibles, Responsiveness, Empathy, and Conformance Quality




Answer: C

Mean time between failure:

Mean time between failure: 



A. Is used to measure a product's reliability
B. Is used to measure a product's maintainability
C. Is used to measure a product's maintainability and availability
D. Is a measure of up time/(up time + down time)




Answer: A

External setup time refers to:

External setup time refers to: 



A. The time it takes workers to set up a machine during scheduled maintenance
B. The time to complete setup activities that do not require that the machine be stopped
C. The time it takes equipment vendors to set up the machine
D. None of the above




Answer: B

Why is a uniform load desirable in a lean system?

Why is a uniform load desirable in a lean system? 



A. To balance the workload on all work centers
B. To allow for production of safety stock
C. To signal the need for more parts
D. To increase the time for scheduled maintenance




Answer: A

One of the main objectives of a lean system is:

One of the main objectives of a lean system is: 




A. Striving for 'good enough'
B. Reduction of task time
C. Reduction of waste
D. Define value from the manufacturer's perspective



Answer: C

Lean emphasizes all of the following except:

Lean emphasizes all of the following except: 



A. Setup time reductions
B. Cross training of workers
C. Lot size reduction
D. Increased utilization of machines





Answer: D

Which of the following is not an element of lean?

Which of the following is not an element of lean? 




A. Small-lot sizes
B. Modularized master schedule
C. Multifunction workers
D. Kanban pull system
E. Perfect or nearly perfect quality




Answer: B

A service recovery process:

A service recovery process: 



A. Follows every service transaction
B. Is an implicit service
C. Is rapid compensation for a service failure
D. None of the above



Answer: C

The degree of customer contact measures:

The degree of customer contact measures: 



A. The amount of time the customer is separated from the service delivery system
B. The amount of time the customer is in the service delivery system while the service is being produced
C. The customization abilities of the service system
D. None of the above





Answer: B

Which of the following are the three forms of mass customization:

Which of the following are the three forms of mass customization: 



A. Modular production, postponement, and efficient customer response
B. Fast changeover, modular production, and make-to-stock
C. Modular production, postponement, and fast changeover
D. Assemble-to-order, modular production, and value analysis




Answer: C

Process design:

Process design: 



A. Is the way new product ideas are developed
B. Is the next stage after product design
C. Is considered less important to a company than product design
D. Should occur at the same time as product design




Answer: D

The market-pull view of new product innovation is to:

The market-pull view of new product innovation is to: 



A. "Pull" the products into the market as fast as possible
B. Develop products that the company can sell, based on customer needs
C. Market whatever the company makes best
D. Make new products appealing through innovative packaging




Answer: B

The four elements that form the heart of operations strategy include:

The four elements that form the heart of operations strategy include: 



A. Mission, distinctive competence, objectives, and internal analysis
B. Mission, distinctive competence, internal analysis, and external analysis
C. Mission, objectives, internal analysis, and external analysis
D. Mission, distinctive competence, objectives, and strategic decisions




Answer: D

The essence of operations management can be described by:

The essence of operations management can be described by: 



A. Process, capacity, and people
B. Decisions, function, and process
C. Planning, control, and organization
D. Integrated planning and control




Answer: B

The contemporary operations themes signify that:

The contemporary operations themes signify that: 



A. More emphasis should be placed on manufacturing than on service industries
B. Every operation should be externally directed to meet the customers' requirements
C. Operations decisions should precede decisions in other functions in an organization
D. To be competitive, strategies for operations should exclude broader supply chain issues




Answer: B

The four decision areas in operations management are:

The four decision areas in operations management are: 



A. Planning, technology, inventory, and control
B. Process, quality, capacity, and inventory
C. Process, quality, technology, and capacity
D. None of these




Answer: B

Why is operations management a more encompassing term than production management?

Why is operations management a more encompassing term than production management? 



A. Operations management is concerned with multiple products and services
B. Operations management refers to service as well as manufacturing organizations
C. Operations management is broader including the financing and marketing functions
D. Operations management makes use of the tools of quantitative analysis and computer systems





Answer: B