Instructor Resource Clegg, Strategy: Theory and Practice, 3e SAGE Publishing, 2019

Instructor Resource Clegg, Strategy: Theory and Practice, 3e SAGE Publishing, 2019

Test Bank Chapter 1: Strategy: Theory & practice – an introduction Below are a number of multiple choice questions relevant to this chapter. There are two to three variations on the same questions. Each question has four options; the correct answer is written in the final column. Some questions are very simple, while others are much more difficult; this should be taken into account when setting quizzes or exams.

Example of possible instruction to students:

For each of the following questions, read each question carefully and then choose the answer you

believe is most correct:

Question and options # Ans.

Strategy is all about:

• foresight and a holistic view of the firm
• the short-term objectives of the firm and ways of meeting them
• defining marketing goals and targets
• enhancing sales performance
• a

What makes strategizing necessary?

• rapid changes in the business landscape
• more sophisticated organizational structures
• pressure to innovate
• all of these
• d

Which of the following was a strategist?

• Machiavelli
• Sun-Tzu
• Herodotus
• all of these
• d

How do modern conceptions of strategy relate to classical conceptions? 4 c

Instructor Resource

Clegg, Strategy: Theory and Practice, 3e

SAGE Publishing, 2019

• they are the same
• there is no relation
• as legitimations for current views
• none of these

Machiavelli’s contribution to strategy suggests that:

• remaining powerful is the highest priority
• listening to your employees’ needs is of utmost importance
• delegation of authority enhances team performance
• none of these
• a

Based on Clausewitz’s arguments, we can infer that:

• Strategy is based on a pre-determined wisdom and rational thinking.
• Strategy unfolds sequentially yet rationally.
• Strategy has a non-rationalistic element in it, induced by passions and

feelings.

• Both strategy is based on a pre-determined wisdom and rational

thinking and strategy unfolds sequentially yet rationally.

• c

The establishment of modern-day strategy as a discipline can be traced

back to:

• the 1960–70s, drawn from economics
• the industrial revolution in north-west England
• the 1980s, with the advent of large US multinational corporations
• the 1930s, drawn from social psychology
• a

Modern conceptions of strategy as planning played a major role in:

• the First World War
• the Peloponnesian Wars
• the Second World War
• the Vietnam War
• c

Which of the following was a crucible of early strategy thinking? 9 c

Instructor Resource

Clegg, Strategy: Theory and Practice, 3e

SAGE Publishing, 2019

• Marks & Spencer’s
• Zara
• West Point
• Ancient Greece

In Cummings and Daellenbach’s study, reviewing papers in Long Range Planning, what are the recurring themes that constitute the baseline of strategy research in the last 40 years?

• corporate
• technology
• mergers and acquisitions
• all of these

10 d According to Cummings and Daellenbach’s study, reviewing papers in Long Range Planning what is NOT part of the emerging trends in the future of strategy?

• Strategists are becoming more politically astute.
• Strategists are becoming more sensitive to environmental

conservation issues.

• Strategists are becoming more aesthetically aware.
• Case studies will flourish, as opposed to prescriptions.

11 b

Chandler is famous for:

• seeing strategy as leading to structure
• seeing structure as leading to strategy
• seeing strategy and structure as co-evolving
• none of these

12 a Which of the following does NOT feature in Igor Ansoff’s levels of action towards planning?

• operational
• inter-organizational

13 b

Instructor Resource

Clegg, Strategy: Theory and Practice, 3e

SAGE Publishing, 2019

• administrative
• strategic

A main feature of Ansoff’s logic is that strategy is the exclusive

territory of:

• marketing managers
• top management
• sales managers
• the founder of the company

14 b

A definition of the firm following Edith Penrose focuses on the role of:

• technology
• capital
• resources
• network

15 c Sustained competitive advantage depends on firms developing unique combinations of ______, providing competencies that allow for flexible development in an uncertain and changing environment.

• resources
• capital
• technologies
• people

16 a Which of the following themes in strategy has/have been influenced by Penrose?

• dynamic capabilities
• resource-based view
• knowledge-based perspectives on strategy
• all of these

17 d According to Michael Porter, firm profitability is dependent on ______.

• industry structure

18 a