Strategic Case Study Exam Preparation

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary purpose of a strategy, according to Drucker's definition?

To adapt to environmental changes in the short term

To achieve an objective in the long term (correct)

To configure resources and competencies

To minimize the wealth of its shareholders

What is the main objective of an entity according to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington?

Achieve short-term profitability

Optimise resource allocation

Fulfil stakeholder expectations (correct)

Maximise shareholder value

What is a key characteristic of strategy, according to Johnson, Scholes, and Whittington?

It involves doing the same things with the same resources over time

It only considers shareholder expectations

It is a short-term plan

It achieves advantage in a changing environment (correct)

What is competitive advantage, according to the text?

Doing something better than competitors (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the key aspects of strategic decisions according to Johnson, Scholes and Whittington?

Deciding the scope of the entity's activities (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the time frame for formal strategic planning in large companies?

Five to ten years or more (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of strategic management?

Creates a framework for achieving long-term success (D) Signup and view all the answers

What should an enterprise use to achieve a competitive advantage?

Its resources and skills and abilities (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of strategic planning?

Formulating the long-term direction for an organisation (B) Signup and view all the answers

What does strategic management provide for an organisation?

A high-level framework for more detailed decision-making (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is often assumed to be the main objective of a company?

To maximize the wealth of its shareholders (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key influence on the strategic choices an enterprise makes?

The environment in which the enterprise exists (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between strategic management and strategic planning?

Strategic management sets the direction, while strategic planning prepares a plan (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of strategies, according to the text?

Flexible and adaptive (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is strategic management important for an organisation?

It creates a framework for achieving long-term success (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is involved in ensuring the entity has 'resource capability'?

Having enough employees with the right skills, access to sufficient supplies, equipment, and suitable IT systems (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of reading a good quality newspaper or its website on a regular basis?

To prepare for the Strategic Case Study exam (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the advance material provided prior to the case study exam commonly known as?

The Pre-Seen (C) Signup and view all the answers

What should you try to understand about the industry related to the case study?

The challenges it faces and its growth prospects (D) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it useful to research real-life situations in the industry related to the case study?

To come up with ideas that you can draw on when answering questions in the exam (B) Signup and view all the answers

What information should you try to gather about the organization itself?

Its size, structure, and growth prospects (C) Signup and view all the answers

How can the culture of a family business be affected?

By the culture being well rooted and difficult to change (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is important to understand about the stakeholders in the organization?

Their relationship to the company and where their interests lie (B) Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to understand how the organization is governed?

To identify potential problems that may arise (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of corporate strategy in a commercial company?

To maximize the shareholders' wealth (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for any individual or group of individuals who have a strong interest in the organization and what it does?

Stakeholder (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of corporate strategy in a state-owned organization?

To achieve the goals set by the government (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key aspect of corporate strategy?

Matching the purpose and activities of the organization to the expectations of its owners and other stakeholders (D) Signup and view all the answers

Who are the owners of a state-owned organization?

The government (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a possible objective for corporate strategy in a commercial company?

To raise the share price by x% over the next five or ten years (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is an important consideration in corporate strategy?

Matching the chosen business activities to the external environment of the entity (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for deciding what businesses the entity should be in?

Deciding the scope of activities (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a stakeholder map?

To obtain an appreciation of the main stakeholder groups and their influence (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the stakeholder position/importance matrix?

To compare the position of stakeholders on a particular issue and their relative importance (B) Signup and view all the answers

What should be the main concern in the stakeholder position/importance matrix?

To deal with stakeholders who are strongly opposed to proposed plans (A) Signup and view all the answers

What should be done to address the concerns of stakeholders who are strongly opposed to proposed plans?

Find a compromise solution (A) Signup and view all the answers

What should management also try to do with stakeholders who are problematic?

Try to win their support (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the stakeholder power/interest matrix also known as?

Mendelow Matrix (A) Signup and view all the answers

How many different stakeholder maps are there?

A number of different stakeholder maps (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of stakeholder mapping in relation to the entity's strategies?

To assist the directors in appreciating the main stakeholder groups and their influence (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Strategic Case Study Exam

The Pre-Seen material is advance case study material provided before the exam, which should be thoroughly understood and researched.
Researching real-life situations in the industry can help come up with ideas for answering exam questions.
Understanding the industry, organization, and stakeholders is crucial for the exam.

Definition of Strategy

Drucker defined strategy as a pattern of activities that seeks to achieve the organization's objectives and adapt to environmental changes in the long term.
Strategy involves organized activities, achieving objectives, and adapting to environmental changes.
Johnson, Scholes, and Whittington defined strategy as the direction and scope of an organization over the long term, achieving advantage in a changing environment through resource configuration and competencies to fulfill stakeholder expectations.

Strategic Management

Strategic management is concerned with identifying, selecting, and implementing strategies to achieve an organization's long-term goals and objectives.
It sets the direction for an organization and focuses on achieving long-term success, rather than short-term profitability.
Strategic management is not the same as strategic planning, long-term planning, and corporate planning.

Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is a process of formulating an organization's long-term direction and preparing a plan to achieve strategic targets.
It involves deciding the scope of activities, matching business activities to the external environment and resources, and meeting stakeholder expectations.

Levels of Strategy - Corporate Strategy

Corporate strategy is influenced by the expectations of owners and stakeholders.
Owners' expectations may include maximizing shareholder wealth or providing investment income.
Stakeholders' expectations may include social, environmental, or community-related concerns.
Stakeholder mapping is a tool used to identify and prioritize stakeholders, including their position, importance, power, and interest.

Stakeholder Mapping

Stakeholder mapping involves identifying and analyzing stakeholders, their expectations, and their influence on the organization.
Two common matrices used for stakeholder mapping are the stakeholder position/importance matrix and the stakeholder power/interest matrix (Mendelow Matrix).
Stakeholder mapping helps organizations understand who their main stakeholders are, what their interests are, and how to prioritize their engagement.

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Description

Learn how to prepare for the Strategic Case Study exam by staying up-to-date with business news and fully understanding the advance case study material.