CIMA E3 - Strategic Management Question Tutorial Sample Questions:

1. HHH is a manufacturer which has a bonus scheme for its production workers related to the speed of output.
HHH's products are very specialized and are made in a dangerous production environment. HHH's production workers usually work alone but sometimes, if there are problems in the production environment (for example, machinery breakdowns), they have to work in teams. When the production workers are working in teams they do not receive any bonus.
HHH's senior management is proposing to amend the current bonus scheme to encourage increased productivity. Under the current bonus scheme, production workers receive extra pay when they achieve 45% of their individual target: The target level is low because of the dangerous production environment and the need to occasionally work in teams.
Under the proposed bonus scheme, production workers will not receive any extra pay until they have achieved
90% of their individual target. Workers who achieve 90% or above of their individual target will be paid a 30% higher bonus.
Which THREE of the following problems is HHH most likely to encounter with the introduction of the proposed bonus scheme? (Choose three.)

A) The extra production output will lead to an increase in inventory.
B) Production workers will not be motivated by the proposed level of bonus.
C) There could be a rise in the level of workplace accidents.
D) Production workers could consider the new target as unachievable.
E) The proposed bonus scheme conflicts with health and safety legislation.

2. GV is a manufacturer and retailer of high quality suede gloves. GV makes all of its sales in country F, and is extremely profitable. After many successful years trading, GV has accumulated significant cash reserves and would like to grow the business organically.
After some investigation work, GV has discovered an opportunity to sell leather shoes in country P.
Which of the following strategic directions is GV taking if it pursues this opportunity, according to Ansoff's product / market matrix?

A) Market penetration
B) Market development
C) Product development
D) Related diversification

3. M has been appointed as an external change agent to lead and implement a large scale re-structuring strategy which is being undertaken by a large bank. M has been appointed due to his extensive experience in a wide range of organizational re-structuring programmes. This re-structuring strategy will involve a large number of redundancies and the implementation of a new organization-wide management reporting system. M will need to work with staff from all departments and levels of the organization. The Board of Directors of the bank believes that an external change agent will bring more benefits to the change process than using an internal change agent.
Which of the following are the most likely benefits that could be achieved by the bank by appointing an external change agent to lead and implement the re-structuring strategy? (Choose all that apply.)

A) The speed of delivery of the change process will be quicker when using an external change agent.
B) The external change agent will have better relationships with the bank employees than an internal change agent.
C) The external change agent will be more objective in decision-making than an internal change agent.
D) As a dedicated resource, the external change agent can give more time to the change process.
E) The bank can exploit the specialist expertise of the external change agent.
F) The change process should be less costly if an external change agent is appointed.

4. Z is a medium-sized UK based accounting practice. Z operates a graduate training scheme. The trainees are given an induction and then placed on a three-year training programme designed to help develop professional skills and experience.
The training programme has been in existence for many years. However, there is no clear consensus amongst the partners of Z about what the trainees should be able to do on completion of the programme and therefore what the training programme should emphasize. This lack of clarity is affecting the morale and commitment of the trainees and significant numbers are failing the programme or leaving to join a rival firm.
Z's HR Department recognizes the need for committed and well motivated accountants to meet the increased expectations of clients and the competition from rival firms. The HR Department has identified changes to the training programme that can be implemented gradually through a series of initiatives.
Which TWO of the following statements regarding the change required in Z are correct? (Choose two.)

A) Understanding which day-to-day behaviors to reinforce within the training programme, is about 'routines and rituals' according to the Cultural Web.
B) The change would be classified as a 'revolutionary change' according to Balogum and Hope Hailey.
C) The plans to combat competition would be considered as a 'structure' factor according to the McKinsey 7 S model.
D) The skills, abilities and competences of the organization's employee's are a 'hard' factor according to the McKinsey 7 S model.
E) The need to manage the competitive position is an example of an 'external direct trigger' for change.

5. TTT recently appointed a new Chief Executive, R, to lead it through a period of major change. R immediately set up a change management team which consisted of several senior managers and directors from across the organization. Together, they formulated an overall goal for change and then spent several weeks presenting the need for change to all of the staff through a series of staff meetings. At these meetings R involved staff and built their ideas into the final change strategy.
R also set a series of interim goals to encourage ongoing performance throughout the change process. When the organization reached these goals, R widely publicized these achievements to help motivate staff.
However, after six months, TTT had failed to reach most of the interim goals that had been set. Most of the members of the change management team had not maintained a significant interest in the change process and many of the staff felt that there had been a lack of communication and reward following the initial few weeks of the change process.
Kotter suggested that there were eight steps required to successfully lead change.
Which TWO of the following did R fail to achieve? (Choose two.)

A) Generate short term wins
B) Empower broad based action
C) Develop a change vision
D) Never letting up
E) Incorporate change into the culture

Solutions: