CIMAPRO15-E03-X1-ENG Online Practice Questions and Answers

DRAG DROP

In order to organize the value-adding activities to support a chosen strategy, Porter's Generic Strategies are often applied within an organization's value chain.

Against each of the activities listed below, select the Generic Strategy which best defines the strategic approach being taken.

Select and Place:

RRR is an insurance company which maintains an extensive database of its customer transactions over the last 10 years. RRR is developing a new product and has carried out a SWOT analysis. Within which of the following aspects of the SWOT analysis would RRR include its customer database?

A. Opportunity

B. Threat

C. Weakness

D. Strength

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 need to manage the competitive position is an example of an 'external direct trigger' for change.

D. The plans to combat competition would be considered as a 'structure' factor according to the McKinsey 7 S model.

E. The skills, abilities and competences of the organization's employee's are a 'hard' factor according to the McKinsey 7 S model.

HH is an outdoor theatre which is based in the capital city of country N. Tickets for shows can be booked at the ticket office or online. HH has identified the following critical success factors (CSFs):

An excellent, online ticket booking system Customer satisfaction Which of the following would be suitable key performance indicators (KPIs) for HH? (Choose all that apply.)

A. Customer show ratings, scored out of ten.

B. Number of returning customers each year.

C. Profit from sales of snacks and drinks.

D. Employee turnover.

E. Percentage of ticket bookings aborted before completion.

F. Number of customer complaints.

Ansoff has provided a product/market growth matrix which denotes possible strategic directions that an organization can follow.

Which of the following statements correctly describe the strategic options generated by the matrix? (Choose all that apply.)

A. Diversification using new products in new markets.

B. Product development using new products in new markets.

C. Market development using existing products in new markets.

D. Market penetration using existing products within existing markets.

E. Market penetration using existing products in new markets.

F. Market penetration using new products within existing markets.

Which of the following would be likely to encourage an organization to use Scenario Planning? (Choose all that apply.)

A. The organization often experiences 'group-think', leading to a narrow view of the future.

B. Competitor's are increasingly using Scenario Planning as part of their strategy formulation process.

C. The organization has achieved all of its objectives and operates within a stable external environment.

D. The organization has not previously experienced any major surprises or expensive strategic mistakes.

E. Uncertainty in the industry is high, relative to management's ability to predict or adjust to change.

Information Systems (IS) strategy is correctly defined as:

A. The planning, organizing, investment and control of information applications in the organization.

B. Identifying the information needs of the organization and aligning development to them.

C. Decisions on the hardware, software and communications solutions used in the organization.

D. The roles and structure of information specialists in the organization and their relationship with users.

A Service Level Agreement (SLA) defines exactly what services a service provider will provide and the required level or standard for those services.

Which of the following statements regarding Service Level Agreements is NOT correct?

A. Service Level Agreements should include the expected response time to technical queries.

B. Service Level Agreements should include the targets and benchmarks to be used and the consequences for failing to meet them.

C. Service Level Agreements should include the procedures for cancelling the contract.

D. Service Level Agreements should include a guarantee to provide 100% availability for complaint resolution.

ABC is an independent training provider in Country F. It provides training in business related subjects to a wide range of corporate customers. All of its tutors must possess a nationally accredited training qualification before being allowed to teach and all of its courses follow nationally accredited programmes which are externally monitored. This is considered to be a critical aspect of its business reputation.

ABC has one major competitor, XYZ, within Country F. XYZ offers similar courses to ABC but its tutors do not have to have an accredited training qualification and its courses do not follow the national accredited programmes. The style and content of courses varies significantly between XYZ's centers.

There are a number of universities which offer nationally accredited courses within Country F. ABC does not consider these as competitors because typically they attract students wishing to undertake degree courses. The average university pass rate for nationally accredited programmes is currently higher than ABC's.

Which of the following types of benchmarking would be most useful for ABC?

A. Process

B. Internal

C. Competitor

D. Strategic

BBB is a manufacturer that has been criticized in the financial press because it does not have a policy for sustainability.

Which THREE of the following elements would be crucial to BBB successfully embedding sustainability into its activities? (Choose three.)

A. BBB should include sustainability targets in performance appraisal.

B. BBB's Board should make a commitment to sustainability.

C. BBB should give all its staff training in sustainability.

D. BBB should spend at least 0.1% of its Net Profit on sustainability projects.

E. BBB should employ a new public relations consultancy.

F. BBB should investigate the costs and benefits of establishing a sustainability department.