10. Managing Strategic Change

An internal factor that would likely be a cause of change in a business is:

• A prolonged recession

• Closure of a business unit

• Business failure of a competitor

• A fall in the £/$ exchange rate

An advantage of using network analysis in planning complex business projects is that:

• Lean production techniques do not need to be used

• Resources can be redirected to critical activities

• Blame can be apportioned for adverse budget variances

• Projects will be completed faster than competitors

Activities on the critical path have:

• The shortest durations

• Negative float

• Positive float

• Zero float

An attempt to change the organisational culture of a business will be particularly difficult where:

• The influence of the founder remains strong

• The business has a low and declining market share

• The employees of the business are used to, and embrace change

• Employees feel empowered and motivated in their work

In Hofstede’s study of national cultures, what term was used to categorise cultures in terms of their attitude to societal rank and status?

• Masculinity vs femininity

• Power distance

• Uncertainty avoidance

• Individualism vs collectivism

According to Handy, in which type of culture is power and status determined by position in the hierarchy?

• Task

• Role

• Power

• Person

Each of the following reasons for resistance to change were suggested by Kotter and Schlesinger, except which one?

• Different assessments

• Parochial self-interest

• High tolerance for change

• Misunderstanding and lack of trust

Lewin’s Force Field Analysis attempts to identify and evaluate:

• Internal and external forces for change

• Strengths and weaknesses creating change

• Reasons why change will be successful, or not

• Driving and restraining forces for change

According to Kotter and Schlesinger, which way of overcoming resistance to change is astrategy of “last resort” as it is most likely to damage trust within an organisation?

• Participation and involvement

• Facilitation and support

• Explicit and implicit coercion

• Negotiation and bargaining

A reason why the introduction of greater use of automation by a manufacturing business might encounter resistance from employees is:

• Higher equipment maintenance costs

• Risk of higher labour productivity and efficiency

• Competitors are likely to respond with a similar change

• Self-interest caused by higher job insecurity