Test 1 Cornerstone Exam Questions with Complete
Solutions
1. What is strategic thinking? correct answer: Analyzing opportunities and problems
from a broad perspective and understanding your actions' potential impact on others.
2. Which of the following is a personal trait that is characteristic of
strategic thinkers? correct answer: Viewing challenges as opportunities
3. Other characteristics that are personal traits to strategic thinkers?
correct answer: Curiosity, Flexibility, Focus on the Future, and breadth of knowledge and
experience
4. What are the 2 phases of the strategic thinking process? correct answer:
Setting the stage and applying your skills.
5. What do you do in phase 1(setting the stage) of the strategic
thinking process? correct answer: seek to understand the broader business environment in which
you operate and clarify your strategic objectives.
6. What do you do in phase 2 of the strategic thinking process? correct
answer: apply strategic thinking skills, which include identifying relationships, patterns, and
trends; thinking creatively; analyzing information; prioritizing your actions; and making trade-otts
7. How do strategic thinkers continually improve their view of the
larger "busi- ness ecosystem" in which they operate? correct answer: They
understand their company's and unit's strategies; consider what's going on with customers,
competitors, and their industry; and take into account how their actions might attect others in their
organization.
8. Your boss has just defined an urgent strategic objective for you
correct answer: "Enhance quality to improve company performance."
As a strategic thinker, how might you best respond to your boss's
mandate initally? correct answer: Ask your boss QUESTIONS, such as "What do
you mean by enhanced quality?" Where should we focus our quality-enhancement ettorts?
9..........................................................................................................Wh
en your boss defines strategic objectives for you, it's important to
ensure that you understand those objectives in the most specific
,terms possible.
true
or false? correct answer: True
10. Identifying relationships, patterns and trends is an important
strategic think- ing skill. Which of the following is an example of this
skill in action? correct answer: At a conference, you hear a presenter describe a new
process-improvement approach being used in a ditterent industry. you consider adapting that process in
your own company.
11. T or F...spotting opportunites to leverage best practices from
industries very different from yours is an example of the ability to
identify relationships, patterns and trends---particularly in
seemingly unrelated arenas. correct answer: true
, 12. Creative thinking constitutes an important strategic thinking
skill. Which of the following is a valuable outcome of creative thinking?
correct answer: An open attitude toward seemingly bizarre ideas that your company
hasn't considered before.
13................T or false. creative thinking doesn't boost your chances
of ultimately select-
ing the best possible course of action correct answer: false. it does
14. Analyzing information is another key strategic thinking skill.
which of the following is an example of how you might apply this
skill? correct answer: Borrow from previously developed solutions that proved
useful for addressing problems such as one you're dealing with currently.
15. Does building on existing knowledge help to apply your skill
at analyzing information? correct answer: Yes
16. How might a strategic thinker best approach accomplishing
long list of
to-do's facing him or her at the start of a work day? correct answer: Identify and
schedule the most critical items on the list first, while delegating or leaving undone any peripheral
items.
17. T or F prioritizing your actions helps keep your eye on the big
picture (a key
element of strategic thinking) correct answer: True
18. Knowing how to make smart trade-offs is a vital strategic
thinking skill.. Which of the following approaches can help you apply
this skill? correct answer: Weighing the short-and long term consequences of a
proposed course of action.
19. Other approaches of making wise trade-offs include correct
answer: correct answer: assessing pros and cons of alternative courses of action,
considering whether actions that benefit your group will also benefit the rest of your organization,
and specifying what you won't do to resolve a problem or achieve a goal.
20. The executive summary portion of your business plan is best
written after your draft the rest of the plan. True or false? correct
answer: True
Solutions
1. What is strategic thinking? correct answer: Analyzing opportunities and problems
from a broad perspective and understanding your actions' potential impact on others.
2. Which of the following is a personal trait that is characteristic of
strategic thinkers? correct answer: Viewing challenges as opportunities
3. Other characteristics that are personal traits to strategic thinkers?
correct answer: Curiosity, Flexibility, Focus on the Future, and breadth of knowledge and
experience
4. What are the 2 phases of the strategic thinking process? correct answer:
Setting the stage and applying your skills.
5. What do you do in phase 1(setting the stage) of the strategic
thinking process? correct answer: seek to understand the broader business environment in which
you operate and clarify your strategic objectives.
6. What do you do in phase 2 of the strategic thinking process? correct
answer: apply strategic thinking skills, which include identifying relationships, patterns, and
trends; thinking creatively; analyzing information; prioritizing your actions; and making trade-otts
7. How do strategic thinkers continually improve their view of the
larger "busi- ness ecosystem" in which they operate? correct answer: They
understand their company's and unit's strategies; consider what's going on with customers,
competitors, and their industry; and take into account how their actions might attect others in their
organization.
8. Your boss has just defined an urgent strategic objective for you
correct answer: "Enhance quality to improve company performance."
As a strategic thinker, how might you best respond to your boss's
mandate initally? correct answer: Ask your boss QUESTIONS, such as "What do
you mean by enhanced quality?" Where should we focus our quality-enhancement ettorts?
9..........................................................................................................Wh
en your boss defines strategic objectives for you, it's important to
ensure that you understand those objectives in the most specific
,terms possible.
true
or false? correct answer: True
10. Identifying relationships, patterns and trends is an important
strategic think- ing skill. Which of the following is an example of this
skill in action? correct answer: At a conference, you hear a presenter describe a new
process-improvement approach being used in a ditterent industry. you consider adapting that process in
your own company.
11. T or F...spotting opportunites to leverage best practices from
industries very different from yours is an example of the ability to
identify relationships, patterns and trends---particularly in
seemingly unrelated arenas. correct answer: true
, 12. Creative thinking constitutes an important strategic thinking
skill. Which of the following is a valuable outcome of creative thinking?
correct answer: An open attitude toward seemingly bizarre ideas that your company
hasn't considered before.
13................T or false. creative thinking doesn't boost your chances
of ultimately select-
ing the best possible course of action correct answer: false. it does
14. Analyzing information is another key strategic thinking skill.
which of the following is an example of how you might apply this
skill? correct answer: Borrow from previously developed solutions that proved
useful for addressing problems such as one you're dealing with currently.
15. Does building on existing knowledge help to apply your skill
at analyzing information? correct answer: Yes
16. How might a strategic thinker best approach accomplishing
long list of
to-do's facing him or her at the start of a work day? correct answer: Identify and
schedule the most critical items on the list first, while delegating or leaving undone any peripheral
items.
17. T or F prioritizing your actions helps keep your eye on the big
picture (a key
element of strategic thinking) correct answer: True
18. Knowing how to make smart trade-offs is a vital strategic
thinking skill.. Which of the following approaches can help you apply
this skill? correct answer: Weighing the short-and long term consequences of a
proposed course of action.
19. Other approaches of making wise trade-offs include correct
answer: correct answer: assessing pros and cons of alternative courses of action,
considering whether actions that benefit your group will also benefit the rest of your organization,
and specifying what you won't do to resolve a problem or achieve a goal.
20. The executive summary portion of your business plan is best
written after your draft the rest of the plan. True or false? correct
answer: True
