Academic Year 2026–2027 UNISA Assignment: MNG3702 Strategic
Implementation and Control IIIB Fully Solved Assignment with Verified
Answers | Strategy Implementation, Strategic Control Systems,
Performance Management, Organisational Alignment, Business Strategy
Execution and Competitive Advantage
,Question 1: What is the primary reason strategy implementation is considered the
most critical phase in the strategic management process?
A. It is easier and less time-consuming than strategic planning.
B. It is the phase where the organization's vision and mission are initially formulated.
C. It involves the actual execution of plans, translating thought into action to achieve
strategic objectives.
D. It focuses solely on short-term operational efficiency, which guarantees immediate
profitability.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. It involves the actual execution of plans, translating thought
into action to achieve strategic objectives.
Rationale: Strategy implementation is the process that turns strategic plans into
actions and tasks to ensure objectives are achieved . It is the "doing" phase,
transforming the intellectual exercise of planning into operational reality, which is vital
for organizational success .
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the 'vision barrier' as a reason for
strategy implementation failure?
A. The CEO lacks a clear personal vision for the company's future.
B. The workforce does not understand the organizational vision and strategy, making it
difficult for them to align their actions accordingly.
C. The organization fails to allocate sufficient financial resources to achieve its vision.
D. Management teams are too focused on solving short-term problems rather than
strategic issues.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The workforce does not understand the organizational
vision and strategy, making it difficult for them to align their actions accordingly.
Rationale: The vision barrier occurs when the workforce does not understand the vision
and strategy, often because it is poorly conveyed, and lower-level management do not
grasp their role in execution . This lack of understanding prevents effective strategic
alignment.
Question 3: Strategic implementation entails a series of activities. Which option
correctly lists the instruments or drivers used to align an organization with its
chosen strategy?
A. Goals, functional tactics, and policies.
B. Mission, vision, and values statements.
C. Industry analysis, competitor profiling, and market segmentation.
D. SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and Porter's Five Forces.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Goals, functional tactics, and policies.
,Rationale: Instruments of strategy implementation include goals, functional tactics,
and policies, which provide guidance and structure for execution . The drivers of
implementation include leadership, organizational culture, reward systems,
organizational structure, and resource allocation .
Question 4: A company is experiencing high employee turnover and low morale,
which is undermining its new customer-centric strategy. According to the drivers of
strategy implementation, which element is most directly failing?
A. Organizational structure
B. Reward systems
C. Organizational culture
D. Resource allocation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Organizational culture
Rationale: Organizational culture influences decision-making, behavior, and alignment
with strategy . A culture that does not support the strategic goals, as evidenced by low
morale and high turnover, is a key driver that can cause implementation to fail .
Question 5: What is the primary role of leadership in the strategy implementation
process?
A. To formulate the organization's vision and mission statements.
B. To drive strategic change, influence people, and empower them to achieve strategic
goals.
C. To focus exclusively on managing day-to-day operational tasks.
D. To act as a financial controller, monitoring budget adherence.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To drive strategic change, influence people, and empower
them to achieve strategic goals.
Rationale: Leadership is crucial in strategy implementation as it drives strategic
change, influences people to perform tasks, and empowers others to create change .
Effective leaders motivate others and play a pivotal role in guiding the organization
through the implementation process .
Question 6: Why might an organization fail to implement its strategy due to a
'management barrier'?
A. The organization's structure is too rigid to accommodate change.
B. The workforce is not adequately rewarded for achieving strategic targets.
C. Management teams are too focused on short-term problem-solving, leaving
, insufficient time for strategic issues.
D. The organization's budget is not aligned with its strategic priorities.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Management teams are too focused on short-term problem-
solving, leaving insufficient time for strategic issues.
Rationale: The management barrier is characterized by management teams being
overly focused on short-term problems and not spending enough time on strategic
issues . This neglects the long-term direction and can derail the implementation of
strategic plans.
Question 7: A key difference between strategic planning and strategy
implementation is that strategic planning:
A. Is primarily an operational and internally focused activity.
B. Requires strong motivation and leadership skills.
C. Is the "thinking" phase with an external focus.
D. Involves coordinating actions among many individuals across the organization.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Is the "thinking" phase with an external focus.
Rationale: Strategic planning is the intellectual or "thinking" phase and is mostly a
market-driven activity with an external focus, requiring intuitive and analytical skills .
Implementation, in contrast, is the "doing" phase that is internally focused and requires
motivation and leadership .
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT a step in Kurt Lewin's classic model of
organizational change?
A. Unfreezing
B. Changing
C. Refreezing
D. Transforming
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Transforming
Rationale: Kurt Lewin's model of change consists of three distinct phases: Unfreezing
(preparing for change), Changing (implementing the change), and Refreezing (stabilizing
the change and embedding it into the culture) . "Transforming" is not a phase in this
specific model.
Question 9: A retail chain has identified 'digital transformation' as a strategic
priority. Before proceeding, leadership requires each department to define its
digital initiatives regarding scope, resources, and risks, which are then reviewed by
Implementation and Control IIIB Fully Solved Assignment with Verified
Answers | Strategy Implementation, Strategic Control Systems,
Performance Management, Organisational Alignment, Business Strategy
Execution and Competitive Advantage
,Question 1: What is the primary reason strategy implementation is considered the
most critical phase in the strategic management process?
A. It is easier and less time-consuming than strategic planning.
B. It is the phase where the organization's vision and mission are initially formulated.
C. It involves the actual execution of plans, translating thought into action to achieve
strategic objectives.
D. It focuses solely on short-term operational efficiency, which guarantees immediate
profitability.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. It involves the actual execution of plans, translating thought
into action to achieve strategic objectives.
Rationale: Strategy implementation is the process that turns strategic plans into
actions and tasks to ensure objectives are achieved . It is the "doing" phase,
transforming the intellectual exercise of planning into operational reality, which is vital
for organizational success .
Question 2: Which of the following best describes the 'vision barrier' as a reason for
strategy implementation failure?
A. The CEO lacks a clear personal vision for the company's future.
B. The workforce does not understand the organizational vision and strategy, making it
difficult for them to align their actions accordingly.
C. The organization fails to allocate sufficient financial resources to achieve its vision.
D. Management teams are too focused on solving short-term problems rather than
strategic issues.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. The workforce does not understand the organizational
vision and strategy, making it difficult for them to align their actions accordingly.
Rationale: The vision barrier occurs when the workforce does not understand the vision
and strategy, often because it is poorly conveyed, and lower-level management do not
grasp their role in execution . This lack of understanding prevents effective strategic
alignment.
Question 3: Strategic implementation entails a series of activities. Which option
correctly lists the instruments or drivers used to align an organization with its
chosen strategy?
A. Goals, functional tactics, and policies.
B. Mission, vision, and values statements.
C. Industry analysis, competitor profiling, and market segmentation.
D. SWOT analysis, PESTLE analysis, and Porter's Five Forces.
CORRECT ANSWER: A. Goals, functional tactics, and policies.
,Rationale: Instruments of strategy implementation include goals, functional tactics,
and policies, which provide guidance and structure for execution . The drivers of
implementation include leadership, organizational culture, reward systems,
organizational structure, and resource allocation .
Question 4: A company is experiencing high employee turnover and low morale,
which is undermining its new customer-centric strategy. According to the drivers of
strategy implementation, which element is most directly failing?
A. Organizational structure
B. Reward systems
C. Organizational culture
D. Resource allocation
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Organizational culture
Rationale: Organizational culture influences decision-making, behavior, and alignment
with strategy . A culture that does not support the strategic goals, as evidenced by low
morale and high turnover, is a key driver that can cause implementation to fail .
Question 5: What is the primary role of leadership in the strategy implementation
process?
A. To formulate the organization's vision and mission statements.
B. To drive strategic change, influence people, and empower them to achieve strategic
goals.
C. To focus exclusively on managing day-to-day operational tasks.
D. To act as a financial controller, monitoring budget adherence.
CORRECT ANSWER: B. To drive strategic change, influence people, and empower
them to achieve strategic goals.
Rationale: Leadership is crucial in strategy implementation as it drives strategic
change, influences people to perform tasks, and empowers others to create change .
Effective leaders motivate others and play a pivotal role in guiding the organization
through the implementation process .
Question 6: Why might an organization fail to implement its strategy due to a
'management barrier'?
A. The organization's structure is too rigid to accommodate change.
B. The workforce is not adequately rewarded for achieving strategic targets.
C. Management teams are too focused on short-term problem-solving, leaving
, insufficient time for strategic issues.
D. The organization's budget is not aligned with its strategic priorities.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Management teams are too focused on short-term problem-
solving, leaving insufficient time for strategic issues.
Rationale: The management barrier is characterized by management teams being
overly focused on short-term problems and not spending enough time on strategic
issues . This neglects the long-term direction and can derail the implementation of
strategic plans.
Question 7: A key difference between strategic planning and strategy
implementation is that strategic planning:
A. Is primarily an operational and internally focused activity.
B. Requires strong motivation and leadership skills.
C. Is the "thinking" phase with an external focus.
D. Involves coordinating actions among many individuals across the organization.
CORRECT ANSWER: C. Is the "thinking" phase with an external focus.
Rationale: Strategic planning is the intellectual or "thinking" phase and is mostly a
market-driven activity with an external focus, requiring intuitive and analytical skills .
Implementation, in contrast, is the "doing" phase that is internally focused and requires
motivation and leadership .
Question 8: Which of the following is NOT a step in Kurt Lewin's classic model of
organizational change?
A. Unfreezing
B. Changing
C. Refreezing
D. Transforming
CORRECT ANSWER: D. Transforming
Rationale: Kurt Lewin's model of change consists of three distinct phases: Unfreezing
(preparing for change), Changing (implementing the change), and Refreezing (stabilizing
the change and embedding it into the culture) . "Transforming" is not a phase in this
specific model.
Question 9: A retail chain has identified 'digital transformation' as a strategic
priority. Before proceeding, leadership requires each department to define its
digital initiatives regarding scope, resources, and risks, which are then reviewed by
