MNG4801 STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT (PDF) | 2026 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. According to Mintzberg's five Ps of strategy, which perspective views strategy as a specific
"position" in the environment?
A) Strategy as a ploy to outwit competitors
B) Strategy as a pattern of consistent behaviour
C) Strategy as a plan to provide overall direction
D) Strategy as a position that links the organisation to its environment
Correct Answer: D) Strategy as a position that links the organisation to its environment
Rationale: Strategy as a position focuses on how an organisation positions itself in the market
and industry. It looks outwards towards the external competitive environment and downwards to
meet customer needs. The other options describe different perspectives: ploy, pattern, and plan.
2. What is an intended strategy?
A) A preconceived plan outlining the course of action to reach objectives
B) An unplanned response to unforeseen circumstances
C) A strategy that emerges from consistent behaviour over time
D) A strategy based solely on internal capabilities
Correct Answer: A) A preconceived plan outlining the course of action to reach objectives
Rationale: An intended strategy is a deliberate, preconceived plan that outlines the measures and
course of action the organization will take to reach its objectives. When realised, these are
termed deliberate strategies. Emergent strategies are unplanned responses, while pattern refers to
consistent behaviour over time.
3. Which statement about emergent strategy is correct?
A) It is always a result of formal strategic planning
B) It refers to unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear during implementation
C) It is the only type of strategy used by successful organisations
D) It cannot be influenced by changes in the macro environment
Correct Answer: B) It refers to unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear during
implementation
Rationale: Emergent strategy refers to consistent, unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear
during the implementation of an intended strategy or by chance. These arise as organizations
respond to changes in the macro environment. They are not the result of formal planning.
4. An outside-in perspective to strategy is based on:
A) Creating strategies anchored in internal resources and capabilities
B) A market-driven strategy where all strategies are designed around market opportunities
, C) The belief that internal capabilities are more important than external factors
D) Ignoring the competitive environment to focus on core competencies
Correct Answer: B) A market-driven strategy where all strategies are designed around market
opportunities
Rationale: The outside-in perspective is based on a market-driven strategy, and that all strategies
should be designed around the opportunities which exist in the market place. It emphasises that
the external environment dictates how resources and capabilities should be implemented.
5. The inside-out perspective on strategy is built on which foundation?
A) The resource-based view (RBV)
B) The five forces model
C) Strategic fit with the external environment
D) The macro environment analysis
Correct Answer: A) The resource-based view (RBV)
Rationale: The inside-out perspective revolves around creating strategies anchored in resources
and capabilities, and that the resource-based view (RBV) is the foundation on which this
perspective is built. Strategic stretch is a key concept in understanding this approach.
6. According to Mintzberg's five Ps of strategy, what does strategy as a plan emphasize?
A) The unpredictable nature of strategic decision-making
B) The logical, top-down process for attaining strategic link between capabilities and
opportunities
C) The emergent patterns that arise from organisational culture
D) The position of the organisation in the market
Correct Answer: B) The logical, top-down process for attaining strategic link between
capabilities and opportunities
Rationale: Strategy as a plan provides overall direction and a course of action. Strategic
decisions are formal, logical and a top-down process. This approach seeks to attain a match or
strategic link between the internal organisational capabilities and external opportunities.
7. What is a key criticism of the planning approach to strategy?
A) It is too realistic and ignores competition
B) It is too rational and not realistic given the unpredictability of the environment
C) It focuses too much on emergent strategies
D) It is too focused on the inside-out perspective
Correct Answer: B) It is too rational and not realistic given the unpredictability of the
environment
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS + RATIONALES | STUDY GUIDE |
100% CORRECT
1. According to Mintzberg's five Ps of strategy, which perspective views strategy as a specific
"position" in the environment?
A) Strategy as a ploy to outwit competitors
B) Strategy as a pattern of consistent behaviour
C) Strategy as a plan to provide overall direction
D) Strategy as a position that links the organisation to its environment
Correct Answer: D) Strategy as a position that links the organisation to its environment
Rationale: Strategy as a position focuses on how an organisation positions itself in the market
and industry. It looks outwards towards the external competitive environment and downwards to
meet customer needs. The other options describe different perspectives: ploy, pattern, and plan.
2. What is an intended strategy?
A) A preconceived plan outlining the course of action to reach objectives
B) An unplanned response to unforeseen circumstances
C) A strategy that emerges from consistent behaviour over time
D) A strategy based solely on internal capabilities
Correct Answer: A) A preconceived plan outlining the course of action to reach objectives
Rationale: An intended strategy is a deliberate, preconceived plan that outlines the measures and
course of action the organization will take to reach its objectives. When realised, these are
termed deliberate strategies. Emergent strategies are unplanned responses, while pattern refers to
consistent behaviour over time.
3. Which statement about emergent strategy is correct?
A) It is always a result of formal strategic planning
B) It refers to unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear during implementation
C) It is the only type of strategy used by successful organisations
D) It cannot be influenced by changes in the macro environment
Correct Answer: B) It refers to unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear during
implementation
Rationale: Emergent strategy refers to consistent, unplanned patterns of behaviour that appear
during the implementation of an intended strategy or by chance. These arise as organizations
respond to changes in the macro environment. They are not the result of formal planning.
4. An outside-in perspective to strategy is based on:
A) Creating strategies anchored in internal resources and capabilities
B) A market-driven strategy where all strategies are designed around market opportunities
, C) The belief that internal capabilities are more important than external factors
D) Ignoring the competitive environment to focus on core competencies
Correct Answer: B) A market-driven strategy where all strategies are designed around market
opportunities
Rationale: The outside-in perspective is based on a market-driven strategy, and that all strategies
should be designed around the opportunities which exist in the market place. It emphasises that
the external environment dictates how resources and capabilities should be implemented.
5. The inside-out perspective on strategy is built on which foundation?
A) The resource-based view (RBV)
B) The five forces model
C) Strategic fit with the external environment
D) The macro environment analysis
Correct Answer: A) The resource-based view (RBV)
Rationale: The inside-out perspective revolves around creating strategies anchored in resources
and capabilities, and that the resource-based view (RBV) is the foundation on which this
perspective is built. Strategic stretch is a key concept in understanding this approach.
6. According to Mintzberg's five Ps of strategy, what does strategy as a plan emphasize?
A) The unpredictable nature of strategic decision-making
B) The logical, top-down process for attaining strategic link between capabilities and
opportunities
C) The emergent patterns that arise from organisational culture
D) The position of the organisation in the market
Correct Answer: B) The logical, top-down process for attaining strategic link between
capabilities and opportunities
Rationale: Strategy as a plan provides overall direction and a course of action. Strategic
decisions are formal, logical and a top-down process. This approach seeks to attain a match or
strategic link between the internal organisational capabilities and external opportunities.
7. What is a key criticism of the planning approach to strategy?
A) It is too realistic and ignores competition
B) It is too rational and not realistic given the unpredictability of the environment
C) It focuses too much on emergent strategies
D) It is too focused on the inside-out perspective
Correct Answer: B) It is too rational and not realistic given the unpredictability of the
environment
