PRO3 Exam Questions
Chapter 1: Exploring Strategic Change
1. What is the primary reason for the high failure rate (70%) of change programs in
organizations?
A. Poor marketing strategies
B. Lack of financial resources
C. Inadequate leadership competence in managing change
D. Resistance from customers
2. Which of the following best defines 'realized strategy'?
A. The organization's strategic vision
B. The intended future plan for the organization
C. The formal documented strategy
D. The actual actions and behaviors the organization exhibits
3. What is the key difference between strategic thinking and strategic acting?
A. Thinking is short-term, acting is long-term
B. Thinking focuses externally, acting aligns the internal organization
C. Acting is more theoretical than thinking
D. Thinking is for managers; acting is for consultants
4. Which type of change focuses on shifts in culture, strategy, and behavior patterns rather
than just structure and systems?
A. Operational change
B. Strategic/transformational change
C. Administrative change
D. Tactical realignment
,5. What concept describes the misalignment between what an organization is doing and
what it should be doing, often resulting from only incremental adjustments?
A. Strategic alignment
B. Transformational lag
C. Strategic drift
D. Cultural inertia
6. The view that change is an ongoing and iterative process best aligns with which model of
organizational change?
A. Punctuated equilibrium
B. Lifecycle theory
C. Continuous transformation
D. Revolutionary transformation
7. Which model suggests that organizations go through long periods of stability interrupted
by short bursts of fundamental change?
A. Continuous change model
B. Dialectical theory
C. Punctuated equilibrium
D. Strategic adaptation
8. According to Van de Ven & Poole, which theory sees development as a sequence of
variation, selection, and retention?
A. Lifecycle theory
B. Teleology
C. Dialectical theory
D. Evolutionary theory
9. What type of skills are needed to move between strategic formulation and change
implementation vocabularies?
A. Analytical skills
B. Translation skills
C. Leadership skills
D. Design skills
,10. What does the 'transition state' refer to in change management?
A. The vision-setting stage
B. The current operating model
C. The stage between current and future state
D. The end-state of change
11. What are the three phases of the transition state?
A. Analyze – Act – Adapt
B. Mobilize – Move – Sustain
C. Plan – Perform – Persist
D. Initiate – Implement – Evaluate
12. A context-sensitive approach to change design requires the change agent to:
A. Follow a best-practice recipe
B. Apply a single change model
C. Rely solely on external consultants
D. Make judgements based on the current situation
13. Which term refers to a conceptual tool that maps aspects of the organizational context
influencing change design?
A. Strategic grid
B. Change matrix
C. Change kaleidoscope
D. Cultural web
14. What is the purpose of the change flowchart in strategic change management?
A. To prescribe a single best way to implement change
B. To create a new vision statement
C. To structure decision-making points and overall approach
D. To schedule employee rotations during change
, 15. What is a core issue in the 'strategic drift' phenomenon?
A. Lack of innovation from lower-level employees
B. Over-reliance on legacy strategies despite environmental shifts
C. External regulatory constraints
D. Excessive risk-taking
16. Which theory describes development as a goal-directed process with adaptive learning?
A. Dialectical theory
B. Lifecycle theory
C. Teleology
D. Evolutionary theory
17. In dialectical theory, change occurs due to:
A. Technological evolution
B. External regulation
C. Conflict between opposing entities
D. Market forces
18. What theory views change as moving through a fixed sequence of stages?
A. Evolutionary theory
B. Teleology
C. Lifecycle theory
D. Cultural theory
19. Why is context-specificity important in designing change strategies?
A. It reduces planning time
B. It standardizes implementation processes
C. It recognizes that no one-size-fits-all approach exists
D. It ensures compliance with legal standards
Chapter 1: Exploring Strategic Change
1. What is the primary reason for the high failure rate (70%) of change programs in
organizations?
A. Poor marketing strategies
B. Lack of financial resources
C. Inadequate leadership competence in managing change
D. Resistance from customers
2. Which of the following best defines 'realized strategy'?
A. The organization's strategic vision
B. The intended future plan for the organization
C. The formal documented strategy
D. The actual actions and behaviors the organization exhibits
3. What is the key difference between strategic thinking and strategic acting?
A. Thinking is short-term, acting is long-term
B. Thinking focuses externally, acting aligns the internal organization
C. Acting is more theoretical than thinking
D. Thinking is for managers; acting is for consultants
4. Which type of change focuses on shifts in culture, strategy, and behavior patterns rather
than just structure and systems?
A. Operational change
B. Strategic/transformational change
C. Administrative change
D. Tactical realignment
,5. What concept describes the misalignment between what an organization is doing and
what it should be doing, often resulting from only incremental adjustments?
A. Strategic alignment
B. Transformational lag
C. Strategic drift
D. Cultural inertia
6. The view that change is an ongoing and iterative process best aligns with which model of
organizational change?
A. Punctuated equilibrium
B. Lifecycle theory
C. Continuous transformation
D. Revolutionary transformation
7. Which model suggests that organizations go through long periods of stability interrupted
by short bursts of fundamental change?
A. Continuous change model
B. Dialectical theory
C. Punctuated equilibrium
D. Strategic adaptation
8. According to Van de Ven & Poole, which theory sees development as a sequence of
variation, selection, and retention?
A. Lifecycle theory
B. Teleology
C. Dialectical theory
D. Evolutionary theory
9. What type of skills are needed to move between strategic formulation and change
implementation vocabularies?
A. Analytical skills
B. Translation skills
C. Leadership skills
D. Design skills
,10. What does the 'transition state' refer to in change management?
A. The vision-setting stage
B. The current operating model
C. The stage between current and future state
D. The end-state of change
11. What are the three phases of the transition state?
A. Analyze – Act – Adapt
B. Mobilize – Move – Sustain
C. Plan – Perform – Persist
D. Initiate – Implement – Evaluate
12. A context-sensitive approach to change design requires the change agent to:
A. Follow a best-practice recipe
B. Apply a single change model
C. Rely solely on external consultants
D. Make judgements based on the current situation
13. Which term refers to a conceptual tool that maps aspects of the organizational context
influencing change design?
A. Strategic grid
B. Change matrix
C. Change kaleidoscope
D. Cultural web
14. What is the purpose of the change flowchart in strategic change management?
A. To prescribe a single best way to implement change
B. To create a new vision statement
C. To structure decision-making points and overall approach
D. To schedule employee rotations during change
, 15. What is a core issue in the 'strategic drift' phenomenon?
A. Lack of innovation from lower-level employees
B. Over-reliance on legacy strategies despite environmental shifts
C. External regulatory constraints
D. Excessive risk-taking
16. Which theory describes development as a goal-directed process with adaptive learning?
A. Dialectical theory
B. Lifecycle theory
C. Teleology
D. Evolutionary theory
17. In dialectical theory, change occurs due to:
A. Technological evolution
B. External regulation
C. Conflict between opposing entities
D. Market forces
18. What theory views change as moving through a fixed sequence of stages?
A. Evolutionary theory
B. Teleology
C. Lifecycle theory
D. Cultural theory
19. Why is context-specificity important in designing change strategies?
A. It reduces planning time
B. It standardizes implementation processes
C. It recognizes that no one-size-fits-all approach exists
D. It ensures compliance with legal standards