Free CIPS L6M9 Exam Questions

Below are brief descriptions of 5 organisations which are working to create an Operations Strategy. Each organisation is focusing on one aspect of strategic thinking and has a different attitude to designing the organisation’s structure. Based on the descriptions below, select the attribute of strategic thinking and the Organisational Type according to Laloux’s Organisational Model which correspond to each organisation.

Organisation 1: This organisation uses the metaphor of a machine to describe its organisational model. The priority is to achieve competitive advantage within the marketplace, drive growth and generate profit. The main attribute is therefore to understand how value can be created within the system by understanding the current reality and what changes need to be made to ensure the organisation remains competitive.

Organisation 2: The management at this organisation constantly re-evaluates the direction of travel in order to determine if that direction is still valid. The organisation is extremely responsive to changes in the external environment and has a participatory management system with employees encouraged to voice ideas and opinions. The main concern of the organisation is to drive employee empowerment.

Organisation 3: The organisation knows what it wants to achieve and all energy is directed to achieving these aims. The goals are clearly defined by senior leadership who have strong managerial command and control systems in place. There is little creativity at this organisation.

Organisation 4: This organisation uses the metaphor of a family to describe itself. It invests heavily in developing organisational culture and its people. The organisation listens to its employees and is extremely prudent about avoiding past mistakes. The priority is to be as responsive as possible to the current environment and renewing the organisation’s strategy for the future.

Organisation 5: Here there is a creative and critical approach to strategy design. Rather than using data to drive decisions, management asks ‘what if?’. There is heavy investment in agile practices, and employees do not have direct line managers, rather they ‘self-manage’. The organisation uses the metaphor of a living organism to describe itself.

Complete the table below by listing the Strategic Thinking Attribute and Organisational Type. Some answers may not be used: systems perspective x2, hypothesis driven, intent focused, thinking in time, intelligent opportunism, orange x2, teal x2, green x2.

Which of the following will you put into box 2?

A cupcake manufacturing organisation use a 'management by exception' technique when it comes to planning and control. What does this mean?

Salgo Ltd is an oil refinery organisation which has been in operation for 30 years. It has made increasing profits each year with the most recent year's takings in excess of £20m. Salgo Ltd uses an Emergent Strategy principle when it comes to resource planning. What are the characteristics of this approach? Select ALL that apply.

LTL Ltd is a manufacturing organisation that produces made to order equipment for the construction industry such as bespoke windows and doors. The Head of Operations has received four large orders of windows and doors and is considering the sequencing of when the orders should be made. Which of the following should the company do?