Chapter 12: Assignment


Which of the following approaches can assist with effective change management? (Several choices may be correct.)

   A clear change management strategy at top level
   Early involvement
   Create an open climate, in which individual anxieties and concerns can be expressed
   Invest in training
   Communicate on a need to know basis only


A bubble chart is

  

A graphical method for comparing risks and rewards in different innovation projects

  

A reference table for soap manufacturing

  

A graph showing the rate of inflation in high risk businesses - such as 'dotcom' ventures



Which of the following would NOT be a good measure of innovation performance?

   Number of new ideas (product/ service/ process) generated at start of innovation system
   Number or percentage of overruns on development time and cost budgets
  

Level of employer contribution to employee pension

   Development man-hours per completed innovation


Which of the following is often associated with innovation success? (Several choices may be correct.)

   Understanding user needs
   A high share price
   Good project management skills
   Early involvement of key players representing different functions
   Regular review of progress against clear stop/go criteria for the project


An organization might use a 'stage gate' system for innovation development in order to .... (Several choices may be correct.)

   provide common rules of the game for product development within Coloplast
   make clear decisions at the right moment
   clarify responsibility for different asepcts of the project
   resrict entry to high security parts of the R&D building


Which of the following would you NOT expect to hear people saying in an innovative organization?

   There is top management commitment and support for innovation
   There is a clear link between the innovation projects we carry out and the overall strategy of the business
  

If innovation happens round here, it's a lucky accident not a planned activity

   We have processes in place to help us manage new product development effectively from idea to launch


Which of these statements might you expect people to make in an innovative organization? (Several choices may be correct.)

   We have a supportive climate for new ideas - people don't have to leave the organization to make them happen
   We work well in teams
   Our reward and recognition system supports innovation
   People work well together across departmental boundaries
   Our bosses are more concerned with output than ideas
   We encourage people in this department to keep themselves to themselves - that way we keep control


Benchmarking can only be used to compare between firms of the same size and working in the same sector.

   True
   False


Innovation can't take place in public sector services because they don't have to make a profit.

   True
   False


Which of the following would you expect to hear in a successful innovating company (Several choices may be correct.)?

   We have good 'win-win' relationships with our suppliers and we pick up a steady stream of ideas from them
   We have a policy of renewing our car fleet every 2 years
   We look ahead in a structured way (using forecasting tools and techniques) to try and imagine future threats and opportunities
   We work closely with 'lead users' to develop innovative new products and services
   We work well with universities and other research centres to help us develop our knowledge
   We have more computer terminals than staff in this company


Which of the following would you NOT expect to hear in an innovative organization?

  

We don't believe in talking to customers - they only make our life difficult

   We are good at understanding the needs of our customers/end-users
   We work well with universities and other research centres to help us develop our knowledge
   We collaborate with other firms to develop new products or processes


Which of the following would you NOT expect to hear people saying about an innovative organization?

  

Our organization structure does not stifle innovation but helps it to happen

   There is a strong commitment to training and development of people
   Our reward and recognition system supports innovation
  

Suggesting changes or improvements is frowned upon



A Delphi panel is

  

an architectural feature of ancient Greek temples

  

a method for exploring possible futures by combining expert predictions

  

a group of venture capitalists

  

a special type of car door



Innovation requires a formal investment in R&D.

   True
   False


Innovation success is directly related to R&D (research and development) spending - the more you spend, the more innovations you get.

   True
   False


Successful innovation always depends on getting wild ideas from people working in a 'skunk works' environment.

   True
   False


Patents are the best way to measure innovation.

   True
   False




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