Leading Innovation and Creativity

According to Teresa Amabile, providing employees with complete autonomy to control both the means and ends of their work process is the best way to foster creativity. True or False?

False

As a rule, time pressure is negatively related to creativity. True or False?

False

Asking narrow, rather than broad, questions is more likely to elicit feedback on creative work. True or False?

False

Early adopters are the first to adopt a new innovation. True or False?

False

Extrinsic motivation has a stronger linkage with creativity than internal motivation. True or False?

False

Feature fatigue occurs when an organization can no longer move its products and services up the performance curve on the Kano diagram. True or False?

False

Generating brand new ideas is necessary for achieving innovation. True or False?

False

In the context of the "Cultural Web," routines and rituals include corporate objectives, measurement systems, and reward and recognition systems. True or False?

False

In the divergent stage of idea generation, a large number of ideas are pared down to a few ideas. True or False?

False

Innovation investment is the sum of the underlying processes that enable innovation, from organizational culture to strategy, to ideas, their selection, and their implementation. True or False?

False

More sophisticated financial assessment methods are always preferable. True or False?

False

Pitfall risks are issues that could affect the viability of the whole project. True or False

False

R&D expenditure is a more complete measure of innovation activity than it used to be, due, in part, to the growth of open innovation. True or False?

False

Reverse innovations involve a company buying a competitor's product and taking it apart to identify a competitor's ideas. True or False?

False

Small firms are more innovative than large firms. True or False?

False

Systemic innovations affect only part of the product whereas autonomous innovations affect several parts of the design simultaneously. True or False?

False

The first step in diagnosing innovation culture is identifying a "Desired Cultural Web" True or False?

False

The golden ratio is the fixed proportion across the three degrees of innovation that innovative firms should seek to adopt. True or False?

False

The main application of crowdsourcing is exploratory creativity. True or False?

False

Uncertainty refers to situations in which the probabilities of the various possible outcomes are known, whereas risk refers to situations in which no objective probability data are available. True or False?

False

Breakthrough innovations, relative to the other two degrees of innovation, are typically most challenging to manage, with fewer projects meeting budget and timeline targets. True or False?

False?

A key downside of focus groups and surveys is that customers may not be able to articulate their needs. True or False?

True

A key limitation of ratio measures of innovation is the time lag between the investment and the resulting output. True or False?

True

A scenario is an internally consistent view of what the future might turn out to be - not a forecast, but one possible future outcome. True or False?

True

Disruptive innovation is a form of value innovation. True or False?

True

Employees engaged in creative work are often more successful if they build "incubation" periods into the process. True or False?

True

Feedback on creative work is received better when it is phrased as an opinion, with first-person pronouns. True or False?

True

In taking the perspective of contingency theory, one would reject the notion of a universal solution to innovation management. True or False?

True

Intrapreneurship is entrepreneurship in existing organizations. True or False?

True

Investments in innovation in the service sector can be difficult to identify because there is not typically a formal department that has chief responsibility for innovation (e.g., R&D). True or False?

True

Isolating a project team from the rest of the organization so that they are free from too much influence from the established business is a method that can be particularly effective for radical innovations. True or False

True

It is best to create separate scoring tools for project opportunity and project feasibility. True or False?

True

Leaders who manage creative work may be better characterized as "shepherds" or "producers." True or False?

True

Organizations that provide extrinsic rewards to employees performing creative work may run the risk of employees perceiving such rewards as bribes. True or False?

True

Ownership of intellectual property rights is more problematic in open innovation projects than in subcontract or acquisition situations. True or False

True

Robustness checks involve running financial calculations multiple times with different parameter assumptions. True of False?

True

Social innovation is a term that describes novel initiatives that cross from the non-profit sector to the public or commercial sectors. True or False?

True

Teams performing creative work should encourage task conflict. True or False

True

The augmented service offering includes the service product and the service augmentation. True or False?

True

The pentathlon analogy offers an advantage over a marathon analogy in that it underscores the idea that top performance in one innovation management discipline is necessary, but insufficient, for effectiveness. True or False?

True

The process of converting tacit knowledge to explicit knowledge is known as externalization. True or False?

True

To ensure that innovations are more difficult for their competitors to copy, organizations often take a multidimensional approach. True or False?

True

Unlike for incremental innovation projects, leaders of radical innovation projects must also be strong champions. True or False?

True

Organizations that solely rely on which business function can often fall prey to making new products and services for which there is insufficient market demand? a. R&D b. Marketing c. Sales d. Industrial Design

a R&D

What is current consensus on the optimum number of Stage Gates? a. 4-8 b. 12-14 c. 15+ d. 8-12

a. 4-8

All of the following are included in the three degrees of product innovation, with the exception of: a. Disruptive Innovation b. Incremental Innovation c. Breakthrough Innovation d. Radical Innovation

a. Disruptive Innovation

Which theory predicts that employees will direct their work effort towards behaviors that they believe will lead to desired outcomes? a. Expectancy theory b. Equity theory c. Two-factor theory of motivation d. Psychological contract theory

a. Expectancy theory

The typical phases of innovation include the following, with the exception of: a. Idea Targeting b. Idea Generation c. Idea Selection d. Idea Implementation

a. Idea Targeting

The need for innovation is driven by all of the following factors, except: a. Industry consolidation b. Changing customers and needs c. Technological advances d. Strategic intent

a. Industry Consolidation

Disruptive technologies first reach which of the following types of users in the established market? a. Low-demand users b. High-demand users c. All of the above d. Moderate-demand users

a. Low-demand users

What was the main reason for the adoption of the VHS video tape format in the face of 2 major competitors? a. More software available b. Technical superiority c. Lower price d. Greater reliability

a. More software available

Which of the following companies describes its culture as a blend of "freedom and responsibility"? a. Netflix b. Alaska Airlines c. Delta Airlines d. Disney

a. Netflix

All of the following are types of features in Kano's feature analysis, except: a. Premium features b. Basic features c. Excitement features d. Performance features

a. Premium features

Leaders and organizations often limit the scope of potential innovation by considering it relevant only to which of the following dimensions? a. Products b. Services c. Processes d. Business Models

a. Products

In a power/interest matrix, the four groups of stakeholders include: a. Supporters, Players, Bystanders, Outfield b. Supporters, Coaches, Bystanders, Outfield c. Supporters, Coaches, Bystanders, Infield d. Donors, Players, Left Field, Outfield

a. Supporters, Players, Bystanders, Outfield

A leader begins a project selection meeting with her team by first announcing the project ideas that she thinks are most promising. Which heuristic bias may be introduced by her approach? a. The halo effect b. Framing c. Availability d. The law of small numbers

a. The halo effect

Which of the following statements about an innovation audit is incorrect? a. The results can easily be compared across different companies b. The results include many employees' suggestions for improvement c. The results can be used to help plan changes to culture d. The results can be analyzed by functional areas

a. The results can easily be compared across different companies

Who holds responsibility for ensuring that the results of a peer review are implemented? a. The reviewed team b. Higher management c. The reviewing team d. Immediate Line Management

a. The reviewed team

SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and: Correct! a. Timed (or Timely) b. Tied to outcomes c. Thorough d. Trusted

a. Timed (or Timely)

Innovation management tools are useful for responding to the following levels of uncertainty, except: a. True ambiguity b. Clear enough future c. Alternate futures d. Range of futures

a. True ambiguity

The main drivers of economic growth (i.e. economic output per person) include all of the following, except: a. Natural resources b. Human capital c. Physical capital d. Technical progress

a. natural resources

What is absorptive capacity? a. A company's ability to adopt innovations from outside b. A company's ability to adjust to new information from the market c. The ability to manage a high level of change d. A company's ability to accept initial losses on an innovative product

b. A company's ability to adjust to new information from the market

What does it mean that service products are intangible to customers? a. The service itself cannot simply be perceived by touch b. All other answers are correct c. Customers may find it hard to express their needs d. As the service is intangible, the servicescape also influences customer perceptions

b. All other answers are correct

How does attribute association improve a product? a. By considering how make products more attractive using industrial design b. By considering how to modify, subtract, multiply, divide, or unify attributes c. By considering how to make products cheaper d. By considering how to modify, subtract, multiply, divide, or reject attributes

b. By considering how to modify, subtract, multiply, divide, or unify attributes

Which of the following is the main advantage of using the number of patents as a measure of innovation? a. Patents measure truly original ideas b. Data on competitors is readily available c. They can be used as a clear basis for rewards d. Every new idea is valuable

b. Data on competitors is readily available

The balanced scorecard approach involves considering all of the following, except: a. The customer perspective b. Employee satisfaction c. The efficiency of internal business processes d. An innovation and learning perspective

b. Employee satisfaction

Several of the coursepack readings emphasized the importance of rewards for fostering creativity. Organizations implementing the best available evidence should emphasize rewards for which of the following? (select all that apply) a. Inaction b. Failure c. Success d. Consistency

b. Failure c. Success

Tuckman identified which of the following phases that a team goes through? a. Forming, storming, norming, and mastering b. Forming, storming, norming, and performing c. Forming, testing, norming, and performing d. Forming, norming, storming, and performing

b. Forming, storming, norming, and performing

Key components of innovation capability include all of the following, except: a. An organization's ability to generate deep customer insights b. Having high R&D expenditure c. Having separate entities and processes for developing breakthrough innovations d. An organization's network of contacts

b. Having high R&D expenditure

What are four areas in which CitizenM Hotels has reduced the costs of their operations? a. No full-service restaurants, low staff qualification, inflexible ambassadors, modular rooms b. No full-service restaurants, low staffing levels, flexible ambassadors, modular rooms c. No full-service restaurants, no staff, self-service, modular rooms d. King-sized beds, low ceilings, flexible ambassadors, modular rooms

b. No full-service restaurants, low staffing levels, flexible ambassadors, modular rooms

Which of the following is a useful tool for exploring particular innovation opportunities within a "clear enough" future: a. Scenario planning b. Roadmapping c. Strategic landscape map d. Business model canvas

b. Roadmapping

What are the three phases an employee goes through when taking a new position (in order)? a. Introduction, innovation, and stabilization b. Socialization, innovation, and stabilization c. Introduction, innovation, and stagnation d. Stabilization, innovation, and socialization

b. Socialization, innovation, and stabilization

The key issues that must be considered when a portfolio is selected include all of the following, except: a. Portfolio balance b. Speed of decision making c. Strategic fit d. Project value

b. Speed of decision making

Which of the following is not part of the servicescape of a university? a. The toilets b. Student accommodations in a private house c. Lecture halls d. Sports Facilities

b. Student accommodations in a private house

In the context of managing stakeholder power and interests, project managers should maintain contact with influential stakeholders in the outfield because: a. They may seek to divert project staff to other tasks b. They can become hostile if the project begins to impinge on their interests c. They be useful sources of advice d. They may be useful allies if the project gets into difficulties

b. They can become hostile if the project begins to impinge on their interests

What is service scripting? a. The description contained in a warranty b. When front-office employees are instructed to say specific things to customers c. The language used on a restaurant's menu d. The words used in a car repair manual

b. When front-office employees are instructed to say specific things to customers

Groupthink refers to: a. The tendency for groups to debate for too long b. The improved accuracy that comes from diverse inputs c. A counterproductive desire for conformity in a group d. The improved motivation from working in a group

c. A counterproductive desire for conformity in a group

Which of the following describes a typical mature economy (in % of GDP)? a. Agriculture 15%; industry 70%; service 15% b. Agriculture 50%; industry 40%; service 10% c. Agriculture 1%; industry 24%; service 75% d. Agriculture 35%; industry 35%; service 20%

c. Agriculture 1%; industry 24%; service 75%

Which of the following companies describes its purpose as going above and beyond to create "personal connections and extraordinary journeys"? a. Netflix b. Delta Airlines c. Alaska Airlines d. Disney

c. Alaska Airlines

What is the main advantage of brainwriting when compared to brainstorming? a. It works with cross-functional teams b. The first idea that emerges strongly influences all subsequent discussions c. All ideas are considered and no single person or idea dominates d. All ideas are documented

c. All ideas are considered and no single person or idea dominates

An innovation audit is best conducted by: a. An online survey b. An experienced manager c. An external consultant d. A trusted non-manager

c. An external consultant

How can customer contact in services be managed? a. By considering the contact time, the intimacy, and the cash to be exchanged b. By considering contactless payments, time, and the information to be exchanged c. By considering the contact time, the intimacy, and the information to be exchanged d. By considering personal contacts, the timing, and the data to be exchanged

c. By considering the contact time, the intimacy, and the information to be exchanged

Amy Edmondson argues that organizational failures can be characterized by three different types, which include all of the following, except: a. System breakdowns b. Process deviations c. Communication challenges d. Unsuccessful trials

c. Communication challenges

A perennial question among leaders is how to balance autonomy with: a. Flexibility b. Rewards c. Control d. Collaboration

c. Control

What are the three elements of the project management triangle? a. Staff, Specification, Uncertainty b. Staff, Customers, Management c. Cost, Specification, Time d. Cost, Time, Risk

c. Cost, Specification, Time

According to data collected by Spencer Harrison, employees engaged in creative work were more likely to seek feedback when they were: a. Motivated to improve their work b. Extroverted c. Curious d. Creatively blocked

c. Curious

According to Howard Gardner and colleagues, "good work" is work that is all of the following, except: a. Meaningful and engaging b. Technically excellent c. Efficiently managed d. Ethically completed

c. Efficiently managed

SAS carefully considers the benefits it provides to employees, primarily striving to: a. Diversify the workforce b. Promote collaboration among employees c. Eliminate distractions d. Increase employee job satisfaction

c. Eliminate distractions

What are the three types of business creativity? a. Exploratory, associated, and serendipitous creativity b. Exploratory, threshold, and serendipitous creativity c. Exploratory, normative, and serendipitous creativity d. Exploratory, normative, and restructured creativity

c. Exploratory, normative, and serendipitous creativity

Amabile and her colleagues characterized the nature of days in which employees were under pressure and unlikely to exhibit creative thinking as ones in which they were: a. On a mission b. On an expedition c. On a treadmill d. On autopilot

c. On a treadmill

Which of the following could be patented? a. A new method of doing business b. A new product idea that engineers have presented at a global conference c. Something novel that involves an inventive step and has a practical application d. A new scientific theory

c. Something novel that involves an inventive step and has a practical application

Dominant design is the term used to describe: a. The product design adopted by the first market entrant b. The most cost-effective design c. The design that becomes adopted by most participants d. The design used by the dominant player in the market

c. The design that becomes adopted by most participants

A project's internal rate of return (IRR) refers to: a. The total profit on a project over its lifetime divided by the lifetime in years b. The profit on a project divided by the project cost c. The discount rate that would make the NPV zero d. The minimum required profit on innovation projects

c. The discount rate that would make the NPV zero

Which of these can be used to obtain an approximate measure of return on investment? a. The difference between the opportunity and feasibility scores b. The sum of the opportunity and feasibility scores c. The opportunity score multiplied by the feasibility score d. The opportunity score divided by the feasibility score

c. The opportunity score multiplied by the feasibility score

Which of these project characteristics points to using stagedrather than agile project management? a. Team members are co-located or can meet easily b. The requirements are unclear at the outset c. The requirements are unlikely to change d. The timeline is tight

c. The requirements are unlikely to change

In the context of decision making, anchoring refers to: a. The placing of agreed boundaries on an estimation process b. The reduction of bias by previous knowledge c. The tendency for an estimate to be biased by a suggested example d. How a group estimate is made more accurate by the members' knowledge

c. The tendency for an estimate to be biased by a suggested example

Which of the following companies holds periodic "retrospective" conversations with stakeholders to capture and share learning about things that have gone right and wrong during a particular process? a. Netflix b. Nokia c. Warby Parker d. Alaska Airlines

c. Warby Parker

What are the five generic characteristics of services? a. financial viability; customer contact; inhomogeneity; perishability; cross-functionality b. intangibility; customer friendliness; homogeneity; perishability; multifaceted nature c. intangibility; customer contact; inhomogeneity; perishability; multifaceted nature d. intangibility; customer contact; inhomogeneity; feasibility; multifaceted nature

c. intangibility; customer contact; inhomogeneity; perishability; multifaceted nature

Inkjet printer manufacturers make most of their money on the cartridges. Which value capture mechanism does this illustrate? a. The price carrier b. The pricing process c. The basis of payment d. The payer

c. the basis of payment

Which type of team would likely be the best fit for developing a radical innovation? a. A cross-functional virtual team b. A functional team c. A cross-functional team based at HQ d. An autonomous team

d. An autonomous team

The idea that the closer the match an innovation is to the existing product, process, or service, the faster its diffusion is known as: a. Relative advantage b. Trialability c. Complexity d. Compatability

d. Compatibility

Given cost, vision, and process, which of the following is the remaining element in the change equation? a. Motivation b. Leadership c. Acceptance d. Dissatisfaction

d. Dissatisfaction

What is the main deficiency of R&D expenditure as a measure of innovation performance? a. It does not measure the quality of the work done b. Accurate figures are seldom available c. It measures only the technical side of innovation d. It is a measure of input, not results

d. It is a measure of input, not results

Which of the following best describes tacit knowledge? a. Knowledge that is easy to articulate, easy to share, and easy to document b. Knowledge that has been forgotten c. Knowledge that is hard to articulate, hard to share, and easy to document d. Knowledge that is hard to articulate, hard to share, and hard to document

d. Knowledge that is hard to articulate, hard to share, and hard to document

Teresa Amabile identifies three components of creativity, including all the of the following except: a. Expertise b. Motivation c. Creative-thinking skills d. Opportunity

d. Opportunity

Blue ocean strategizing starts with an understanding of how existing features might be altered in all of the following ways, except: a. Enhanced b. Created c. Increased d. Revised

d. Revised

All of the following are examples of adaptive responses that organizations can take in the face of a disruptive threat, except: a. Focus on the existing business b. Disrupt the disruption c. Find an immediate application d. Take legal action on IP grounds

d. Take legal action on IP grounds

What are complementary assets? a. Fundamental assets required to implement an innovation b. The capabilities a company has beyond those of the competition c. The business capabilities a company needs to acquire to support an innovation d. The business capabilities that a company uses to support an innovation

d. The business capabilities that a company uses to support an innovation

Which of the following is a main limitation of autonomous teams? a. They are not suitable for radical innovations b. They are more exposed to the bureaucracy of the parent organization c. IPR is difficult to manage in these teams d. They develop their own culture and require skilled managers that can be hard to find

d. They develop their own culture and require skilled managers that can be hard to find

What are the elements of the service concept? a. Value, Cost, Form, Outcome b. Form, Management, Staffing, Outcome c. Requirement, Value, Management, Duration d. Value, Form, Nature, Outcome

d. Value, Form, Nature, Outcome