Practice Test Geeks(CSM) Certified Software Manager Practice Test
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Strategic Planning & Analysis Flashcards

7 cards from real CSM practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Strategic Planning & Analysis flashcards as text

  1. Which technique involves breaking down a strategic objective into smaller, measurable milestones to track progress over time?

    Answer: OKRs (Objectives and Key Results)

    OKRs decompose high-level objectives into measurable key results that indicate progress toward the objective.

  2. A software organization experiencing high market growth but holding low market share is classified as which type in the BCG Matrix?

    Answer: Question Mark

    The BCG Matrix labels high-growth, low-share products as Question Marks (also called Problem Children) because their future is uncertain.

  3. What is the key distinction between strategic planning and operational planning in software management?

    Answer: Strategic planning sets direction and goals; operational planning defines how to execute them

    Strategic planning determines what goals to pursue and why, while operational planning specifies the day-to-day activities needed to achieve those goals.

  4. A software company conducts a competitive analysis and discovers it has a unique, hard-to-replicate algorithm. According to the Resource-Based View (RBV), this is best described as:

    Answer: A sustainable competitive advantage

    RBV holds that resources that are valuable, rare, inimitable, and non-substitutable (VRIN) create sustainable competitive advantage.

  5. Which of the following is the BEST example of an emergent strategy in software management?

    Answer: A new product direction that arose from unexpected customer usage patterns

    Emergent strategies develop organically from patterns of action and market feedback rather than being planned in advance.

  6. When prioritizing strategic initiatives, which framework uses 'value delivered' versus 'effort required' as its two primary axes?

    Answer: Value vs. Effort (Impact vs. Effort) Matrix

    The Value vs. Effort Matrix helps prioritize initiatives by plotting their expected impact against the resources required to implement them.

  7. A software manager reviews a competitor's product and identifies features that customers now expect as a baseline. According to the Kano Model, these features are called:

    Answer: Basic (must-be) features

    Basic or must-be features are expected by customers; their absence causes dissatisfaction, but their presence does not increase satisfaction.