_____ I. Do you work to identify new market opportunities,
even when times are good?
- Yes, even when times are
good.
- Only when sales are down.
- We never talk about new
markets.
_____ II. Are you
aggressively developing new product/service offerings,
or building new manufacturing capabilities?
- Recently
introduced a new product or capability, and have
plans covering the next several years.
- We are working
on a new product, but it has been awhile since
we had something really new.
- Our product has not changed
much in several years, and we don't have concrete
new product plans going forward.
_____ III. Does the CEO spend a significant
part of his/her time looking forward/planning for
the future, rather than fighting fires/managing day-to-day
operations?
- CEO spends a significant block of time every week
looking forward/planning for the future.
- CEO spends
a day here, a day there looking forward/planning
for the future.
- CEO spends very little planning-caught up in fighting
fires or operational issues.
_____
IV. Do you evaluate whether current customers
will be around in a year or two? Will they shift
your business
to overseas suppliers?
- Yes, we review key accounts
and gather intelligence on their businesses so
we can identify risks.
- We have close relationships with
current customers, but we don't gather intelligence
on our customers' businesses.
- There
is nothing we can do to anticipate or predict
whether customers will be around in a year or two.
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_____ V. Are you aggressively
selling & marketing
(going after new business), or are you waiting for
the phone to ring?
- Aggressive in going after business
- There is only
so much we can do.
- We basically rely on current customers.
_____ VI.
When is the last time you took a significant risk,
to invest in a future opportunity ahead of your competitors,
or to enter a new market?
- Do it regularly.
- One or two years ago.
- We haven't taken a risk like
that in years.
_____
VII. How often do you have conversations with customers,
salespeople, distributors, vendors, etc., that help
you keep your finger on the pulse of the market (i.e.
identify risks, emerging needs, trends, and new applications)?
- Every week.
- Once or twice a month.
- Once every few months.
_____ VIII. Do you know
why customers buy from you and not your competitors?
- Yes, we understand our competitive
advantage (and disadvantages).
- We have some sense.
- We have no idea (If you are
thinking: “ We just do a better job than
our competitor” and cannot be more specific,
your answer is 3.)
Total: Scoring - Add up total points
for all responses. If total score is 8 - 12, you are
highly adaptive. If total score is 13 - 19, you are
somewhat adaptive. If total score is 20 - 24, you are
non-adaptive.

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