ACCA Strategic Business Leader (SBL) Practice Exam

What does strategic drift refer to in an organization?

1. Failure to adapt to changes

2. Rapid growth in dynamics

3. Creating new business strategies

4. Evaluating past performances

The correct answer is: Failure to adapt to changes

Strategic drift refers to the gradual deviation of an organization’s strategy from its original path due to an inability to adapt effectively to external changes in the marketplace. This can occur when an organization fails to recognize and respond to evolving trends, customer preferences, or competitive pressures, leading to a misalignment between its strategy and the current environment. Over time, this misalignment can hinder the organization’s performance and sustainability, as it may miss new opportunities or fail to mitigate emerging threats. In this context, the other options do not accurately capture the essence of strategic drift. Rapid growth in dynamics could suggest a positive adaptability, while creating new business strategies typically represents an active response to change rather than a failure to adapt. Evaluating past performances is more about analysis rather than the ongoing adaptability required in a progressively changing environment. Hence, the concept of strategic drift is fundamentally connected to an organization’s failure to adjust its strategic direction in response to external changes, making the first choice the correct interpretation.