15 Strategic Thinking Interview Questions and Answers

Strategic thinking is a process that allows you to make decisions about the best way to use resources in order to achieve a goal. It involves looking at the big picture and making plans for the future.

If you’re interviewing for a job that requires strategic thinking, you can expect to be asked questions about your ability to think creatively, solve problems, and plan for the future. In this guide, we’ll give you some tips on how to answer common strategic thinking interview questions.

1. What is strategic thinking?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of strategic thinking in business. It’s also an opportunity for you to explain what it means and how you use it in your work.

Example: “Strategic thinking is the ability to see things from different perspectives, make decisions based on those perspectives and then implement them into action. Strategic thinkers are able to look at their organization as a whole and consider all aspects of its operations when making decisions. They’re also able to identify opportunities and challenges within their company and develop plans to overcome them.”

2. Is it necessary for everyone to possess good strategic thinking skills in an organization? If yes, then why?

This question is a great way to show your interviewer that you understand the importance of strategic thinking skills in an organization. It also allows you to demonstrate how these skills can benefit an entire company and its employees.

Example: “Yes, it’s very important for everyone to possess good strategic thinking skills in an organization because they allow people to make better decisions. Strategic thinkers are able to analyze situations and find solutions that help them achieve their goals. This means that when someone has strong strategic thinking skills, they’re more likely to be successful at work and contribute positively to their team.”

3. Can you explain what the term “strategic planning” means?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of strategic planning and how it relates to the role you’re interviewing for. When answering this question, try to define what strategic planning means and explain why it’s important in business.

Example: “Strategic planning is an essential part of any successful business because it helps leaders create goals that will help their company grow. Strategic planning involves creating a plan that outlines all aspects of a business, including its strengths and weaknesses, its resources and its long-term goals. This process allows businesses to develop strategies that are more likely to succeed.”

4. How do you think a company can benefit from having employees with strong strategic thinking skills?

This question can help an interviewer understand how you view the value of strategic thinking skills in your own career and how they might benefit a company. When answering, it can be helpful to highlight some of the ways strategic thinkers can contribute to their organization’s success.

Example: “I think that having employees with strong strategic thinking skills is important because it allows them to make more informed decisions about their work. Strategic thinkers are able to consider all aspects of a situation before making a decision, which can lead to better outcomes for both themselves and their employer. For example, I worked at a marketing firm where we were tasked with creating a campaign for a new client. One team member had strong strategic thinking skills, and she was able to use her knowledge of our target audience to create a successful campaign.”

5. Can you give me some examples of how you’ve used your strategic thinking skills to help solve problems at work?

This question can help the interviewer get a better idea of how you apply your strategic thinking skills to real-world situations. You can use examples from previous jobs or explain how you used your strategic thinking skills in school projects.

Example: “In my last job, I noticed that our company was losing customers because we were taking too long to ship orders. We had so many products and no way to organize them efficiently. So, I suggested we create an online catalog where customers could search for specific items by category. This would allow us to streamline our inventory and make it easier for customers to find what they wanted. The company agreed, and we implemented the catalog system. It helped us increase sales by 20%.”

6. What are some ways to develop and improve strategic thinking skills?

Employers may ask this question to learn more about your approach to strategic thinking and how you’ve developed your skills in the past. They may also want to know what strategies you plan to use in their organization. In your answer, try to share a few methods that have helped you develop your strategic thinking skills. Consider sharing some of the ways your previous employer has encouraged strategic thinking among its employees.

Example: “I think one of the best ways to improve my strategic thinking is by taking part in brainstorming sessions with other team members. During these meetings, I can share ideas and get feedback from others on how they see things differently or offer different perspectives. Another way I’ve improved my strategic thinking skills is through reading books and articles on business strategy. By learning from experts, I feel like I’m able to apply new concepts and ideas to my work.”

7. What’s your opinion on using frameworks like SWOT Analysis or Porter Five Forces when making decisions?

This question is an opportunity to show your knowledge of strategic thinking frameworks and how you apply them in your work. You can answer this question by describing a time when you used one or more frameworks to make decisions, the results of those decisions and what you learned from using these frameworks.

Example: “I think that frameworks like SWOT Analysis and Porter Five Forces are useful tools for helping me understand my organization’s strengths and weaknesses as well as its opportunities and threats. I’ve used both of these frameworks in my previous role to help me evaluate different strategies and decide which ones would be most effective for our company.”

8. Can you explain what ZBB (Zero Based Budgeting) means? Why is it important?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of budgeting and financial management. It also shows the interviewer that you can apply what you know about ZBB to real-world situations.

Example: “ZBB stands for Zero Based Budgeting, which is an accounting method used by businesses to determine how much money they need to spend on their operations each year. In my last role as CFO, I implemented ZBB because it allowed us to make more accurate predictions about our company’s future expenses. This was especially helpful when we were planning new projects or making changes to existing ones.”

9. Can you explain what PESTEL Analysis is? What are its main components?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of business strategy. It also allows you to show the interviewer that you can apply what you know about PESTEL Analysis to real-world situations.

Example: “PESTEL Analysis stands for Political, Economic, Social, Technological, Environmental and Legal factors. These are all important aspects of any business because they affect how it operates. For example, if there’s an increase in taxes or regulations, this could impact the company’s bottom line. If there’s a change in social trends, it may influence the products or services the company offers. Changes in technology can make certain processes obsolete, so it’s important to stay up-to-date on new developments.”

10. Can you explain why it’s difficult to define strategy without considering external variables?

This question is a continuation of the previous one, and it’s designed to test your ability to think critically about strategy. Your answer should show that you understand how external factors can impact strategic thinking.

Example: “It’s difficult to define strategy without considering external variables because they have such an important effect on the success or failure of any given strategy. For example, if I’m developing a marketing plan for my company, I’ll need to consider the current state of our industry before I can create a successful campaign. If I don’t take into account the competition, consumer trends and other relevant information, then my plan will be ineffective.”

11. What’s the difference between leadership skills and strategic thinking skills? Are they related?

This question is a great way to assess your understanding of the two skills and how they differ. It also allows you to show that you can apply both skills in your work. When answering this question, it’s important to define each skill clearly and explain what makes them different from one another.

Example: “Leadership skills are more focused on inspiring others to achieve goals or perform tasks. Strategic thinking skills allow leaders to make decisions based on their organization’s mission and values. They’re both important for effective leadership because strategic thinkers need to be able to inspire those around them to do their best work.”

12. What’s the difference between strategic thinking and tactical thinking? Which one do you think is more relevant when solving business problems?

This question is a great way to test your knowledge of the two types of thinking and how they can be applied in business. Your answer should show that you understand the differences between strategic and tactical thinking, as well as when each type of thinking is most effective.

Example: “Strategic thinking involves looking at the big picture and making decisions based on what’s best for the company or organization. Tactical thinking, on the other hand, focuses more on the smaller details and implementing strategies that are specific to certain situations. I think both forms of thinking are important because they allow me to make better decisions about my work.”

13. What strategies have you used to make sure that projects don’t go over budget or get delayed?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you plan and manage projects. Use examples from your experience to show that you have a strategic approach to planning and managing projects.

Example: “In my last role, I was responsible for overseeing several large-scale marketing campaigns. One of my strategies for making sure these projects didn’t go over budget or get delayed was to create a timeline with specific deadlines for each task. This helped me make sure all team members were working on their tasks at the same time so we could stay on track. It also allowed me to see if any team members weren’t meeting their deadlines so I could address it before it became an issue.”

14. What’s the best way to measure whether a strategic decision was successful or not?

This question is an opportunity to show your interviewer that you know how to evaluate the success of a strategic decision. You can answer this question by explaining what factors you would consider when measuring success and giving examples of times you’ve done so in the past.

Example: “I think it’s important to measure the success of a strategic decision based on its original goals. For example, if I were tasked with increasing sales for a company, I would look at the sales numbers before and after making my strategic decision to see if there was any improvement. If there was no improvement or even a decrease in sales, then I would have to reevaluate my strategy.”

15. What makes someone a great strategic thinker?

This question can help you show your understanding of what it takes to be a strategic thinker. You can answer this question by describing the qualities that make someone a great strategic thinker and how those qualities apply to you.

Example: “A great strategic thinker is someone who has the ability to think outside the box, but also knows when to use tried-and-true methods. Strategic thinkers are able to look at all aspects of a situation and find solutions that work for everyone involved. They’re also flexible enough to change their plans as needed. These skills are important because they allow people to solve problems in creative ways while still achieving their goals.”