CORPORATE SELF-ASSESSMENT QUIZ

What’s Your Desired Company Constrained Independence?

Curious to get a quick picture of see where your company’s level of constrained independence currently stands? For each of the following questions, choose the options based upon how your organization currently operates, not how you hope it does. Be honest – remember, there are no wrong answers. What matters most is honestly assessing true operating characteristics.

1. When it comes to decision-making:

A. Decisions are made by senior leaders and passed down
B. Decisions are guided by leadership but often made collaboratively
C. Decisions are made at the team or individual level with minimal oversight

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2. In terms of rules, policies, and procedures:

A. We have a clear, established set of protocols and expect compliance
B. We have frameworks and guidelines that evolve with input
C. We rely on general principles and trust employees to figure things out

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3. New employees are onboarded with:

A. Step-by-step manuals, structured training, and role-specific rules
B. A blend of structured onboarding and self-led discovery
C. Loose orientation and a “learn as you go” style

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4. When someone makes a mistake:

A. We investigate, document, and reinforce compliance
B. We reflect, course-correct, and adjust systems if needed
C. We expect trial and error—it’s part of the process

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5. Leaders in our organization typically:

A. Provide direction, review work closely, and expect adherence to process
B. Set goals, coach regularly, and promote team autonomy
C. Act as visionaries, mentors, or collaborators with minimal control

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6. Feedback in our company is:

A. Structured, formalized, and usually top-down
B. Ongoing and two-way, with room for reflection and change
C. Organic and informal, given on the fly or not at all

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7. Communication practices across the org are:

A. Controlled, scheduled, and filtered through proper channels
B. Coordinated but open, with flexibility in tools and tone
C. Casual and unfiltered, often peer-to-peer across levels

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8. Our approach to innovation and experimentation is:

A. Carefully controlled, reviewed, and budgeted
B. Encouraged within guardrails and often team-led
C. Widely open — anyone can pitch or prototype

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9. In terms of organizational structure:

A. Hierarchical with clearly defined reporting lines
B. Mixed — some hierarchy with a lot of cross-functional work
C. Flat, with little emphasis on titles or formal authority

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10. Culture and values in our company are:

A. Codified, documented, and reinforced top-down
B. Shared and shaped by teams, aligned with leadership intent
C. Emergent and flexible, shaped by behavior more than policy

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Score

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Scoring Guide

1 is A+, 2 is A-/B+, 3 is B+, 4 is B-/C+, 5 is C+
Mostly A’s → Heavily Constrained Independence
Your organization runs on clarity, compliance, and top-down control. Ideal for stability and risk management.
Mostly B’s → Moderately Constrained Independence
Your culture blends structure and freedom. It’s intentional, adaptive, and built on collaborative trust.
Mostly C’s → Lightly Constrained Independence
Your company thrives on autonomy, speed, and creativity. It's flat, flexible, and fluid.