CIPS L5M8 Exam - Topic 2 Question 1 Discussion

Actual exam question for CIPS's L5M8 exam

Question #: 1
Topic #: 2

Managing an organisation through an Entropy event requires a different type of leadership capability including creativity. Which of the following is an example of an entropy event within the external environment?

Alarge-scale restructure leading to 100s of redundancies

Ba force majeure event

Can increase in taxes

Dan important project deadline is missed

Show Suggested Answer

Suggested Answer: B

An Entropy event represents external chaos or disorder beyond management control --- e.g., natural disasters (force majeure). Such events demand flexible, creative, and resilient leadership responses.

by Brandon at Oct 31, 2025, 07:30 AM

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Ettie

2 months ago

True, but I feel C) an increase in taxes impacts the whole organization too.

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Kris

3 months ago

A) large-scale restructure also fits. It's a big change for everyone.

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Dell

3 months ago

I agree, Alex. It really tests leadership skills.

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Carlota

3 months ago

I think B) a force majeure event is the best choice. It's unpredictable.

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Trina

4 months ago

Really? I thought D) missing a deadline was more of an internal issue.

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Nickole

4 months ago

Wow, I never thought of it that way!

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Ciara

4 months ago

Not sure about C) an increase in taxes being an entropy event.

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Yuette

4 months ago

I think A) large-scale restructure fits too.

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Albert

4 months ago

Missed project deadlines? That's just poor planning, my dude. Gotta be B - natural disasters, pandemics, that's the kind of curveball that really tests your management skills.

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Jaime

4 months ago

I'm going with B as well. The other options are just regular business challenges, not true entropy events that require creative leadership to navigate.

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Tawny

5 months ago

I agree, B is the way to go. Anything that's out of your control as an organization is an entropy event. Like, what are you gonna do, raise taxes on yourself?

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Alison

5 months ago

B) a force majeure event is definitely the correct answer here. Entropy events are all about unpredictable external factors, and a force majeure is the perfect example.

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Louvenia

5 months ago

I’m a bit confused; I thought C) an increase in taxes could be an entropy event too, but now I’m not so sure.

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Carlee

5 months ago

Definitely B) a force majeure event. That's a big one!

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Amalia

5 months ago

I practiced a question similar to this, and I think it was about external shocks. So, B) a force majeure event makes sense to me.

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Caitlin

5 months ago

I'm not entirely sure, but I feel like A) large-scale restructure could also fit since it disrupts the normal flow of the organization.

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Margret

6 months ago

Haha, yeah, C is just silly. An increase in taxes is more of a policy change, not an unpredictable entropy event. Unless the government is run by a bunch of monkeys, I guess.

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Annamaria

6 months ago

I think I remember entropy events being linked to unexpected disruptions, so B) a force majeure event seems like the right choice.

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Page

6 months ago

I've got a good feeling about this one. The key is understanding how an "entropy event" disrupts the normal operations of the organization. A force majeure event like a natural disaster or political upheaval fits that description perfectly.

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Selene

7 months ago

Okay, let me break this down. A large-scale restructure and missed project deadlines are internal events, not external. And a tax increase, while external, doesn't really fit the description of an "entropy event." I'm leaning towards B.

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Albina

7 months ago

I'm a bit confused by the wording of the question. What exactly do they mean by "entropy event"? I'll need to review my notes on that concept.

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Marguerita

7 months ago

A force majeure event seems like the most obvious choice here. That's an unexpected external event that's beyond the organization's control, right?

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Nikita

7 months ago

Hmm, this seems like a tricky one. I'll need to think carefully about the different types of entropy events and how they impact the external environment.

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