Which of the following is NOT listed as a characteristic of Vail's High Performing Systems?

• A. Clarification of purpose and short-term objectives
• B. Standardized procedures
• C. Teamwork focused on task
• D. Strong and clear leadership

Answer: (B)

Vail's High Performing Systems focus on clarity of purpose, alignment on short-term objectives, collaborative teamwork that is driven by the task at hand, and strong, clear leadership to set direction and motivate people. These elements support responsiveness and empowerment, helping teams adapt to changing problems and opportunities.

Standardized procedures, while useful for consistency, tend to constrain flexibility and initiative. In this framework the emphasis is on guiding people with a shared purpose and effective leadership, while letting teams coordinate, adapt, and solve problems together. That makes standardized procedures not a highlighted characteristic of a high performing system.

So the option that describes standardized procedures is not part of Vail's high performing model, whereas the others—clarifying purpose and short-term objectives, teamwork focused on the task, and strong, clear leadership—align with it.