Final answer:
Line managers become "owners" of the strategy through involvement in the strategic-management process (C). By engaging in strategy formulation, implementation, and evaluation, they assume ownership and accountability, aligning their departmental goals with the overall company strategy.
Step-by-step explanation:
To become "owners" of the strategy, line managers need to be actively involved in the strategic-management process. This means that the correct answer to how line managers become "owners" of the strategy is C) By involvement in the strategic-management process.
By participating in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation stages of strategic management, line managers are able to align their departmental goals with the overall strategy of the company. This not only ensures that they are working towards the same objectives but also gives them a sense of ownership and accountability for the outcomes.
Although attending meetings and executing plans are part of their roles, these actions by themselves do not lead to ownership of the strategy. Actual ownership comes with the responsibility and authority in the strategic process and in making key decisions that affect the trajectory of the firm.
Becoming a shareholder or buying off top managers are not ethical or practical paths to owning the strategy in the organizational context. The board of directors and top executives often play significant roles in strategy development, and the board serves to align the firm's strategy with the interests of its true owners, the shareholders. However, the line managers' ownership in strategy comes from their involvement in the strategies they are tasked to implement, not from financial stakes or managerial politics.
Therefore, the correct answer is C) By involvement in the strategic-management process.