Deck 6: Managers As Decision Makers

Question 1

Decision making is (simplistically)typically described as which of the following?

A)deciding what is correct
B)putting preference on paper
C)choosing among alternatives
D)processing information to completion
E)the end result of data collection

Answer 1

C

Question 2

A series of eight steps that begins with identifying a problem and decision criteria and allocating weights to those criteria; moves to developing, analysing and selecting an alternative that can resolve the problem; implements the alternative; and concludes with evaluating the decision's effectiveness is the ________.

A)decision-making process
B)managerial process
C)maximin style
D)bounded rationality approach
E)legalistic opportunism process

Answer 2

A

Question 3

In identifying a problem, a manager ________.

A)expects problems to be very obvious
B)looks for discrepancies that can be postponed
C)avoids acting under pressure or stress
D)compares the current state of affairs with where they want to be
E)both A and D

Answer 3

D

Question 4

The step in the decision-making process that involves choosing a best alternative is termed implementation.

Question 5

If a manager was purchasing a computer system, issues such as price and model are examples of which part of the decision-making process?

A)problem identification
B)criteria weight allocation
C)identifying decision criteria
D)evaluating decision effectiveness
E)implementing the alternative

Question 6

The first step in the decision-making process is which of the following?

A)developing decision criteria
B)allocating weights to the criteria
C)analysing alternatives
D)identifying a problem
E)implementing the decision's effectiveness

Question 7

Managers are NOT likely to characterise something as a problem if they perceive ________.

A)they do not have authority to act
B)pressure to act
C)a discrepancy
D)they have sufficient resources
E)they have budgetary authority

Question 8

It is possible at the end of the decision-making process that you may be required to start the process over again.

Question 9

Decision making is more than 'choosing among alternatives' because decision making ________.

A)requires that steps be followed
B)is more complicated
C)requires a lot of time
D)both A and B
E)all the above

Question 10

Which of the following is the step in the decision-making process that follows identifying a problem and decision criteria?

A)allocating weights to the criteria
B)analysing the alternatives
C)selecting the best alternative
D)implementing the alternative
E)evaluating the decision's effectiveness

Question 11

'A discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of affairs' describes which of the steps in the decision-making process?

A)criteria weight allocation
B)analysis of alternatives
C)problem identification
D)decision effectiveness evaluation
E)decision criteria identification

Question 12

A discrepancy between an existing and a desired state of affairs is an opportunity.

Question 13

A decision criterion defines what is relevant in a decision.

Question 14

The first step in the decision-making process is identifying a problem.

Question 15

The start-up costs of a franchise purchase is a possible decision criterion.

Question 16

The final step in the decision-making process is implementing the chosen alternative.

Question 17

In allocating weights to the decision criteria, which of the following is helpful to remember?

A)All weights must be the same.
B)The total of the weights should sum to 1.0.
C)Every factor criterion considered, regardless of its importance, must receive some weighting.
D)Assign the most important criterion a score, and then assign weights against that standard.
E)The most important and least important criteria should receive the inverse weighting standard.

Question 18

Which of the following must be present in order to initiate the decision-making process?

A)plenty of time
B)pressure to act
C)a lack of authority
D)a lack of resources
E)environmental certainty

Question 19

Which of the following statements is true concerning problem identification?

A)Problems are generally obvious.
B)A symptom and a problem are basically the same.
C)Well-trained managers generally agree on what is considered a problem.
D)The problem must be such that it exerts some type of pressure for the manager to act.
E)To be considered a problem, managers must be aware of the discrepancy but not have the resources necessary to take action.

Question 20

The decision-making process is a simple process of choosing among alternatives.

Question 21

Rational analysis and intuitive decision making are complementary.

Question 22

Decision making is synonymous with managing.

Question 23

Which of the following is important to remember in evaluating the effectiveness of the decision-making process?

A)Ignore criticism concerning the decision making.
B)You may have to start the whole decision process over.
C)Restart the decision-making process if the decision is less than 50 per cent effective.
D)Ninety per cent of problems with decision making occur in the implementation step.
E)Keep track of problems with the chosen alternative, but only change those issues that upper management demand.

Question 24

________ includes conveying a decision to those affected and getting their commitment to it.

A)Selecting an alternative
B)Evaluation of decision effectiveness
C)Implementation of the alternatives
D)Analysing alternatives
E)Developing alternatives

Question 25

Which of the following is important in effectively implementing the chosen alternative in the decision-making process?

A)getting upper-management support
B)double-checking your analysis for potential errors
C)allowing those impacted by the outcome to participate in the process
D)ignoring criticism concerning your chosen alternative
E)implementing your chosen alternative quickly

Question 26

Which of the following is the final step in the decision-making process?

A)identifying the problem
B)evaluating the decision's effectiveness
C)identifying decision criteria
D)selecting an alternative that can resolve the problem
E)allocating weights to alternatives

Question 27

Which of the following is NOT a 'leading' decision?

A)How do I handle employees who appear to be low in motivation?
B)What is the most effective leadership style in a given situation?
C)How will a specific change affect worker productivity?
D)When is the right time to stimulate conflict?
E)How should jobs be designed?

Question 28

Managers tend to operate under assumptions of bounded rationality.

Question 29

Accepting solutions that are 'good enough' is termed satisfying.

Question 30

Managers regularly use their intuition in decision making.

Question 31

In a short essay, list and discuss the eight steps in the decision-making process.

Question 32

Only managers make organisational decisions.

Question 33

Managerial decision making is assumed to be rational.

Question 34

Which of the following is NOT a 'planning' decision?

A)What are the organisation's long-term objectives?
B)What strategies will best achieve those objectives?
C)How many subordinates should I have report directly to me?
D)What should the organisation's short-term objectives be?
E)How difficult should individual goals be?

Question 35

One assumption of rationality is that we cannot know all of the alternatives.

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT an 'organising' decision?

A)What are the organisation's long-term objectives?
B)How many employees should I have report directly to me?
C)How should jobs be designed?
D)How much centralisation should there be in the organisation?
E)When should the organisation implement a different structure?

Question 37

Selecting an alternative in the decision-making process is accomplished by ________.

A)choosing the alternative with the highest score
B)choosing the one you like best
C)selecting the alternative that has the lowest price
D)selecting the alternative that is the most reliable
E)choosing the alternative you think your boss would prefer

Question 38

Decision making is synonymous with ________.

A)managing
B)leading
C)controlling
D)planning
E)organising

Question 39

Which of the following is NOT a 'controlling' decision?

A)What activities in the organisation need to be controlled?
B)How should those activities be controlled?
C)When is a performance deviation significant?
D)When is the right time to stimulate conflict?
E)What type of management information system should the organisation have?

Question 40

In step five of the decision-making process, each alternative is evaluated by appraising it against the ________.

A)subjective goals of the decision maker
B)criteria
C)assessed values
D)implementation strategy
E)discrepancy status

Question 41

An increased commitment to a previous decision despite evidence that it may have been wrong is referred to as ________.

A)economies of commitment
B)escalation of commitment
C)dimensional commitment
D)expansion of commitment
E)incremental commitment

Question 42

In a short essay, list three related questions that can apply to decisions for each of the following management functions: planning, organising, leading and control.(Each of the management functions should each have at least three questions listed.)

Question 43

Rational managerial decision making assumes that decisions are made in the best ________ interests of the organisation.

A)economic
B)payoff
C)statistical
D)revenue
E)budgetary

Question 44

Which of the following is true about managerial rational decision making?

A)Most decisions managers face allow for rational decision making.
B)Managers can make rational decisions if the manager is faced with a simple problem in which the goals are clear and the alternatives limited.
C)Rational decision making is always possible if the goals are clear and straightforward.
D)Time pressure forces managers into rational decision making.
E)Rational decision making is generally possible when the decision involves 'things' but not people.

Question 45

According to the textbook, because managers can't possibly analyse all information on all alternatives, managers ________, rather than ________.

A)maximise; satisfice
B)maximise; minimise
C)satisfice; minimise
D)satisfice; maximise

Question 46

Programmed decisions tend to be repetitive and routine.

Question 47

In a short essay, discuss the assumptions of rationality and the validity of those assumptions.

Question 48

When a decision maker chooses an alternative under perfect rationality, she chooses a ________ decision, whereas under bounded rationality, she chooses a ________ decision.

A)minimising; satisfying
B)satisficing; maximising
C)maximising; satisficing
D)maximising; minimising
E)minimising; maximising

Question 49

Which of the following is NOT a valid assumption about rationality?

A)The problem is clear and unambiguous.
B)A single, well-defined goal is to be achieved.
C)Preferences are clear.
D)Preferences are constantly changing.
E)No time or cost constraints exist.

Question 50

In 'bounded rationality,' managers make decisions that are rational within the parameters of a ________ decision making process.

A)multiple
B)binding
C)interactive
D)simplified
E)past

Question 51

Managers are assumed to be ________; they make consistent, value-maximising choices within specified constraints.

A)rational
B)leaders
C)organised
D)satisficers
E)programmed

Question 52

A process of making decisions on the basis of experience and accumulated judgment is ________ decision making.

A)rational
B)intuitive
C)bounded
D)satisficing
E)programmed

Question 53

If you used a shortened process of searching for a job, it is likely you ________ rather than maximised in your decision process.

A)minimised
B)rationalised
C)satisficed
D)agreed
E)mini-searched

Question 54

According to the textbook, all of the following are aspects of intuition EXCEPT ________.

A)experienced-based decisions
B)affect-initiated decisions
C)cognitive-based decisions
D)values or ethics-based decisions
E)programmed decisions

Question 55

A policy is an explicit statement that tells a manager what he or she ought or ought not to do.

Question 56

In a short essay, discuss bounded rationality and satisficing.

Question 57

Rules and policies are basically the same.

Question 58

The type of decision making in which the solution is considered 'good enough' is known as which of the following?

A)intuition
B)rational
C)maximising
D)satisficing
E)'gut feeling'

Question 59

The use of programmed decision making is based on readily available information.

Question 60

Non-programmed decisions are unique and non-recurring.

Question 61

In a short essay, discuss the differences between a procedure, a rule and a policy.Include specific examples of each to support your answer.

Question 62

A ________ provides guidelines to guide a manager's thinking in a specific direction.

A)system
B)rule
C)solution
D)policy
E)procedure

Question 63

Programmed decision making tends to rely on which of the following?

A)the problem solver's ability to think on his/her feet
B)the development of a clear set of alternative solutions
C)previous solutions
D)identification of the actual problem
E)accurate weighting of the decision criteria

Question 64

A ________ is a series of interrelated sequential steps that a manager can use for responding to a structured problem.

A)procedure
B)rule
C)policy
D)system
E)solution

Question 65

Risk is a situation in which a decision maker has neither certainty nor reasonable probability estimates.

Question 66

Which of the following factors contrasts the difference between a policy and a rule?

A)A policy establishes parameters.
B)A rule establishes parameters.
C)A policy is more explicit.
D)A rule is more ambiguous.
E)A policy leaves little to interpretation.

Question 67

The simplest way to handle structured problems is through ________ decision making.

A)linear
B)unique
C)focused
D)hit-and-miss
E)programmed

Question 68

Lower-level managers typically confront what type of decision making?

A)unique
B)non-routine
C)programmed
D)non-programmed
E)non-repetitive

Question 69

According to the textbook, ________ are straightforward, familiar and easily defined problems.

A)poorly structured problems
B)structured problems
C)unique problems
D)non-programmed problems
E)programmed problems

Question 70

When problems are ________, managers must rely on ________ in order to develop unique solutions.

A)well structured; non-programmed decision making
B)well structured; pure intuition
C)poorly structured; non-programmed decision making
D)poorly structured; programmed decision making
E)semi structured; programmed decision making

Question 71

A business school's statement that it 'strives for productive relationships with local organisations' is an example of a ________.

A)rule
B)policy
C)procedure
D)commitment
E)contract

Question 72

What type of decision making is frequently made?

A)non-programmed
B)unique
C)non-repetitive
D)non-routine
E)programmed

Question 73

________ decision making is relatively simple and tends to rely heavily on previous solutions.

A)Non-programmed
B)Linear
C)Satisficing
D)Integrative
E)Programmed

Question 74

Which of the following is a characteristic of poorly structured problems?

A)They are typical.
B)They tend to be rehashed problems from the organisation.
C)Information is straightforward.
D)They tend to have incomplete or ambiguous information.
E)They are fast breaking in nature.

Question 75

The ideal situation for making decisions is low risk.

Question 76

A ________ is an explicit statement that tells a manager what he or she ought or ought not to do.

A)procedure
B)policy
C)rule
D)solution
E)system

Question 77

In a short essay, discuss the difference between well-structured and poorly structured problems.Include specific examples of each type of problem to support your answer.Next, discuss the type of decisions that would be used to address each of these problems.

Question 78

According to the textbook, a ________ typically contains an ambiguous term that leaves interpretation up to the decision maker.

A)system
B)rule
C)solution
D)policy
E)procedure

Question 79

Which of the following terms is associated with non-programmed decisions?

A)unique
B)recurring
C)routine
D)repetitive
E)well defined

Question 80

Structured problems align well with which type of decision making?

A)programmed
B)satisficing
C)intuition
D)'gut feeling'
E)'garbage can' approach