Deck 3: Problem Solving and Managing Information

Question 1

Gabe has identified an issue he knows has occurred in the past so he applies the standard solution.What type of decision making is this an example of?

A)programmed decision
B)cost-benefit decision
C)qualitative decision
D)intuitive decision

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Herwin often uses statistical or quantitative techniques to aid his decision making process.What type of decision making is this?

A)intuition
B)mathematical
C)decision tree
D)qualitative

Answer 2

B

Question 3

The first step in the fundamental approach to problem solving is ______ .

A)evaluate alternatives
B)choose one solution
C)list possible causes
D)state the problem clearly

Answer 3

D

Question 4

______ is a balanced approach that adds all the costs of implementation and compares them with the project value of the resulting product or services.

A)direct and indirect cost analysis
B)cost-benefit analysis
C)qualitative analysis
D)decision tree analysis

Question 5

What is the next step in problem solving after determining the most likely cause of a problem?

A)choose one solution
B)suggest alternative solutions
C)plan for implementation
D)collect relevant information

Question 6

Tom consistently critiques his group member's ideas.What rule for successful brainstorming is Tom breaking?

A)Don't criticize ideas.
B)Generate new ideas freely.
C)Strive for quantity.
D)Combine and improve.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of identifying a potential problem?

A)redistributing current work
B)hiring a new employee
C)planning for overtime expenses
D)fixing distribution errors

Question 8

Which of the following is a good way to generate creative ideas on your own?

A)try to tackle a very large problem
B)allow yourself to get distracted
C)keep the ideas in your head rather than writing them down
D)keep ideas flowing

Question 9

The vast majority of your problems will account for a minority of your profits or losses.What is this principle called?

A)the cost-benefit principle
B)the 80/20 principle
C)the rational and intuitive principle
D)the time management principle

Question 10

Before you select the most likely cause of a problem,what problem solving step must you complete first?

A)list possible causes
B)evaluate alternatives
C)plan for implementation
D)suggest alternative solutions

Question 11

The group approach to idea generation is called ______ .

A)brainstorming
B)free association of ideas
C)creative thinking
D)intuition

Question 12

A ______ exists when there is a substantial difference between an expected condition and the actual condition.

A)problem
B)solution
C)managerial decision
D)goal

Question 13

Gloria has evaluated the proposed solutions to her problem,but now she must determine her future course of action based on her internal insights.What is she using to solve her problem?

A)her intuition
B)her management training
C)her education
D)her goal setting skills

Question 14

______ is a process of systematically analyzing gaps between expected and actual conditions to find and remedy their causes.

A)problem solving
B)goal setting
C)cost reduction
D)employee review

Question 15

Namita is a corporate trainer who ensures that supervisors are able to recognize moral issues in the work place and can make fair decisions.What is the name of this type of training?

A)Business ethics
B)Employee management
C)Human resources
D)Legal coaching

Question 16

You should involve a group of employees in solving a problem if ______ .

A)you are the expert
B)the problem involves yourself or one other employee
C)there is no potential learning value for anyone besides yourself
D)the issue affects the entire group

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of creative thinking?

A)the cost-benefit principle
B)a decision tree
C)red light thinking
D)free association of ideas

Question 18

Josey is encouraging her team to continue to bring up as many new ideas as possible during a brainstorming session.What rule for successful brainstorming is she following?

A)Don't criticize ideas.
B)Generate new ideas freely.
C)Strive for quantity.
D)Combine and improve.

Question 19

______ are problems that have already been observed or are occurring right now.

A)potential problems
B)solutions
C)current problems
D)goals

Question 20

The best way to identify a potential problem is to ______ .

A)determine the variance between goals and expectations
B)identify a gap between actual and expected performance
C)find the deviation from expected managerial performance
D)create goals related to the careful management of resources

Question 21

You should make decisions by yourself if you are the only one who will learn from the solution.

Question 22

It is never a good idea to make a decision while considering your intuition.

Question 23

Nazli just realized that her marketing costs were up 30 percent last quarter.This is an example of a current problem.

Question 24

Jenna has spent a total of four hours trying to find a cheaper price on ten staplers for her office.Is this an appropriate amount of time spent on this issue?

A)No,she should have spent more time.
B)Yes,this is an appropriate amount of time.
C)No,this is too much time.
D)The issue needs further study. The more critical and lasting the effect of a decision,the more time can be spent on the solution.Four hours is too much time spent on this issue.

Question 25

The greatest number of problems you deal will be less important than the few problems you solve that are very important.This is an interpretation of ABC analysis.

Question 26

Which type of management technique uses objective information and expert judgment as the basis for effective decision making?

A)Management Information System
B)Evidence-based management
C)Cost-benefit analysis
D)The 80-20 principle

Question 27

One difference between a Management Information System (MIS)and an accounting system is that ______ .

A)more data is collected through an MIS
B)accounting systems are faster
C)accounting systems are easier to integrate
D)an MIS has a small data bank

Question 28

In the problem solving process you must plan for implementation before you implement and follow up.

Question 29

You can recognize a potential problem by identifying a gap between actual and expected performance.

Question 30

Change causes problems.

Question 31

Cost-benefit analysis is the implementation of costs are compared to the projected value of the resulting product or services.

Question 32

Decision making is the part of the problem-solving process in which alternatives are evaluated and a choice is made.

Question 33

The difference between data and information is that ______ .

A)data can be analyzed and information cannot
B)information refers to facts and figures that can be processed
C)information is data that has been systematically processed for analysis
D)data is the final product of information gathering

Question 34

Cost-benefit analysis involves systematically analyzing gaps between expected and actual conditions to find and remedy their causes.
This is called problem solving.

Question 35

Replacing a valued employee who has recently quit is an example of a potential problem.
This is an example of a current problem.

Question 36

A decision tree is a useful tool for mathematically analyzing quantitative data to solve a problem.
A decision tree is a graphic portrait of part of the problem solving process.

Question 37

You do not need a backup plan if your problem solving process has been effective.
Not having a backup plan is a common error in problem solving.

Question 38

In the problem solving process,you must evaluate alternatives before you suggest alternative solutions.

Question 39

MIS stands for ______ .

A)Management Intelligence Secret
B)Municipal Information System
C)Management Information System
D)Municipal Intelligence Secret

Question 40

In the problem solving process,it is important to plan for implementation before collecting relevant information.

Question 41

The second step in the problem solving process is to collect all relevant ___________________.

Question 42

Data that have been selected,arranged,and analyzed to make them useful for supervisory decisions is called ___________________ .

Question 43

___________________ decision making refers to the use of statistical or quantitative techniques to aid the decision maker.

Question 44

It is advisable to take as much time as you need to solve a problem,no matter how important.
The more critical and lasting the effect of the decision,the more time you can take in looking for a solution.

Question 45

Creativity is unimportant in decision making.

Question 46

Supervisors should supplement their management information systems with additional data.

Question 47

The difference between brainstorming and creative thinking is that brainstorming is done individually and creative thinking is done with a group.

Question 48

It is important to learn to concentrate when generating innovative ideas on your own.

Question 49

A group approach to idea generation is called ___________________ .

Question 50

A ______ exists when there is a substantial difference between an expected condition and the actual condition.

Question 51

______ is a process of systematically analyzing gaps between expected and actual conditions to find and remedy their causes.

Question 52

Most Americans say their jobs are too easy.
Supervisors need to make sure that employees have enough to do and reward employees who commit to doing a good job.

Question 53

______ is the part of the problem-solving process in which alternatives are evaluated and a choice is made.

Question 54

Supervisors should have access to information from their company's management information system.

Question 55

______ is a balanced approach that adds all the costs of implementation and compares them with the project value of the resulting product or services.

Question 56

___________________ is unprocessed facts and figures.

Question 57

Free association of ideas is an ineffective method to spur creative thinking.

Question 58

When brainstorming be sure to combine ideas to improve on the solutions that are generated.

Question 59

The difference between brainstorming and critical thinking is that brainstorming uses a ___________________ approach.