Deck 17: Developing, Managing and Monitoring Operational Plans

Question 1

A plan that provides a strategy for dealing with a problem or difficulty that cannot be eliminated by minimising any negative consequences is a:

A) preventative plan.
B) adaptive plan.
C) contingency plan.
D) interim plan.
E) corrective plan.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Which of the following is in the correct order, from broadest to most specific?

A) Vision, goals, objectives, targets
B) Vision, objectives, goals, targets
C) Vision, targets, objectives, goals
D) Vision, goals, targets, objectives
E) Vision, targets, goals, objectives

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Which of the following statements about planning is true?

A) An organisation's operational and business plans explain how its vision flows through to functions and to teams.
B) An organisation's strategic plan provides detail in relation to the functions of individuals and of the organisation's operations.
C) Teams develop their own visions and strategic plans to help the organisation to achieve its goals.
D) Teams develop their own goals and operational plans to help the organisation to achieve its vision.
E) None of these responses are correct.

Answer 3

D

Question 4

Plans can:

A) provide clear milestones and sub-goals or targets.
B) map the activities needed to reach sub-goals or targets with a minimum of fuss.
C) be long-term strategic plans that guide entire organisations.
D) be shorter-term operational plans.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 5

In which stage of the planning process would a Gantt chart be most likely to be used?

A) Stage 1: Establish realistic goals, objectives and targets
B) Stage 2: List all activities needed to achieve the goal
C) Stage 3: Sequence activities in the order in which they should occur
D) Stage 4: Communicate the plan to those it involves or affects
E) Stage 5: Implement the plan

Question 6

In which of the following situations might it be unnecessary to involve your team in developing plans?

A) When the plan is straightforward and the input of others is completely unnecessary
B) Where the plan is strictly confidential
C) Where the plan will not affect any members of the team
D) Where none of the team members will be responsible for carrying out any aspect of the plan
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 7

Which of the following would be unlikely to be found in a resources plan?

A) List of materials required
B) List of suppliers required
C) Training required
D) People required, including what skills they need
E) Cost-benefit analysis

Question 8

A plan that sets out procedures to follow in specific situations is known as:

A) an original plan.
B) a recurring plan.
C) a standing plan.
D) a specific operational plan.
E) a strategic plan.

Question 9

When implementing a plan, which of the following tools would you use to assist you with analysing factors that might affect the achievement of the plan's goals?

A) Gantt chart
B) PERT diagram
C) Network diagram
D) Force field analysis
E) Flow chart

Question 10

Planning allows an organisation to be proactive rather than reactive in the way it conducts its operations. Planning is itself a proactive action.

Question 11

Which of the following is an option if a plan requires skills that not all members of a team possess?

A) Outsourcing
B) Multiskilling
C) Cross-skilling
D) Upskilling
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 12

To optimally monitor a plan, you should monitor/measure:

A) all aspects of the plan.
B) only those aspects of the plan that are easiest to measure.
C) lag indicators.
D) critical control points.
E) None of these responses are correct.

Question 13

Which of the following is not associated with specific operational plans?

A) Flow chart
B) PERT diagram
C) Project plan
D) Network diagram
E) Standard operating procedure

Question 14

'Reduce accidents on the factory floor to zero within 12 months.' This statement is most likely to be an example of:

A) a strategic plan.
B) an operational plan.
C) a strategic goal.
D) an operational goal.
E) a vision statement.

Question 15

The most effective way to identify any problems that may occur when implementing a plan is to:

A) formulate a preventative plan.
B) formulate a contingency plan.
C) formulate an interim plan.
D) formulate a corrective plan.
E) conduct a live trial run.

Question 16

The break-even point in a cost-benefit analysis represents:

A) the point at which the dollar amount of benefits exceeds the costs.
B) the period it takes for the benefits to repay the costs.
C) the point at which the dollar amount of costs is equal to the dollar amount of benefits gained.
D) the point at which an organisation first makes a profit.
E) the point at which an organisation can pull out with the lowest amount of loss.

Question 17

In force field analysis, which of the following might be a driving force?

A) Individual employees
B) Customers
C) Technology
D) The economic environment
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 18

Plans should always be documented because:

A) this makes it easier to spot flaws and adjust them.
B) documented plans are easier to communicate to others.
C) documented plans make it easier to monitor progress.
D) they can then be easily referred to in the future.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 19

Which of the following is not necessarily a benefit of planning?

A) It provides a way to track progress and assess achievements.
B) It helps to motivate staff, increase morale and raise employee job satisfaction.
C) It helps with identifying and concentrating on important issues.
D) It helps to coordinate people's efforts and skills.
E) It helps with anticipating and preparing for change.

Question 20

A plan involves:

A) documenting strategies to achieve strategic objectives.
B) establishing committees or think tanks to devise solutions to problems.
C) projecting a course of action aimed at achieving particular goals.
D) allocating tasks to people to achieve a desirable outcome.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 21

A network diagram:

A) helps to identify the minimum amount of time needed to complete a plan or project.
B) allows a planner to identify which tasks can be delayed should there be a need to shift resources to catch up on other tasks.
C) may utilise critical path analysis (CPA) to illustrate how various activities relate to each other.
D) allows a planner to schedule, manage and monitor a plan's tasks.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 22

Which of the following documents describes the financial position of a company on a specified date, showing its assets and reserves and what it owes (i.e. its liabilities)?

A) Budget
B) Balance sheet
C) Cash flow statement
D) Income statement
E) Profit and loss statement

Question 23

Which of the following is not a desirable characteristic of an effective monitoring system?

A) Accurate
B) Useful
C) Timely
D) Complex
E) Economical

Question 24

Which of the following is not a way to monitor a plan using statistics?

A) Pareto chart
B) Histogram
C) Run chart
D) Inventory control
E) Stratification chart

Question 25

A Gantt chart is most useful as a tool to quickly show whether a plan:

A) is on schedule.
B) has sufficient resources.
C) is or is not breaking even.
D) is going to fail or succeed.
E) is going to go over budget.

Question 26

Which of the following techniques is used to aid planning, coordinating and monitoring despatch, goods inwards, manufacturing and stores operations?

A) Master scheduling
B) Capacity requirements planning
C) Materials resources planning
D) Just-in-time approach
E) None of these responses are correct

Question 27

A gap analysis involves comparing:

A) current results with past results.
B) current results with desired results.
C) past results with desired results.
D) competitors' results with desired results.
E) current results with competitors' results.

Question 28

The just-in-time approach to inventory management is a method used to monitor and control inventory levels by aiming for raw materials to only arrive 'just in time' for use, thus minimising the need for expensive stock holdings and storage.

Question 29

The most appropriate application of employee productivity is as a measurement of:

A) customer satisfaction.
B) financial success.
C) growth, innovation and learning.
D) smooth operations.
E) employee commitment to strategic goals.

Question 30

Which of the following documents is used to monitor whether a business is or has been profitable?

A) Budget
B) Balance sheet
C) Cash flow statement
D) Income statement
E) Inventory control system