Deck 13: Exercising Control

Question 1

Time standards are intangible standards that are difficult to measure.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

The first step in the controlling function is actually a planning step.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Standards must always be monetary if they are to be realistically used.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Physical standards refer to the speed with which the job should be done.

Question 5

The benefits of controls should be worth their cost of installation and operation.

Question 6

Feedback controls are used while activities are taking place.

Question 7

Concurrent controls are sometimes referred to as "screening controls."

Question 8

Controls should be timely.

Question 9

Feedforward controls are preventive controls that try and anticipate problems before they occur.

Question 10

Tangible standards relate to human characteristics that are difficult to measure.

Question 11

To be effective, controls need to be accepted by the people they affect.

Question 12

The process of ensuring that organizational objectives are achieved is known as planning.

Question 13

Effective controls must focus on critical factors that affect only the organization's abilities to achieve objectives.

Question 14

Staff departments should not influence the process of setting performance standards.

Question 15

In terms of performance, supervisors must decide both how often and how to measure performance.

Question 16

Supervisory control involves setting goals and seeking information on whether they are reached as planned.

Question 17

It is generally impractical to exercise control after a particular job is complete.

Question 18

In order for control to be effective, performance must always be continually monitored.

Question 19

Intangible standards should not be part of the control process.

Question 20

Controlling is defined as the management function that involves comparing actual performance with planned performance and taking corrective action, if needed, to ensure that objectives are achieved.

Question 21

Because sales supervisors seldom see their employees, they have no effective way to exercise control.

Question 22

____ are controls that measure activities that are already complete.

A) Feedforward controls
B) Concurrent controls
C) Positive controls
D) Feedback controls

Question 23

Performance should never be measured simply by observation. Written report should always be used instead.

Question 24

Because of information technology, decision making and control have been shifted upward to higher management.

Question 25

Concurrent controls are also known as:

A) conclusive controls.
B) responsive controls.
C) trigger controls.
D) screening controls.

Question 26

Strategic control points are located at the end of an activity.

Question 27

Inspecting raw materials for defects before sending them to production is an example of:

A) feedforward control.
B) concurrent control.
C) positive control.
D) feedback control.

Question 28

Failure to meet standards is usually caused solely by poor employee attitudes.

Question 29

Management by exception can be applied only for favorable deviations from standards.

Question 30

Direct observation of workers is always impractical for the supervisor.

Question 31

____ are controls that occur while an activity is taking place.

A) Feedforward controls
B) Concurrent controls
C) Positive controls
D) Feedback controls

Question 32

Control:

A) involves a deviation from established performance standards.
B) is the redistribution of power in today's more advanced organizations.
C) involves foreseeing things that could go wrong and taking steps to prevent them.
D) is a unit of measurement that can serves as a reference point for evaluating results.

Question 33

Under management by exception, a 1% drop in sales volume might be ignored, while a 20% drop would be investigated.

Question 34

The process of ensuring that an organization's objectives are achieved is known as:

A) planning.
B) controlling.
C) organizing.
D) operating.

Question 35

When performance deviates from standard, a supervisor should investigate to try to determine what caused the deviation, before taking corrective action.

Question 36

Which of the following is NOT one of the three types of control systems?

A) Concurrent
B) Feedforward
C) Conclusive
D) Feedback

Question 37

It is important for supervisors to distinguish between critical and less-critical deviations from standards.

Question 38

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of effective control systems?

A) Controls need to be accurate and concise.
B) Controls should be timely for a supervisor to take effective corrective action.
C) Controls must focus on only an organization's abilities to achieve objectives.
D) Controls should be accepted by those they affect.

Question 39

When results are substantially above standard, it is not important to determine why the deviation occurred.

Question 40

Martha makes sure the flour she buys is fine enough and the other ingredients are fresh before she bakes her cakes. Which of the following methods of control is best illustrated by Martha's actions?

A) Concurrent control
B) Feedforward control
C) Feedback control
D) Positioning control

Question 41

Briefly identify and explain the characteristics of an effective control system.

Question 42

The performance measurement point located sufficiently early in an activity to allow any corrective actions to be taken to accomplish the objective is known as:

A) tangible standard.
B) management by exception.
C) strategic control point.
D) management by objectives.

Question 43

Monitoring a worker's activities is an example of :

A) measuring performance.
B) establishing performance standards.
C) taking corrective actions for failing to meet performance standards.
D) comparing performance with standards.

Question 44

Using management by exception:

A) supervisors develop actions to be taken before or during the course of a job, to prevent things from going wrong.
B) supervisors invest equal time and effort on all activities irrespective of how big or small they are.
C) supervisors establish a point of activity where performance is measured early enough so that corrective action can be taken.
D) supervisors set priorities for activities, depending on their importance, and to focus their efforts on top-priority items.

Question 45

Monetary standards would include all of the following EXCEPT :

A) labor costs.
B) deadlines.
C) profit margins.
D) maintenance costs.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT one of the methods by which managers can measure performance?

A) Personal observation
B) Experimentation
C) Written reports by employees
D) Inspection

Question 47

Physical standards relate to the ____.

A) rate of production of a product
B) number of products manufactured
C) maintenance cost of a product
D) durability of a product

Question 48

Identify the three basic phases of control.

Question 49

After standards are set, supervisors:

A) have completed the controlling function.
B) must actually monitor performance.
C) must perform the production activities themselves.
D) should monitor only tangible standards.

Question 50

Which of the following would be an intangible standard?

A) Cooperative attitudes
B) Minimum size tolerances
C) Quality and durability of materials
D) Scheduled project completion dates

Question 51

Define each of the three types of control systems.

Question 52

Which of the following would be a tangible standard?

A) Employee morale
B) Percentage of successful sales calls
C) Desirable attitude
D) Degree of cooperation among employees

Question 53

Using _____, a supervisor focuses on critical control needs and allows employees to handle most routine deviations from standard.

A) invasive management
B) management by exception
C) impoverished management
D) transformational management

Question 54

A(n) ____ occurs when actual performance is less or greater than standard.

A) control point
B) objective
C) deviation
D) goal

Question 55

The first step in the controlling process is to:

A) monitor and measure performance.
B) establish performance standards.
C) take corrective actions if necessary.
D) compare actual performance against standard.

Question 56

Which of the following is NOT a step in the control process?

A) Establish supervisory authority.
B) Compare actual performance against standards.
C) Establish standards of performance.
D) Take corrective action.

Question 57

The speed with which a job should be completed is a:

A) time standard.
B) monetary standard.
C) physical standard.
D) numerical standard.

Question 58

In deciding how to measure performance, the supervisor should:

A) develop a meaningful, valid method of measurement.
B) rely on personal observation only.
C) not depend on oral reports by or about employees.
D) develop a method that keeps measuring performance constantly.

Question 59

One result of the information revolution is that:

A) decision making has been shifted downward to lower levels of management.
B) control has been shifted upward to higher levels of management.
C) managers need to cope with stagnancy of operations in all types of economic activities.
D) supervisors have access to limited types and sources of information.

Question 60

If sales fall 5% below forecast, a sales manager takes no action. If, however, sales fall 20% below forecast, the sales manager and the district manager schedule a sales review meeting. This is an example of:

A) impoverished management.
B) management by exception.
C) intangible standards management.
D) country club management.

Question 61

If departure from standards have occurred, managers should take corrective actions. List the corrective actions a supervisor can take when there is a departure from standards.

Question 62

Define management by exception.

Question 63

Identify and define the types of tangible performance standards that can be set. Give examples of each.

Question 64

Identify the basic ways a supervisor can measure performance.

Question 65

List the steps in the controlling process.

Question 66

How are standards set? What role does the supervisor play?

Question 67

Distinguish between tangible and intangible standards.

Question 68

What impact does technology have on control in organizations?