Deck 5: Decision Making and Problem Solving

Question 1

Decisions made at the first-line level are typically classified as operational decisions.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Creativity is often synonymous with innovation.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Brainstorming is not an effective method of idea gathering.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Effective managers make sure decisions are made at the lowest level possible.

Question 5

Decisions made at the middle-management level are typically classified as strategic decisions.

Question 6

When the forces are in balance, the situation is said to be in equilibrium.

Question 7

Managers and supervisors should never make snap decisions.

Question 8

To handle killer phrases, recognize them, describe to the group what is happening and then challenge the group to discuss whether the killer phrases are true. Encourage the group to remain open to all ideas.

Question 9

During brainstorming, it is critical that convergent thinking occur before divergent thinking.

Question 10

In participatory decision making, conflict is considered an asset.

Question 11

Decisions made at the executive level are typically classified as administrative decisions.

Question 12

The nominal group technique is an objective way to achieve consensus on ideas, and is both easy and efficient.

Question 13

In participatory decision making, both upward and downward organizational communication increases, as does teamwork.

Question 14

Using killer phrases can stifle creativity.

Question 15

The modified Delphi Technique makes the Delphi Technique more open-ended.

Question 16

Many decisions can be effectively made and many problems effectively solved through a twelve-step process.

Question 17

Right-brain thinking is primarily emotional.

Question 18

Being too quick in deciding is a common thinking trap.

Question 19

One key element of brainstorming is to allow unlimited time for the generation of ideas.

Question 20

Effective problem solving and decision making may rely on both creativity and logic.

Question 21

Which of the following is not a mental lock that prevents innovative thinking?

A) Be ambiguous.
B) To err is wrong.
C) Be practical.
D) Follow the rules.

Question 22

To enhance decision making, __________.

A) use intuition
B) put the problem in writing
C) brainstorm
D) all of these

Question 23

A sixth sense, intuition, or sense that a law enforcement officer has in dangerous situations is referred to as the __________.

A) gut feeling
B) pucker factor
C) hunch
D) street effect

Question 24

The right side of the brain is more likely to be used for __________.

A) reasoning
B) being creative
C) critical analysis
D) adaptation

Question 25

A consultative decision is __________.

A) one made individually
B) one made democratically
C) one made with input from others
D) none of these

Question 26

The nominal group technique __________.

A) is a biased way to achieve consensus
B) ranks alternatives subjectively
C) uses objective methods to determine alternatives
D) uses the concept that all individuals work better as a group

Question 27

The questionnaire-based problem-solving technique developed by the Rand Corporation is __________.

A) the Delphi technique
B) the participatory decision making
C) the force-field analysis
D) the groupthink

Question 28

Which of the following is true of decisions?

A) Few decisions are made on a daily basis.
B) Not making a decision is a decision.
C) All decisions are legal.
D) all of these

Question 29

Delegation involves __________.

A) sending responsibilities upward
B) decisions made by a delegation or committee of employees
C) sending responsibilities downward
D) none of these

Question 30

When applying a business plan model to policing, a decision by a front-line officer would be __________.

A) policy creation
B) neighborhood safety project
C) reduction of gang related crime
D) overall crime rate

Question 31

Decisions are frequently based on __________.

A) a selection of alternatives
B) past experience
C) input from others
D) all of these

Question 32

A consensus decision is __________.

A) an individual opinion
B) made democratically
C) made by the CEO
D) made using no outside input from others

Question 33

The left side of the brain is more likely to be used for __________.

A) reasoning
B) being creative
C) processing images
D) artistic endeavors

Question 34

Ethics in decision making relates to __________.

A) frequency of good decisions to bad
B) fairness and morality of the decisions
C) degree of risk
D) willingness to make decisions at all costs

Question 35

Which is not part of the ABCs of emotional intelligence?

A) activating agents
B) consequences
C) beliefs
D) all are the ABCs of emotional intelligence

Question 36

Operational decisions are normally made at __________.

A) middle management levels
B) first-line levels
C) executive levels
D) both middle and executive management levels

Question 37

Brainstorming __________.

A) encourages wild ideas
B) permits criticism of others' ideas
C) concerns quality of ideas, not quantity
D) all of these

Question 38

An example of a "killer phrase" would be __________.

A) "You're too radical"
B) "It won't work"
C) "We haven't ever done it that way before"
D) all of these

Question 39

Which of the following steps typically comes last in the decision-making process?

A) implementing the alternative
B) selecting the best alternative
C) evaluating the decision
D) defining the problem

Question 40

A good tool to assist managers in decision making when faced with community crime prediction is __________.

A) SARA
B) COMPSTAR
C) CompStat
D) LIDAR

Question 41

Habits people fall into without recognizing what they are doing are called __________.

A) mental locks
B) thinking traps
C) killer phrases
D) restraining forces

Question 42

Creativity involves __________.

A) innovation
B) uniqueness
C) originality
D) all of these

Question 43

With PDM, employees have __________.

A) little say in decision making
B) some say in decision making
C) equal say in decision making
D) no say in decision making

Question 44

The Abilene Paradox is an example of __________.

A) brainstorming
B) intuition
C) groupthink
D) force-field analysis

Question 45

Thinking that is focused, evaluative in nature and includes decision making is known as _______________ thinking.

Question 46

A ______________ decision is a decision that managers make on their own, with little or no input from others.

Question 47

A decision to make a traffic arrest is __________.

A) an operational level decision
B) a command decision
C) an administrative decision
D) none of these

Question 48

GIGO is __________.

A) a standard in radio communication
B) a measurement for computer storage
C) garbage in/garbage out
D) a gang term for police

Question 49

Recently in law enforcement, ____________ has been receiving a lot of attention by managers.

A) emotional intelligence
B) whole-brain thinking
C) left-brain thinking
D) right-brain thinking

Question 50

GIGO stands for _______________________________.

Question 51

_________________________ are judgmental and critical and serve as put-downs that stifle others' creativity.

Question 52

Common mistakes in __________ and __________ include spending too much energy on unimportant details and failing to resolve important issues.

Question 53

_____________ can inspire creativity and innovation by sharing information on problems, removing obstacles, creating a climate of mutual respect and collaboration, and quickly rewarding acts of creativity and innovation.

Question 54

Many departments use automated tools such as _____________ to explore and characterize large data sets.

Question 55

Allowing time for a minor difficulty to work itself out, thus avoiding the need to make a decision, is called ________________________________.

Question 56

A common mistake in problem solving and decision making is __________.

A) having an open mind
B) openly expressing ideas and true feelings
C) making decisions while excited or angry
D) using the Delphi technique

Question 57

_____________ is a method of shared problem solving in which members spontaneously contribute ideas.

A) Brainstorming
B) Divergent solving
C) Groupthink
D) Critical judgment

Question 58

________________ usually consist of people from the community who express their opinions about certain issues.

Question 59

The ability to use both logic and creativity in problem solving and decision making is called ________________ thinking.

Question 60

A decision made in combination with others is often referred to as a __________.

A) conclusion decision
B) command decision
C) consultative decision
D) democratic decision

Question 62

Describe vicarious liability and how it relates to civil lawsuits against police departments.

Question 63

List and discuss the methods commonly used in police agencies to make decisions or solve problems.

Question 64

Discuss thinking traps. What are the most common thinking traps? How can these be overcome?

Question 65

The ________________ uses objective questions rather than open-ended questions to measure employees' feelings about key issues.

Question 66

Explain how brainstorming can be most effective. What should and should not occur during a brainstorming session?

Question 67

Describe the SARA model and how law enforcement personnel can use it to help in decision making and problem solving.

Question 69

The ______________________ occurs when a phone number or address is associated with a crime simply because it is convenient to use.

Question 71

In problem solving using SARA, the ______________________ assumes crime or disorder results when (1) likely offenders and (2) suitable targets come together in (3) time and space in the absence of capable guardians for the target.

Question 75

The _______________________ is an objective way to achieve consensus on the most effective alternatives by ranking them.