Deck 1: Developing Managerial Competencies

Question 1

Anne Mulcahy, CEO of Xerox, learned that one of the first things you need to do as CEO of a company is to listen and learn from customers.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Xerox has successfully introduced numerous new products and services in high-growth areas.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

When Anne Mulcahy joined Xerox, the company was financially solvent.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Fortune magazine includes "the ability to attract, develop, and keep talented people" as one of the key factors used to establish its list of Most Admired Companies.

Question 5

Managerial competencies are sets of knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes that a person needs to be effective in a wide range of positions and various types of organizations.

Question 6

An organization is any structured group of people working independently to achieve certain goals.

Question 7

Managerial competencies are useful for most individuals, even if you do not have a job with the word manager in the title.

Question 8

Most employees contribute to organizations through group work rather than just through individual contributions.

Question 9

Managerial functions are linked.

Question 10

At the U.S. Postal Service, the degree of job specialization is low.

Question 11

Small businesses typically clearly differentiate among levels of management.

Question 12

First-line managers may be called sales managers, section heads, production supervisors, or team leaders, depending on the organization.

Question 13

The greater emphasis on managing group performance and allocating resources represent the most important differences between first-line and middle managers.

Question 14

Middle managers are often involved in reviewing the work plans of various groups, helping these groups set priorities, and negotiating and coordinating their activities.

Question 15

Larry Kellner is the CEO of Continental Airlines. As a top manager, Kellner's primary management function is controlling.

Question 16

When looking for an opportunity to expand Oracle's product line into software, Larry Ellison, CEO, viewed store sales as the main strategy.

Question 17

Oracle's change in strategy put it in competition with SAP, SAS, IBM, and Siebel Systems.

Question 18

Middle managers spend little time directly controlling the work of others.

Question 19

Top managers conduct a great deal of their leadership activity with people in organizations other than their own.

Question 20

Top managers spend more than seventy-five percent of their day organizing and controlling the work of others.

Question 21

In theory, six managerial competencies are essential for effectiveness. In practice, knowing where one competency begins and the other ends is difficult, and some or all need to be relied upon at different times.

Question 22

Communication competency includes both formal and informal communication as well as the ability to negotiate.

Question 23

Of the six managerial competencies, communication is the most fundamental.

Question 24

Formal communication can take place at a personal level, such as during conversation with suppliers and clients.

Question 25

As discussed in the Ethical Challenge, the decision to close plants and lay off employees is one way to help save Ford Motor Company.

Question 26

The Container Store has been able to retain employees and attract new employees by focusing on cost control and communication.

Question 27

"Understanding vision and values" is the first step for any team project and usually is the responsibility of a manager or team leader.

Question 28

In a recent study of more than 400 organizations and 80,000 managers, the Gallup Organization found that the best managed companies used employee teams.

Question 29

When people think of teamwork, they realize the importance of making a distinction between the team members and a team leader.

Question 30

At Whole Foods Market, the first principle that defines how the company operates is "all work is teamwork".

Question 31

Among the components of strategic action competency, understanding the industry is highly important.

Question 32

A manager's multicultural competency is reflected in cultural knowledge and understanding, and an openness and sensitivity to cultural differences.

Question 33

Openness and sensitivity involve recognizing that culture makes a difference in how people think and act.

Question 34

Taking responsibility for your life at work and at home illustrates teamwork competency.

Question 35

For new college graduates, surveys reveal that building a family is a top priority for the majority of respondent.

Question 36

Which of the following is not one of Anne Mulcahy's strategies for the Xerox turnaround?

A) examined what business they were in
B) negotiated a settlement of a long investigation into fraudulent accounting practices
C) centralized purchasing to main locations
D) introduced new products and services

Question 37

Anne Mulcahy found that to remain competitive, she must keep her management team focused on:

A) reduction of operating expenses
B) growth while maintaining cost controls
C) future mission and vision
D) alignment to national goals

Question 38

A _____________is a combination of knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes that contribute to personal effectiveness.

A) manager
B) entrepreneur
C) competency
D) strategy

Question 39

Which of the following is not considered a key managerial competency?

A) communication
B) teamwork and strategic action
C) multicultural and self-management
D) entrepreneurship

Question 40

A(n) ______________ has a structure and strives to achieve goals that individuals acting alone could not reach.

A) organization
B) manager
C) competency
D) not-for-profit group

Question 41

All organizations have the same overall goals, but their specific goals are unique. A specific goal at Xerox is to ____________.

A) create innovative cameras
B) become a premier supplier
C) deliver internet services
D) reduce employee turnover

Question 42

A ___________ is a person who plans, organizes, directs, and controls the allocation of human, material, financial, and information resources in pursuit of the organization's goals.

A) organization
B) CEO
C) functional officer
D) manager

Question 43

Which of the following position(s) is typically not considered a manager?

A) CEO
B) computer programmer
C) Chief Information Officer
D) coach

Question 44

Which of the following is not one of the duties of Anne Mulcahy, CEO at Xerox?

A) restructuring Xerox
B) creating a work environment
C) performing a service call
D) implementing a corporate merger

Question 45

The term ____________refers to the tasks and activities involved in directing an organization or one of its units: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling.

A) data processor
B) manager
C) management
D) functional coordinator

Question 46

_______________ managers supervise employees having expertise in one area.

A) General
B) First-line
C) Functional
D) Executive

Question 47

Which of the following statements is false?

A) Functional managers may be the head of a payroll department.
B) Functional managers often oversee several general managers.
C) Functional managers may be responsible for making sure that payroll checks are issued on time and in the correct amounts.
D) General managers may be responsible for a strategic business unit or a division.

Question 48

General managers usually have ___________managers reporting to them.

A) country
B) top
C) regional
D) functional

Question 49

One who understands the workings of a business enterprise is aware of the fact that in large organizations, managers may be distinguished by the scope of the activities they manage. Therefore, which of the following statements is accurate?

A) Functional mangers supervise employees with general skills that may be applied to many roles.
B) General Managers supervise employees with specialized skills in a single area.
C) General Managers may be responsible for the operation of a department, but only if it is very small.
D) General Managers are responsible for the overall operations of a more complex unit such as a company or division.

Question 50

In what specific sequence do managers perform their managerial functions in order to achieve company goals?

A) planning, organizing, leading, controlling
B) organizing, leading, controlling, planning
C) leading, controlling, planning, organizing
D) None of the above because the functions are often performed simultaneously.

Question 51

American Express' decision to grow their customer base, and establish global partners is an example of which managerial function?

A) organizing
B) planning
C) directing
D) controlling

Question 52

All of the following are reasons managers plan except:

A) coordinating human, material, and information resources.
B) establishing an overall direction for the organization's future.
C) identifying and committing the organization's resources to achieving its goals.
D) deciding which tasks must be done to reach those goals.

Question 53

Managers can better coordinate human, material, and information resources by:

A) organizing effectively.
B) delegating issues.
C) leading team members.
D) focusing on issues.

Question 54

In the _________ process managers set standards of performance, measure current performance against those standards, take action to correct any deviations, and adjust the standards if necessary.

A) planning
B) organizing
C) leading
D) controlling

Question 55

Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks, believes that its success is due to competitive spirit, ability to respond to customers' needs, and its ____________ process.

A) leading
B) planning
C) controlling
D) organizing

Question 56

YUM! Brands is divided into five distinct restaurant brands for the purpose of serving the specialized needs of customers. What managerial function is being employed to achieve this type of clarity?

A) organizing
B) planning
C) leading
D) controlling

Question 57

When Lois Dimpfel, vice president of IBM Worldwide Olympic Technology Systems, was organizing the team to bring the Salt Lake City Games to millions of TV viewers, she was primarily involved in the _______________ managerial function.

A) planning
B) controlling
C) organizing
D) leading

Question 58

Kerry Smith has just moved into a top-level managerial role with Pepsi products. Which of the following is not part of the planning process Smith will be engaged in?

A) establishing directions for the organization
B) identifying the organization's resources to achieve organizational goals
C) committing the organization's resources to achieve organizational goals
D) structuring relationships among employees that will enable them to carry out management's plans and meet specific goals

Question 59

Starbucks attributes its success to the managerial function of ______________, which includes control procedures such as the criteria used to hire people, the type of coffee beans used, and the physical layout of stores.

A) planning
B) controlling
C) directing
D) organizing

Question 60

The planning function is the dynamic process of making decisions that focuses on ___________.

A) outsourcing
B) past performance
C) future performance
D) technical skills

Question 61

Once managers have defined goals for future performance, they must translate those relatively abstract desires into reality. The coordination effort to do this represents ____________.

A) organizing
B) planning
C) controlling
D) leading

Question 62

The _______________ managerial function concerns itself with assigning workers to departments.

A) planning
B) controlling
C) organizing
D) leading

Question 63

Michelle Gimbert, a regional vice-president for Chico's stores, allowed her store managers the freedom to run their operations as though they were separate businesses. By __________ in a new way, Gimbert was attempting to better coordinate the company's human and material resources.

A) organizing
B) controlling
C) staffing
D) planning

Question 64

After management has made plans, created a structure, and hired the right personnel, someone must ____________________ the organization over time.

A) control
B) measure the efficiency of
C) lead
D) assess the effectiveness of

Question 65

Lois Dimple, vice president of IBM Worldwide Olympic Technology Systems, knew she needed to plan, organize, and lead simultaneously to complete the task assigned to her. What was Dimple's responsibility?

A) coordinate the summer Olympic games in Atlanta
B) coordinate the summer Olympic games in Sydney
C) coordinate the winter Olympic games in Utah
D) create a system supplying real time Internet coverage of the games

Question 66

____________ involves getting others to perform tasks necessary to achieve the organization's goals.

A) Organizing
B) Controlling
C) Leading
D) Attenuation

Question 67

The process by which a person, group, or organization consciously monitors performance and takes corrective action is referred to as __________.

A) autocracy
B) leading
C) controlling
D) organizing

Question 68

Managers are often classified into these major types:

A) monitors, leaders, and coordinators
B) top managers, middle managers, and first-line managers
C) assistants, associates, and executives
D) presidents, vice presidents, and directors

Question 69

Which of the following is not a factor in determining whether a first-line manager will be successful?

A) has a strong technical expertise to teach subordinates
B) is willing to let subordinates do the work
C) plans and schedules work for employees
D) has sales or marketing experience before becoming manager

Question 70

Lawrence Davis has been working for BPAmoco for three years. He recently was promoted to production supervisor. Allie Wagner supervises sales associates who go to people's homes and sell insurance. Both positions may be classified as a ___________ manager.

A) matrix
B) middle
C) functional
D) first-line

Question 71

Sallie Schwall is the type of manager who leads a hectic work life full of interruptions. Her job is constantly on the "firing line." From this description, Schwall would be considered a(n) ___________ manager.

A) bureaucratic
B) task force
C) first-line
D) effective

Question 72

Leslie Iler is a sales manager with Ford Motor Company. For the most part, Iler's subordinates see her as a team leader in their project. Iler's position represents a __________.

A) component of a matrix organizational design
B) first-line manager
C) distinct division of staff and line positions
D) component of a mechanistic organizational design

Question 73

Jeff Raley is a manager with Hermann Hospital. He has saved the hospital hundreds of thousands of dollars by developing and implementing a new quality control system for purchasing supplies for all teams in the hospital. It is likely that Raley is a ________ manager.

A) project
B) top
C) first-line
D) middle

Question 74

The most important managerial task performed by first-line managers is usually ______.

A) managing multiple departments
B) coordinating teams
C) scouting for possible take-over targets
D) managing individual performance

Question 75

Todd Reppert of Ballpark Hot Dogs describes his job as ringmaster. He tries to balance the health department's demands for clean kiosks, vendors' demands for supplies, and his first-line manager's demand for recruiting new employees to staff the company's 25 kiosks in Tampa. Reppert is considered to be at what level of management?

A) top management
B) first-line management
C) middle management
D) intermediate management

Question 76

Typical job titles of middle managers include all of the following except:

A) department head
B) sales manager
C) director of finance
D) All of the above are considered job titles for middle managers.

Question 77

Norma Inafuku at Oreck Vacuums finds herself translating top management's strategy for increasing sales into tangible quotas for production plant managers. Inafuku would be considered to be at what level of management?

A) top management
B) first-line management
C) middle management
D) intermediate management

Question 78

Linda Thompson has recently been promoted to a middle manager with Fargo Industries. She wanted to know what task most middle managers considered important. She found out that the key task was ______________.

A) managing individual performance
B) coordinating teams
C) managing group performance and allocating resources
D) representing one's subordinates

Question 79

Kayla Cook is a manager with Randalls. Her responsibilities partially include establishing target dates for products and developing evaluation criteria for performance. These responsibilities are primarily associated with _____________ management.

A) first-line
B) team
C) top
D) middle

Question 80

Holly Varni of Top's Bakery is responsible for directing and coordinating the activities of first-line managers. Holly's position would best be classified as a ________.

A) top manager
B) second-line manager
C) project leader
D) middle manager