Deck 1: Management of Technology and Innovation: an Overview

Question 1

Alan Greenspan believes history will show that later half of the 1990s was:

A) A time of greed
B) A time in which hedge funds should have been regulated
C) A time when technology failed United States business
D) A pivotal time when technology developed previously were finally allowed to be utilized effectively
E) A pivotal time when international currency exchange was solidified

Answer 1

A pivotal time when technology developed previously were finally allowed to be utilized effectively

Question 2

RFID:

A) Allow firms to track goods from production through their being sold
B) Allows stores to have their own background music in the store
C) Allows the tracking of two of the most dangerous chemicals in an industrial setting
D) Provides communication between widely spread employees on an immediate basis
E) Tracks employees as they do their daily work if they work outside an office setting

Answer 2

Allow firms to track goods from production through their being sold

Question 3

It was found in the state of Washington that labor income in technology based industries was ____ percent more than the state's average.

A) 5
B) 14
C) 27
D) 63
E) 87

Answer 3

87

Question 4

It was found in the state of Washington that technology based industries that each job in turn supports an average of ____ jobs while the state average is ____ jobs per employee in all other industries.

A) 3.55; 1.01
B) 3.55; 5.05
C) 3.55; 2.86
D) 0.25; 2.86
E) 1.39; 2.86

Question 5

Technology pushes society when:

A) Innovations make unwanted changes in society that are unfortunate such as pollution
B) Innovations push the government to make new regulations in order to control the activity
C) New technology strains the social fabric of the society to the breaking point
D) The technology was not demanded by society but once available it is quickly adopted by society
E) The technology is demanded by society and it leads to changes in the society

Question 6

Technology's impact:

A) Is ongoing
B) Occurs in small very distinct steps
C) Occurs in large shifts over time
D) Is not significant
E) Is limited unless combined with money

Question 7

Technology's impact is:

A) Is only in particular business units
B) Is significant only for certain people in the organization
C) Occurs only outside the business organization since it is so pervasive
D) Is organization wide
E) Effects societies, not businesses

Question 8

A major source of innovation in the appliance industry is:

A) Canada
B) Finland
C) United States
D) Russia
E) Japan

Question 9

Normative institutions are concerned with:

A) Laws in a country
B) Norms of professions and industries
C) The progress of technology at a normal pace
D) The ability to obtain the insights of average consumers
E) The banking industry

Question 10

It can be expected that the theory and methods of managing technology and innovation learned from the text are:

A) Applicable only in the United States
B) Applicable only in the United States and Canada
C) Applicable only in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom
D) Applicable only in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and parts of Europe
E) Applicable around the world

Question 11

The annual level of spending on new technology by business in the 1990s increased by:

A) 10% per year.
B) it decreased by 10% per year.
C) 4% per year.
D) 20% per year.
E) 5% per year.

Question 12

In the early part of this century there was a decline in technology spending due to:

A) tighter control over spending
B) less technology being employed
C) positive growth on spending
D) hiring more employees
E) the use of cell phones in the workplace

Question 13

The goal of management of technology and innovation in an organization should always be to:

A) Create new technology that is groundbreaking
B) Expand the number of employees in R&D
C) Create value for the firm
D) Be efficient
E) Maximize this quarter's profits

Question 14

There are several definitions of technology in the text; all the definitions have some common elements. Each definition implies:

A) A systematic approach to the desired outcome
B) Change is an outcome
C) Change occurs rapidly
D) Changes in technology occur at random
E) Both "A systematic approach to the desired outcome" and "Change is an outcome"

Question 15

Technology can be broadly defined as:

A) A process whereby new and improved products, processes, materials, and services are developed and transferred to a new plant or market where they are appropriate
B) All the knowledge, products, processes, tools, methods, and systems employed in the creation of goods or in providing services
C) A coordinated set of actions that fulfill the firm's objectives, purposes, and goals
D) The systematic gathering of information that leads to the generation of feasible alternatives for the firm
E) The elements of planning, implementation, and evaluation and control

Question 16

Evaluation and control of technology is:

A) The checking to be sure the technology works
B) The ensuring the technology meets the specifications of the manual
C) Commonly ignored
D) The monitoring to ensure technology meets goals and desired outcomes
E) Typically outsourced to ensure proper operation

Question 17

The National Cash Register Company almost failed in 1960 because it:

A) Focused on developing the digital calculator
B) Focused on expanding its lead in mechanical calculators
C) Moved into credit card technology
D) Moved its production to Brazil
E) Spent excessively on R&D

Question 18

The management of technology is defined as the linking of different disciplines to:

A) Plan, develop, implement, monitor and control technological capabilities
B) Make sure that the technology works
C) Find the most efficient technology
D) Find the most economical technology
E) Control the use of technology

Question 19

The task force on Management of Technology listed 5 specific reasons why individuals and organizations should be concerned about the management of technology. Which of these is NOT one of the five reasons provided?

A) The rapid pace of technological change demands a cross discipline approach
B) The rapid pace of technology development and the increasing sophistication of consumers have shortened product life cycle
C) The need for increasing production times
D) Increasing international competition
E) As technology changes, the tools of management must change

Question 20

Who developed the idea and product called the iBOT Mobility System?

A) Dean Wheelwright
B) Dean Karoub
C) Dean Kamen
D) Kenneth Dean
E) Dean Witter

Question 21

What "significant leap" for society did Dean Kamen accomplish with technology?

A) JIT distribution
B) A stand-up wheelchair
C) The cell phone
D) The silicon chip
E) None of these choices

Question 22

Which one of these is an example of process innovation?

A) E-mail security
B) Just-in-time inventory (JIT)
C) Firewalls
D) Virus protection software
E) Both "Just-in-time inventory (JIT)" and "Firewalls"

Question 23

Innovation can be defined as:

A) The process whereby new and improved products, processes, materials, and services are developed and transferred to a new plant or market where they are appropriate
B) All the knowledge, products, processes, tools, methods, and systems employed in the creation of goods or providing services
C) A coordinated set of actions that fulfill the firm's objectives, purposes, and goals
D) The systematic gathering of information that leads to the generation of feasible alternatives for the firm
E) The elements of planning, implementation, and evaluation and control

Question 24

The commitment of top management to innovation requires the recognition of the following realities except:

A) Management of technology encompasses the management of innovation
B) It requires the fostering of an environment where innovative thought and work are encouraged
C) It involves the protection of the firm's current strategic position in order to maximize prior investment in technology
D) It involves leading a firm from existing processes and products to something that is better and more valuable
E) It is proactive and encourages creativity and risk taking

Question 25

Delbecq's and Mills' characteristics of a firm that manages innovation well does NOT include which of the following:

A) Sets of realistic expectations
B) Separate funds for innovation
C) Clear direction on studies to be done and follow-ups that are expected
D) Periodic review of informal proposals by a group outside of line management
E) Internal focus so boundary spanning does not distract from firm's focus

Question 26

The four individual characteristics that enhance innovation include all of the following except:

A) Asking questions
B) Learning new skills
C) Technological training
D) Taking risks and being proactive
E) Aligning personal beliefs with organization goals

Question 27

The management of innovation involves ____ of continuation and nurturing of existing technology than does innovation.

A) A broader scope
B) A narrower scope
C) The same scope
D) The two are not related
E) A direct correction

Question 28

The effect of technology is typically seen as ____.

A) Flat
B) Negative
C) Cascading
D) Same
E) Limited

Question 29

All of the following are elements of strategic management except:

A) return on investment
B) implementation
C) planning
D) evaluation
E) control

Question 30

____ are the monitoring of technology to ensure that it meets the desired outcomes.

A) Implementation and control
B) Planning and implementation
C) Evaluation and control
D) Evaluation and monitoring
E) Implementations and evaluations

Question 31

Firms that manage innovation well have which of the following characteristics?

A) They provide clear direction
B) They provide a supportive atmosphere
C) They separate funds for innovation
D) They have realistic expectations
E) All of these choices

Question 32

All of the following are characteristics that enhance the initiative that spark innovation except:

A) asking questions to identify problems and opportunities
B) learning new skills
C) taking risks
D) being proactive
E) managing innovation

Question 33

Technology is defined to include ____ employed in producing a good or service.

A) knowledge
B) products
C) processes
D) methods
E) all of these choices

Question 34

To promote proactive approaches to the management of technology and innovation managers should do all of the following except:

A) Designate clear technology leaders
B) Assess objectively where your firm is on the technology curve
C) Set realistic priorities
D) Focus your search and assessment processes only on the largest units in the firm
E) Understand what the tasks are and how they are connected

Question 35

Managing innovation is a cross-discipline activity.

Question 36

Management of technology includes the evaluation/control phase for examining innovations after they become an ongoing part of the organization.

Question 37

The tools of management must change as technology changes, but the process of determining what those new tools should be is in its infancy.

Question 38

Innovation is only the invention of a new product or process.

Question 39

Innovation occurs when the firm is motivated with unrealistic expectations.

Question 40

The management of innovation requires firms to encourage risk-taking.

Question 41

When fostering the correct environment for innovation one thing a manager should do is separate funds for innovation.

Question 42

Without the tools of management, the benefits of technology and innovation cannot be fully realized.

Question 43

Linking of different disciplines to plan, develop, implement, monitor, and control technological capabilities to shape and accomplish the strategic objectives of an organization...is the definition of technology.

Question 44

The management of technology involves a much broader scope of continuation and nurturing of existing technology than does innovation.

Question 45

Why should individuals and organizations be concerned about the management of technology?

Question 46

Discuss ways in which top management can foster creativity and innovation in the workplace.

Question 47

How does innovation relate to technology? How do the two differ?

Question 48

What are some of the pros and cons of the introduction of cellular phones into the business environment, and how have managers minimized the cons?

Question 49

How can a firm enhance initiative that sparks innovation?