Deck 5: Decision-Making

Question 1

All of the following are a part of the RAPID model EXCEPT for ______.

A) recommend
B) arrange
C) input
D) decide

Answer 1

B

Question 2

Nonprogrammed decisions are those that are ______.

A) programmed by authority
B) not programmed by authority
C) repetitive and routine
D) infrequent

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following is a phase in the rational model of decision-making?

A) data collection phase
B) data analysis phase
C) design phase
D) pre-implementation phase

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The "economic man" argument suggests that ______.

A) people consider all available alternatives and then make choices that maximize the values they receive
B) people pick the cheapest options wherever available
C) people pick the most expensive option provided it offers added value
D) people rarely consider the benefits of picking a more expensive option before selecting the most economic one

Question 5

Under the organizational model of decision-making ______.

A) decision-makers are not constrained by standard operating procedures
B) decision-makers are constrained to be somewhat predictable but create unpredictable outcomes
C) decision-makers are constrained by standard operating procedures that tend to make decision outcomes somewhat predictable
D) decision-makers are constrained to be somewhat predictable and create predictable outcomes

Question 6

Which of the following is considered to be one of the premises of political explanation?

A) Important decisions are thought to stem from compromises made by a coalition.
B) Decisions are formally ratified by more than one individual before execution.
C) Decisions are suggested as options by many and then finally selected by one leader.
D) Decisions are considered unilateral exercises.

Question 7

In terms of ensuring quality in a decision, we should ______.

A) engage only a few select individuals
B) engage a wide variety of individuals
C) only engage the primary decision-maker
D) none of these

Question 8

Focus groups are one method of identifying problems and assessing programs. Focus groups ______.

A) are large, homogenous groups of 25-30 participants
B) require planning, recruiting, and a moderator
C) are able to discuss multiple topics
D) are small, heterogenous groups of 5-10 participants

Question 9

Strategic decisions do not involve ______.

A) gathering intelligence
B) setting directions
C) a high degree of delegation
D) uncovering alternatives

Question 10

"Groupthink," a mode of thinking, occurs when ______.

A) people are deeply involved in an otherwise non-cohesive group
B) people get a chance to express their ideas
C) people form a group and think through the steps involved in the decision-making process
D) the desire for unanimity offsets people's motivation to appraise alternative courses of action

Question 11

All of the following were identified as common elements found in failed decisions EXCEPT for ______.

A) faulty decision practices
B) misallocation of resources
C) encouraging innovation
D) premature commitments

Question 12

All of the following are phases in the rational model of decision-making EXCEPT for the ______.

A) pre-analysis phase
B) analytic phase
C) post-analysis phase
D) design phase

Question 13

In terms of who should be involved in the decision-making process, all of the following are considered to be methods EXCEPT for ____.

A) authoritative
B) constructive
C) group
D) consultative

Question 14

The involvement of citizens and stakeholders is of great importance in public decision-making. Which of these democratic ideals are required in the decision-making process?

A) openness, transparency, and majority rule
B) inclusiveness, transparency, and unanimity
C) transparency, inclusiveness, and openness
D) equality, transparency, and inclusiveness

Question 15

All of the following were identified as part of the focus group process EXCEPT for ______.

A) planning
B) recruiting
C) training
D) moderating

Question 16

Brainstorming is a method to ______.

A) collect cohesive information from a large number of people
B) collect focused ideas from a non-cohesive group
C) collect a large number of ideas in a short period of time
D) collect feedback on a previously implemented solution

Question 17

The rational model approaches decision-making ______.

A) with a complete regard for the holistic picture of human nature
B) with a complete disregard for the holistic picture of human nature
C) neither regarding nor disregarding the holistic picture of human nature
D) none of these

Question 18

The modern rational choice models introduce the element of ______.

A) self-interest
B) public-interest
C) private-public interest
D) economic-interest

Question 19

In the organizational process model, decision-makers are ______.

A) encouraged to forecast the future
B) not acting on the basis of a predetermined vision
C) neither encouraged to forecast the future, nor acting on the basis of a predetermined vision
D) prevented from forecasting the future and acting on the basis of a predetermined vision

Question 20

"Organizations could be viewed as having a collection of choice opportunities, solutions looking for problems, and participants looking for work." Which model best represents this statement?

A) the rational model
B) the organizational model
C) the geopolitical model
D) the garbage can model

Question 21

Business process reengineering involves the analysis of workflows and processes within an organization with the goal of redesigning or changing to best meet the needs of the program.

Question 22

Organizations create their own institutionalized rationality.

Question 23

The people that will need to live with the new decisions should be involved in the decision-making.

Question 24

Describe the rational model of decision-making. Discuss, providing relevant examples where appropriate.

Question 25

Explain the RAPID technique of decision-making.

Question 26

Decision-making is not a random process.

Question 27

The organization chart should determine the decision roles.

Question 28

Decisions entail opportunity costs for paths not taken.

Question 29

Assuming consistency, intentionality, purposefulness, and rationality on the part of individuals invariably leads to misunderstanding and possibly false assumptions.

Question 30

______ refers to identifying the decision and testing the validity of that decision.

A) Assessment
B) Action
C) Analysis
D) Application

Question 31

Which of the following models is most readily understood by defining what is and what is not?

A) incrementalism
B) government politics model
C) organizational process model
D) rational model

Question 32

The "experienced blind spot" phenomenon affects only tenured managers facing an unexpected crisis.

Question 33

______ is the process of comparing management processes and performance metrics to best practices.

A) strategic planning
B) benchmarking
C) risk analysis
D) business process reengineering

Question 34

The governmental politics model is a model with a single unitary decision-maker.

Question 35

The organizational process model of decision-making sees government as composed of a few seamlessly allied organizations, each controlled by individual leaders.

Question 36

Nonprogrammed decisions involve difficult problem solving.

Question 37

Time is always available for decision-making to undergo a calculated process.

Question 38

______ occurs when people may perceive that it is in their best interest to remain ignorant.

A) indirect blindness
B) motivated blindness
C) immoral imagination
D) moral imagination

Question 39

Diversity provides several challenges for decision-making. Which of the following are differences in culture that can affect this process?

A) importance of rationality
B) time orientation
C) believe in individual problem solving
D) all of these

Question 40

Compare and contrast programmed decisions and nonprogrammed decisions.

Question 41

What is managerial discretion?

Question 42

Compare and contrast the organizational process model and the governmental politics model of decision-making.