Deck 2: The Management Environment

Question 1

Which components of the external environment of the BMW plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina were disrupted by the volcanic eruption in Eyjafjallajökull, Iceland?

A)the demographic and global components
B)the political and legal components
C)the economic and global components
D)the sociocultural and demographic components

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In the United States the gap between the rich and poor is ________.

A)decreasing
B)accepted
C)hidden
D)increasingly tolerated

Answer 2

B

Question 3

This component of an organization's external environment is concerned with scientific and industrial innovations.

A)Demographic
B)Technological
C)Sociocultural
D)Economic

Answer 3

B

Question 4

This component of an organization's external environment is concerned with interest rates and employment levels.

A)Demographic
B)Technological
C)Sociocultural
D)Economic

Question 5

Which of the following views of management would agree with the statement that managers should not be held accountable for changing global economic conditions?

A)the geocentric view
B)the new-world order view
C)the demographic view
D)the symbolic view

Question 6

What will cause countries such as Denmark to shrink with respect to the size of their economy, relative to other nations?

A)no social safety net
B)welfare payments
C)high birth rate
D)low birth rate

Question 7

Which of the following is not involved with the demographic component of an organization's external environment?

A)values
B)gender
C)race
D)income

Question 8

Experts predict that these two countries will be larger than the developed countries of the world by year 2050.

A)Mexico and China
B)India and China
C)China and South Africa
D)India and Mexico

Question 9

Court rulings allowing gay marriage is an example of a change in which components of an organization's external environment?

A)political/legal and technological
B)economic and demographic
C)sociocultural and global
D)sociocultural and political/legal

Question 10

Which of the following assets can be used as part of a sharing economy?

A)Cars
B)Homes
C)Skills
D)All of the above

Question 11

According to polls, which percent of adults believe that economic inequality is not a problem at all?

A)90
B)50
C)30
D)10

Question 12

Which kind of company would you expect to pay its CEO the most?

A)a company with a symbolic view of management
B)a company with a liberal view of management
C)a company with a semipotent view of management
D)a company with an omnipotent view of management

Question 13

The use of peer-to-peer services such as Uber is an example of this type of economy.

A)Capitalistic
B)Socialistic
C)Sharing
D)Unplanned

Question 14

Which view of management describes a situation in which managers are directly responsible for a company's success or failure?

A)the structural view of management
B)the symbolic view of management
C)the omnipotent view of management
D)the realistic view of management

Question 15

Global trade after the recent economic downturn has ________.

A)increased dramatically
B)decreased dramatically
C)increased, then decreased significantly
D)remained slow

Question 16

The majority of growth in the U.S.employment recently has been in this area.

A)Low paying jobs
B)High paying jobs
C)Technology jobs
D)Full-time jobs

Question 17

What did the effect of a volcanic eruption in Iceland have on the production of Nissans in a plant in Japan illustrate?

A)how much organizations depend on their banks
B)how much organizations depend on their external environment
C)how much organizations depend on corporate culture
D)how much organizations depend on a strong brand image

Question 18

Which kind of company would be less likely to fire its CEO after a poor performance?

A)a company with a symbolic view of management
B)a company with a realistic view of management
C)a company with an external view of management
D)a company with an omnipotent view of management

Question 19

Which of the following has been identified as a significant risk to business leaders in the next decade?

A)stagnation in technology
B)income disparity
C)declining birth rates
D)political instability

Question 20

________ is the study of population characteristics.

A)Sociology
B)Demographics
C)Sociographics
D)Anthropology

Question 21

Theodore and Janice have formed TJ Soft, an entrepreneurial venture to develop games and other kinds of software for consumers.Theodore has just gotten wind from a highly reliable source that Congress is likely to take action in the coming year to ban violent games.TJ Soft has several games that could be considered violent.Which component of the external environment will affect TJ Soft the most in this situation?

A)the political/legal component
B)the demographic component
C)the technological component
D)the economic component

Question 22

Marta is worried that the facilities at Linden State are not as up-to-date as they could be with respect to wi-fi access and the availability of classes on-demand using podcasts, social networking, and other digital advances.Which generation is likely to notice this deficiency the most?

A)the children of the Baby Boomers
B)the Baby Boomers
C)the Post-Millennials
D)Gen X

Question 23

Which of the following identifies the best illustration of the phrase "demographics is destiny"?

A)India is experiencing explosive growth partly because its population is growing rapidly.
B)India is experiencing poverty because its population is growing rapidly.
C)The United States is experiencing slow growth partly because its population is growing rapidly.
D)The United States is experiencing healthy growth partly because its population is not growing and people are saving their resources.

Question 24

Which popular name has been assigned to those individuals born between 1946-1964?

A)Generation Y
B)Millennials
C)Generation X
D)Baby Boomers

Question 25

Theodore and Janice have formed TJ Soft, an entrepreneurial venture to develop games and other kinds of software for consumers.Theodore has just gotten wind from a highly reliable source that games involving animals and ecosystems are likely to be extremely "hot" in the coming year.Theodore is excited because TJ Soft has two games in development that fit the animal/eco niche perfectly.Which component of the external environment will affect TJ Soft the most in this situation?

A)the demographic component
B)the political component
C)the sociocultural component
D)the global component

Question 26

Marta is currently focusing her efforts on fundraising.She sees this generation as the cohort on which to focus most of her attention.

A)Gen Y, because it is the wealthiest generation
B)the Baby Boomers, because they are the most ethical generation
C)the Baby Boomers, because they are the largest and wealthiest generation
D)the Post-Millennials, because they are the largest generation that is still looking forward to college

Question 27

A major cause of the shutdown of a BMW assembly plant in South Carolina was a bank crisis in Iceland.

Question 28

Marta wants to increase visibility for graduate programs in such areas as public health that are specialized for professionals who have already worked in their field for ten years or more.On which generation should she focus her efforts?

A)Gen W
B)Gen X
C)Gen Y
D)Pre-Millennials

Question 29

How are the "Post-Millennials" likely to be different from previous generations?

A)They require products that are completely customized to the individual.
B)They require products that are completely generic and not at all customized to the individual.
C)They require products that are serious and meaningful rather than frivolous and fun.
D)They require products that are of much higher quality than those required by individuals in previous generations.

Question 30

Which generation is predicted to be the most diverse and multicultural of any generation in the United States?

A)Baby Boomers
B)Generation X
C)Generation Y
D)Generation Z

Question 31

Marta has turned her attention to cultivating undergraduate students in the near future-three to five years from now.On which generation should she focus her attention?

A)the Baby Boomers, because they are looking for Continuing Education programs for self-improvement
B)Gen X, because they are looking to get advanced degrees so they can obtain high-paying jobs
C)Gen Y, because the job market is so difficult they are looking to specialize in a useful major such as accounting and biology
D)the Post-Millennials, because they are of the age that is just beginning to enroll in college

Question 32

The external environment of an organization includes factors and forces that can affect how the organization operates.

Question 33

Which demographic do managers pay closest attention to with respect to large-scale trends in the business world?

A)age
B)sex
C)employment status
D)geographic location

Question 34

Holding on tightly to organizational habits is one of the foundations of long-term success.

Question 35

Marta sees an opportunity for her school in increasing the enrollment in individuals who were born in the 1980s and early 1990s.Which term describes these prospective students?

A)Baby Boomers
B)Gen Yers
C)Gen Xers
D)Gen Zers

Question 36

Which of the following provides the best illustration of technology transforming how managers manage in the workplace?

A)Managers oversee very large design teams.
B)Managers must supervise design teams more closely.
C)Managers oversee very large clerical and secretarial staffs.
D)Managers oversee very small clerical and secretarial staffs.

Question 37

Theodore and Janice have formed TJ Soft, an entrepreneurial venture to develop games and other kinds of software for consumers.Theodore feels that success depends on the decisions that he and Janice make in the near future with respect to personnel.If they hire the "right" people, Theodore thinks, the company will be successful.Which view of management does Theodore espouse?

A)the symbolic view of management, because success rides on the decisions of the managers
B)the symbolic view of management, because success rides on external factors-whom Theodore and Janice hire from the outside world
C)the omnipotent view of management, because success rides on the skills of the workers
D)the omnipotent view of management, because success rides on the decisions of the managers

Question 38

Today's managers must learn to cope with a greater level of change than those of the past.

Question 39

Organizational traditions should not be followed if they don't fit with the current demands of customers and shareholders.

Question 40

Theodore and Janice have formed TJ Soft, an entrepreneurial venture to develop games and other kinds of software for consumers.Janice loves the company but feels that the economy is too slow to expect any kind of overwhelming success at this point in time.For now, Janice just wants the company to survive.In a few years the company perhaps can look forward to true success.Which view of management does Janice espouse?

A)the omnipotent view of management, because success rides on external factors such as the economy
B)the symbolic view of management, because success rides on external factors such as the economy
C)the symbolic view of management, because success rides on internal factors such as the judgment of Theodore and Janice
D)the omnipotent view of management, because success rides on internal factors such as the judgment of Theodore and Janice

Question 41

According to the text, economic and demographic changes are two important components of the environment that constrain the actions of managers.

Question 42

After the recent economic crisis, conditions in the United States have improved much better and faster than in the rest of the world.

Question 43

Recent data shows that employment in the United States is up, especially in high wage jobs.

Question 44

Technology has changed the way managers manage by forcing them to keep track of employees in remote locations at all times of the day and night.

Question 45

After the recent economic crisis, managers in the United States have found that there is "smooth sailing" in the global economic arena.

Question 46

The components of an organization's external environment include a technological component and a political component.

Question 47

External factors such as jobs and prices of natural resources are important factors that can affect organizational decisions.

Question 48

The symbolic view of management holds that an organization's performance is based solely on the decisions of managers.

Question 49

While global trade has improved since the recent recession, it has not rebounded to pre-2008 levels.

Question 50

The omnipotent view of management holds that good managerial decisions result in an organization's success.

Question 51

Experts believe that in the future, income disparity between countries and individual wage earners will be eliminated.

Question 52

Due to the large size of the economy, organizations in the United States are insulated from global economic failures.

Question 53

The overall trend toward globalization is part of the political component of an organization's external environment.

Question 54

The sociocultural component of the external environment of an organization includes trends and traditions, but not basic attitudes and values.

Question 55

According to the omnipotent view of management, American managers would not be blamed if their company experienced sluggish sales in an economic downturn.

Question 56

The quarterback of a football team assumes a largely symbolic role for his team because his performance largely determines the outcome of the game.

Question 57

According to a recent poll, 50 percent of adults feel that economic inequality is not a problem.

Question 58

The age of a population is one of its most important demographics.

Question 59

According to demographic predictions, the world's population is becoming older.

Question 60

The phrase "demographics is destiny" refers to the idea that older nations get tired, which causes their performance to slip.

Question 61

The Daily Recorder is considering raising its price from 60 cents to 75 cents.Which stakeholders should it consider most in making this decision?

A)All stakeholders should be considered equally.
B)all internal stakeholders
C)all external stakeholders
D)its customers

Question 62

Gen Xers are generally the children of the Baby Boomers.

Question 63

Which of the following is LEAST likely to be considered a stakeholder for a newspaper company, The Daily Recorder?

A)the paper boy who delivers the paper to customers
B)critics who claim that all newspapers are biased and dishonest
C)customers who buy the paper at newsstands
D)subscribers

Question 64

The Daily Recorder is considering charging online readers a flat fee for access to the news on their computers and electronic devices.Which stakeholder should the paper NOT worry about informing?

A)the paper's online customers
B)the paper's rival, The Daily Sun
C)the unions that control the paper's workers
D)the paper's print subscribers

Question 65

Explain the phrase "demographics is destiny" and give an example of this idea in today's world.

Question 66

In a short essay, describe and give an example of a sharing economy.

Question 67

Which of the following is likely to be the permanent result of the recent economic downturn in the United States?

A)Almost all of the jobs lost will not return.
B)About half of the jobs lost will not return.
C)About a quarter of the jobs lost will not return.
D)Almost all of the jobs lost will return.

Question 68

Which of the following best defines environmental uncertainty?

A)the amount of innovation and creativity in an organization's internal environment
B)the amount of resources and expertise in an organization's internal environment
C)the amount of change and confidence in an organization's external environment
D)the amount of change and complexity in an organization's external environment

Question 69

Why were the Baby Boomers so much more influential than other generations with respect to changing American tastes and culture?

A)The Baby Boomers came after World War II when lifestyles were really changing.
B)The Baby Boomers were a much more coherent group than other generations.
C)The Baby Boomers were a much larger group than other generations.
D)The Baby Boomers were a much more free-spirited group than other generations.

Question 70

Which of the following is an internal stakeholder for the newspaper, The Daily Recorder?

A)the editor of The Daily Sun
B)the city council
C)shareholders in The Daily Sun
D)The Daily Recorder shareholders

Question 71

Which trend do most managers need to get used to in the coming years?

A)Most workers will be hired as permanent employees at a lower pay scale than they were in the past.
B)Many workers will be hired as consultants rather than as freelance employees.
C)Most workers will be hired as permanent employees rather than on a freelance basis.
D)Many workers will be hired on a freelance basis rather than as permanent employees.

Question 72

In a short essay, explain the difference between the symbolic and the omnipotent view of management.

Question 73

Which kind of company has the lowest amount of environmental uncertainty in the environmental uncertainty matrix?

A)cell 1
B)cell 2
C)cell 3
D)cell 4

Question 74

Which statement about the external environment and employment is true?

A)External environmental conditions improve employment during upswings and worsen employment during downturns.
B)External environmental conditions worsen employment during upswings and improve employment during downturns.
C)External environmental conditions have no effect on employment during upswings and worsen employment during downturns.
D)External environmental conditions worsen employment during upswings and have no effect on employment during downturns.

Question 75

A TV reality show program essentially puts out the same product episode after episode, year after year, with little change and few rivals.The show exists in a TV industry that has hundreds of different components to keep track of.Where does the show belong on the uncertainty matrix?

A)cell 1
B)cell 2
C)cell 3
D)cell 4

Question 76

In a short essay, describe an example in which the global component of an organization's external environment has a large impact on the organization itself.

Question 77

Generation Y is becoming one of the most influential age groups.

Question 78

The Daily Recorder is trying to decide whether it will fire about 200 employees if things don't change in the near future.The paper is scheduling a meeting with the 200 employees.The employees want to include their own family members at the meeting.How should the paper respond?

A)Family members are internal stakeholders, so they should have a separate meeting with the paper without the employees.
B)Family members are internal stakeholders, but they should not be allowed to attend the meeting.
C)Family members are external stakeholders, so they should be allowed to attend the meeting.
D)Family members are not stakeholders, so they should not be allowed to attend the meeting.

Question 79

A software company innovates constantly to keep up with new rivals that are constantly appearing on the scene.The software industry itself has an enormous number of players to deal with that includes retailers, online distributors, educational institutions, and government agencies.Where does the company belong on the uncertainty matrix?

A)cell 1
B)cell 2
C)cell 3
D)cell 4

Question 80

In a short essay, describe the main problem of economic inequality.