Deck 3: Creative Problem Solving and Decision Making

Question 1

The management functions,problem solving,and decision making are related in that making decisions precedes taking action on solving problems,and solving problems is necessary to accomplish the management functions.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

When making a decision under conditions of risk,you do not know the outcome of each alternative in advance,but can assign probabilities to each outcome.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Programmed decisions arise in recurring or routine situations.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A reflective decision maker likes to take plenty of time to make decisions,gathering considerable information and analyzing several alternatives.

Question 5

Reflective decision makers tend to have the best record for making good decisions.

Question 6

There are seven steps in the decision-making model.

Question 7

Problem solving is the process of selecting a course of action that will solve a problem.

Question 8

In countries where managers use participative decision making,decisions take longer than in countries where managers use autocratic decision making.

Question 9

When making a decision under conditions of uncertainty,lack of information or knowledge makes the outcome of each alternative unpredictable,so you cannot determine probabilities.

Question 10

The current trend in management favors increased employee participation.

Question 11

A problem exists whenever something unexpected happens.

Question 12

Decision making is the process of selecting a course of action that will solve a problem.

Question 13

Half the decisions made by managers fail to solve the problems they are aimed at.

Question 14

Upper-level managers tend to make more nonprogrammed decisions than lower-level managers do.

Question 15

Nonprogrammed decisions are used in conjunction with decision rules or organizational policies and procedures.

Question 16

There are three decision-making conditions.

Question 17

With bounded rational decisions,the decision maker attempts to use optimizing-selecting the best possible alternative.

Question 18

In countries with low power distance cultures,decision making tends to be autocratic.

Question 19

The steps in the decision-making process,in order,are (1)classify and define the problem or opportunity,(2)set objectives and criteria,(3)generate creative and innovative alternatives,(4)analyze alternatives and select the most feasible,and (5)plan and implement the decision.

Question 20

When making a decision under the conditions of certainty,you know the outcome of each alternative in advance.

Question 21

With the devil's advocate approach,group members focus on defending a solution while others try to come up with reasons the solution will not work.

Question 22

The Kepner-Tregoe method combines the objective quantitative approach with some subjectivity,whereas cost-benefit analysis uses subjective intuition and judgment along with math to make a decision.

Question 23

Using groups to solve problems and make decisions is appropriate when an organization faces significant nonprogrammed decisions and conditions of risk or uncertainty.

Question 24

Brainstorming is the process of suggesting many possible alternatives without evaluation.

Question 25

Cost-benefit analysis uses subjective intuition and judgment along with math to derive a solution.

Question 26

Generating and evaluating alternatives at the same time tend to lead to satisficing and wasting time discussing poor alternatives rather than optimizing.

Question 27

Consensus mapping is the process of developing group agreement on a solution to a problem.

Question 28

Product innovations are changes in the transformation of inputs into outputs.

Question 29

Groupthink occurs when an individual or subgroup tries to get the group to accept a particular alternative or dominates the group for personal reasons,rather than pursuing the original goal of finding the best solution.

Question 30

Criteria are the standards that an alternative must meet to be classified as a programmed or nonprogrammed decision.

Question 31

Upper-level managers commonly use synectics and the Delphi technique for a specific decision,whereas brainstorming,nominal grouping,and consensus mapping techniques are frequently used at the departmental level with work groups.

Question 32

Innovation is a way of thinking that generates new ideas.

Question 33

Synectics is the process of generating novel alternatives through role playing and fantasizing.

Question 34

Nominal grouping is the process of suggesting many possible alternatives without evaluation.

Question 35

Cost-benefit analysis is less subjective than management science techniques.

Question 36

With programmed decision making,the alternative is usually predetermined.

Question 37

There are four stages in the creative process.

Question 38

Incubation is sometimes referred to as the "Aha,now I get it" phenomenon.

Question 39

The Delphi Technique involves using a series of confidential questionnaires to refine a solution.

Question 40

Probability theory focuses on waiting time.

Question 41

Programmed decisions:

A) should be made using the decision-making model.
B) arise in nonrecurring and nonroutine situations.
C) take longer to make than nonprogrammed decisions.
D) tend to be made more often by lower-level managers than by upper-level managers.

Question 42

In Vroom's participative decision-making model,you answer a series of diagnostic questions based on seven variables.

Question 43

The time-driven version of Vroom's participative decision-making model emphasizes group development.

Question 44

The time-driven version of Vroom's participative decision-making model has a long-term time horizon.

Question 45

In countries with low power distance cultures,decision making tends to be __________.

A) autocratic
B) participative
C) faster
D) reflexive

Question 46

A reflective decision maker may be viewed as all of the following EXCEPT:

A) indecisive.
B) a procrastinator.
C) someone who "shoots from the hip."
D) wishy-washy.

Question 47

A problem exists whenever:

A) something unexpected happens.
B) objectives are not being met.
C) an employee makes a mistake.
D) unexpected expenses occur.

Question 48

In __________,decisions tend to be more autocratic.

A) the United States
B) the Philippines
C) Japan
D) Australia

Question 49

When managers will not admit that they made a bad decision,they are in the process known as escalation of denial.

Question 50

The first step in the decision-making model is to:

A) classify and define the problem or opportunity.
B) set objectives and criteria.
C) analyze alternatives and select the most feasible.
D) plan and implement the decision.

Question 51

Nonprogrammed decisions:

A) arise in recurring or routine situations.
B) should be used with decision rules or organizational policies and procedures.
C) arise in nonrecurring and nonroutine situations.
D) involve certainty.

Question 52

__________ is the process of taking corrective action to meet objectives.

A) Decision making
B) Management
C) Problem solving
D) Troubleshooting

Question 53

All of the following are steps in the decision-making model EXCEPT:

A) classify and define the problem or opportunity.
B) set objectives and criteria.
C) generate creative and innovative alternatives.
D) brainstorm.

Question 54

When making a decision under conditions of __________,you do not know the outcome of each alternative in advance,but can assign probabilities to each outcome.

A) certainty
B) risk
C) uncertainty
D) classification

Question 55

Vroom's participative decision-making model is a time-driven or development-driven decision tree that assists a user in selecting one of six leadership styles to use in a given situation to maximize a decision.

Question 56

When making a decision under the conditions of __________,you know the outcome of each alternative in advance.

A) certainty
B) risk
C) uncertainty
D) classification

Question 57

The relationship among the management functions,problem solving,and decision making is that:

A) while performing the management functions, you must make decisions which are the basis for solving problems.
B) while performing the management functions, you must solve problems which is part of the decision-making process.
C) while making decisions, managers perform the management functions.
D) none of these

Question 58

__________ is the process of selecting a course of action that will solve a problem.

A) Decision making
B) Management
C) Problem solving
D) Troubleshooting

Question 59

When making a decision under conditions of __________,lack of information or knowledge makes the outcome of each alternative unpredictable,so you cannot determine probabilities.

A) certainty
B) risk
C) uncertainty
D) classification

Question 60

Decision rules or organizational policies and procedures are used for __________ decisions.

A) programmed
B) nonprogrammed
C) both programmed and nonprogrammed
D) neither programmed or nonprogrammed

Question 61

__________ is the process of generating novel alternatives through role playing and fantasizing.

A) Synectics
B) Nominal grouping
C) Consensus mapping
D) The Delphi technique

Question 62

Groups may face all of the following potential difficulties EXCEPT:

A) synergy.
B) dominance.
C) groupthink.
D) satisficing.

Question 63

Potential advantages of group decision making include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) better-quality decisions.
B) better understanding of the decision.
C) satisficing.
D) good training.

Question 64

Nominal grouping usually involves __________ steps.

A) four
B) five
C) six
D) seven

Question 65

Selecting the first alternative that meets the minimal criteria is known as __________.

A) satisficing
B) optimizing
C) rationalizing
D) none of these

Question 66

Nominal grouping is appropriate to use in situations in which groups may be affected by:

A) domination.
B) goal displacement.
C) groupthink.
D) all of these

Question 67

Creativity is defined as:

A) a way of thinking that generates new ideas.
B) the implementation of a new idea.
C) putting existing elements together in a new combination.
D) using the decision-making process.

Question 68

Nominal grouping is the process of:

A) generating novel alternatives through role playing and fantasizing.
B) generating and evaluating alternatives using a structured voting method.
C) suggesting many possible alternatives without evaluation.
D) developing group agreement on a solution to a problem.

Question 69

Potential disadvantages of group decision making include all of the following EXCEPT:

A) optimizing.
B) wasted time.
C) satisficing.
D) goal displacement.

Question 70

Most management decisions are made under conditions of __________.

A) satisficing
B) certainty
C) uncertainty
D) risk

Question 71

Innovation is defined as:

A) a way of thinking that generates new ideas.
B) the implementation of a new idea.
C) putting existing elements together in a new combination.
D) creative thinking.

Question 72

__________ occurs when group members withhold different views to appear as though they are in agreement.

A) Goal displacement
B) Conformity
C) Groupthink
D) Satisficing

Question 73

Upper-level managers commonly use __________ for a specific decision.

A) brainstorming
B) synectics
C) nominal grouping
D) consensus mapping

Question 74

Group members who focus on defending a solution while others try to come up with reasons the solution will not work are:

A) decision champions.
B) devil's advocates.
C) defenders.
D) innovators.

Question 75

Examples of __________ include synectics and consensus mapping.

A) group decision making
B) individual decision making
C) brainstorming
D) satisficing

Question 76

Consensus mapping is the process of:

A) generating and alternatives through role playing and fantasizing.
B) generating and evaluating alternatives using a structured voting method.
C) suggesting many possible alternatives without evaluation.
D) developing group agreement on a solution to a problem.

Question 77

The three stages in the creative process,in order,are:

A) incubation and illumination, preparation, and evaluation.
B) germination, preparation, and evaluation.
C) germination, incubation and illumination, and preparation.
D) preparation, incubation and illumination, and evaluation.

Question 78

One way to __________ without evaluation is to use brainstorming.

A) define the problem
B) set objectives and criteria
C) generate alternatives
D) analyze and select alternatives

Question 79

__________ are the standards that an alternative must meet to be selected as the decision that will accomplish the objective.

A) Criteria
B) Conditions
C) Concepts
D) None of these

Question 80

Brainstorming is the process of:

A) generating novel alternatives through role playing and fantasizing.
B) generating and evaluating alternatives using a structured voting method.
C) suggesting many possible alternatives without evaluation.
D) developing group agreement on a solution to a problem.