Deck 18: Leading and Empowering Self and Others

Question 1

Leadership is limited to the person with a title.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Employee motivation is facilitated through empowerment by managers.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Which of the following statements is true of leaders/leadership?

A) Leadership is limited to the person with the title.
B) Leaders move beyond the basic tasks of the day by creating a vision.
C) The power of leadership is merely designated by a formal power base.
D) The terms manager and leader should be used interchangeably.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Due to the high level of control possessed by empowered managers,they are less likely to empower their subordinates.

Question 5

Effective leaders share information and power with their collaborators,empowering them to set and achieve cooperative goals.This observation holds true of:

A) challenging the process.
B) inspiring a shared vision.
C) enabling others to act.
D) modeling the way.

Question 6

Since SuperTech,Inc.has a very complex environment and many employees perform nonroutine tasks,the company will benefit from a highly empowered workforce.

Question 7

Delegation helps to push decision making downward in the organizational hierarchy leading to a more democratic and inclusive process.

Question 8

The empowerment approach is better suited for Theory Y managers than Theory X managers.

Question 9

Instead of dictating direction,effective leaders appeal to group members' values,beliefs,and emotions,motivating them to align themselves with a mission that reflects the greater good.This observation holds true of:

A) challenging the process.
B) inspiring a shared vision.
C) enabling others to act.
D) modeling the way.

Question 10

In being an effective leader,Kyle must:

A) not consider himself a part of the group.
B) dictate direction.
C) avoid challenging the rules.
D) find ways to reward individuals and groups.

Question 11

Leadership exists only where followers exist.

Question 12

Managers often do not delegate because of insecurity and lack of confidence.

Question 13

Simon has realized that he should take the first step and act on his own to ensure that the organization's goals are met.Simon is practicing:

A) delegation.
B) self-leadership.
C) politicking.
D) self-actualization.

Question 14

Empowered employees are more likely to offer ideas,exercise creativity,and develop more innovative processes and products than those who are not empowered.

Question 15

Having a clear set of roles,duties,and guidelines helps facilitate employee empowerment.

Question 16

Delegation is not complete without holding delegatees accountable for the completion of the assignments.

Question 17

Empowerment must always come from an external source.

Question 18

By empowering his employees,Eric will make them less accountable for their decisions.

Question 19

Bennies' Model Jet Company encourages creative thinking.The company has also implemented a few,small changes in its day-to-day activities after analyzing the ideas put forth by employees.Bennies' is using suggestion involvement in its approach to incorporating empowerment.

Question 20

A Theory Y manager believes subordinates dislike work and shirk responsibility.

Question 21

Kitty Car Designers are trying to encourage a more open and fluid environment by giving employees greater freedom in their tasks.Kitty Car Designers are using _____ as a means of empowerment.

A) suggestion involvement
B) job involvement
C) high involvement
D) process involvement

Question 22

When Team Sporting Goods was working through its process change,it provided employees with information regarding the changes that would result from implementing empowerment and generated and demonstrated organizational support.These actions are associated with the _____ stage of implementing empowerment.

A) investigation
B) preparation
C) implementation
D) transition

Question 23

During implementation of empowerment,setting the stage for generating and demonstrating organizational support is referred to as:

A) investigation.
B) implementation.
C) preparation.
D) maturation.

Question 24

In _____ involvement,the organization makes a small shift from the production line or control model and employees are encouraged to contribute ideas.

A) suggestion
B) job
C) high
D) process

Question 25

Which of the following is a benefit of effective empowerment?

A) Empowered employees can deal directly with customer demands.
B) Empowered employees use more time to personalize services for customers.
C) Empowered employees are required to work within boundaries.
D) Empowered employees are less responsible for their actions.

Question 26

Ray Corp.is weighing the benefits of empowering its workforce against potential problems.One reason for avoiding empowerment is:

A) a reduction in operational costs by elimination of hierarchical layers.
B) lower loyalty and trust.
C) lower and inconsistent product delivery.
D) reduction in turnover and higher retention.

Question 27

Which of the following statements is true of a knowledge worker?

A) Larger product life cycles create a need for the knowledge worker.
B) This category of workers includes only product developers or producers.
C) Constant focus on retaining an old process without any change creates a need for the knowledge worker.
D) They are employees who need and use information to perform their work.

Question 28

Candace has realized that for her department to be effective she needs to allow subordinates greater involvement and participation in decision making and in controlling certain aspects of their tasks.Candace is using the process known as:

A) coaching.
B) empowerment.
C) mentoring.
D) negotiation.

Question 29

Denise allows and encourages suggestions from subordinates,provides feedback,works as an advisor but still asks to be informed if anything goes wrong.Denise is most likely to use a ______ involvement approach to empowerment.

A) coaching
B) suggestion
C) job
D) high

Question 30

_____ refers to a clear set of responsibilities and duties,defined guidelines,and standards for accountability.

A) Low role ambiguity
B) Wide span of control
C) Access to information
D) Participative unit climate

Question 31

Modifying Maslow's theory,Clayton Alderfer tried to simplify the needs into three categories:

A) safety,relatedness,and esteem.
B) existence,social,and esteem.
C) existence,relatedness,and growth.
D) social,safety,and growth.

Question 32

Which of the following is considered the most basic lower-level need in Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory?

A) Self-actualization
B) Social
C) Self-esteem
D) Physiological

Question 33

Quick Stop Break Manufacturing is shifting from the existing production line method after carefully analyzing the ideas contributed by its employees to improve the system.Quick Stop is using which of the following approaches to empowerment?

A) Suggestion involvement
B) Job involvement
C) High involvement
D) Process involvement

Question 34

A Theory X manager:

A) is perfect for an empowerment approach.
B) holds the belief that people enjoy work.
C) holds the belief that people shirk responsibility.
D) is comfortable with higher levels of employee involvement.

Question 35

Rainbow Painters is considering a production line approach to empower its employees.The production line approach will be appropriate for this company if:

A) its employees need to generate ideas and process solutions.
B) tasks are more standardized and routine.
C) a longer-term,one-on-one customer relationship is most important.
D) the work environment is highly dynamic.

Question 36

Identify the social structural characteristic that helps in creating an empowering environment through decentralization,allowing greater contribution to overall operation,and avoiding micromanagement.

A) Low role ambiguity
B) Wide span of control
C) Access to information
D) Participative unit climate

Question 37

A Theory Y manager is more likely to _____ than a Theory X manager.

A) empower his/her employees
B) dictate work efforts
C) be an educated person
D) be effective in any work situation

Question 38

In order to create an empowering environment,the HR department at Simco has clearly communicated and developed a set of responsibilities and duties for each position along with guidelines and standards for accountability.By doing this,Simco has developed a structure with:

A) sociopolitical support.
B) a wide span of control.
C) a participative unit climate.
D) low role ambiguity.

Question 39

Higher levels of empowerment will be effective when:

A) there is a more transactional tie to customers.
B) the technology is more standardized or routine.
C) the business strategy is to customize and differentiate.
D) the business environment is very predictable and stable.

Question 40

Which of the following helps to facilitate an empowered environment?

A) High role ambiguity
B) Narrow span of control
C) Sociopolitical support
D) Limited resources

Question 41

Which stage of implementing empowerment is characterized by a firmly rooted new system?

A) Investigation
B) Implementation
C) Preparation
D) Maturation

Question 42

What is empowerment? Explain its benefits and disadvantages.

Question 43

Discuss the guidelines for implementing and improving empowerment.

Question 44

The _____ phase marks the end of the introduction or "rollout" of the new system and starts the permanent implementation of the new system.

A) investigation
B) preparation
C) transition
D) implementation

Question 45

Which stage of implementing empowerment includes,the organization evaluating its current business processes and strategies for success and weighing the current situation against preferred goals?

A) Investigation
B) Preparation
C) Maturation
D) Implementation

Question 46

All of the following are contributing factors in effectively delegating tasks,EXCEPT:

A) dual accountability.
B) establishing controls.
C) only accepting finished work.
D) assessing skills.

Question 47

What is leadership? Explain the effective characteristics of a "leader".

Question 48

Explain some of the steps leading to self-empowerment.

Question 49

In the process of delegating to his department,Steve provided his employees with the enforceable means to obtain necessary resources by:

A) assigning responsibility.
B) establishing accountability.
C) transferring authority.
D) analyzing abilities.

Question 50

List the six social structural characteristics that create an empowering environment.