Deck 1: Supervision: Tradition and Contemporary Trends

Question 1

Which of the following is a change-related activity?

A) Setting objectives for employees
B) Monitoring performance
C) Developing employees' skills
D) Proposing new tactics and strategies

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Anne,a supervisor,prepared a budget for her department,showing all future expenditures.Which of the following management functions did she perform?

A) Planning
B) Leading
C) Organizing
D) Controlling

Answer 2

A

Question 3

Influencing employees to act (or not to act)in certain ways is part of the management function called:

A) leading.
B) planning.
C) organizing.
D) controlling.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Which of the following is the most important skill for top-managers?

A) Conceptual skills
B) Decision-making skills
C) Technical skills
D) Human relations skills

Question 5

For a supervisor,conceptual skills would include:

A) recognizing how the work of various employees affects the performance of the department as a whole.
B) the specialized knowledge and expertise used to carry out particular techniques or procedures.
C) the ability to communicate with, motivate, and understand people.
D) the ability to analyze information and reach good decisions.

Question 6

A manager at the first level of management is known as a(n):

A) top executive.
B) middle manager.
C) assembly-line worker.
D) supervisor.

Question 7

The activities involved in identifying,hiring,and developing the necessary number and quality of employees are known as the management function of:

A) organizing.
B) staffing.
C) communicating.
D) leading.

Question 8

According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchical pattern of needs,which of the following is the highest level of need?

A) Safety needs
B) Physiological needs
C) Self-actualization needs
D) Esteem needs

Question 9

According to Abraham Maslow's hierarchical pattern of needs,the most basic needs of any human being are:

A) safety needs.
B) physiological needs.
C) needs related to love and belonging.
D) esteem needs.

Question 10

The ability to see the relationship of the parts to the whole and to one another is known as:

A) technical skills.
B) human relations skills.
C) conceptual skills.
D) process skills.

Question 11

When supervisors and managers challenge people to question their assumptions about the work and consider better ways of doing it,they rely on which set of managerial skills?

A) Encouraging innovative thinking
B) External monitoring
C) Empowering
D) Developing

Question 12

Deciding on the department's goals and how to meet them is known as the management function of:

A) planning.
B) leading.
C) organizing.
D) controlling.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of the developing skills of a manager?

A) Providing coaching and advice
B) Providing praise and recognition for effective performance
C) Being considerate
D) Checking on the progress and quality of work

Question 14

Mary has been working as a seamstress for the last ten years.Her ability to sew flawlessly is an example of her:

A) decision-making skills.
B) conceptual skills.
C) motivational skills.
D) technical skills.

Question 15

Which of the following is a people-related activity?

A) Setting objectives for employees
B) Monitoring performance
C) Developing employees' skills
D) Proposing new tactics and strategies

Question 16

Rhonda is the supervisor of the spare parts department at a car dealership.Among her responsibilities are: scheduling work for employees; setting deadlines; and delegating work as to who should do the ordering; and who should help her with counting the inventory.These responsibilities are examples of which of the following types of management functions?

A) Leading
B) Controlling
C) Organizing
D) Planning

Question 17

Which of the following acts states that a supervisor is "any individual having authority,in the interest of the employer,to hire,transfer,suspend,lay off,recall,promote,discharge,assign,reward or discipline other employees,or responsibility to direct them,or to adjust their grievances,or effectively to recommend such action,if in connection with foregoing the exercise of such authority is not of a merely routine or clerical nature,but requires the use of independent judgment"?

A) The Wagner Act
B) The Taft-Hartley Act
C) The Norris-La Guardia Act
D) The Fair Labor Standards Act

Question 18

When supervisors and other managers need to assign tasks,explain job responsibilities,task objectives,and performance expectations,they rely on which of the following set of managerial skills?

A) Envisioning change
B) Taking risks for change
C) Clarifying roles
D) Monitoring operations

Question 19

Efforts to carry out critical management-related duties,such as planning,setting objectives for employees,and monitoring performance are:

A) team-related activities.
B) change-related activities.
C) people-related activities.
D) task-related activities.

Question 20

Which of the following needs include an attitude of acceptance,a lack of racial biases,and creativity?

A) Self-actualization
B) Physiological needs
C) Safety needs
D) Esteem needs

Question 21

Supervisors spend most of their time:

A) staffing and controlling.
B) planning and organizing.
C) staffing and organizing.
D) leading and controlling.

Question 22

Organizing draws heavily on the supervisor's:

A) conceptual skills.
B) good human relations skills.
C) technical skills.
D) decision-making skills.

Question 23

Mark has been promoted to a supervisor.He explains to the workers what their job is but fails to provide them with feedback about their performance.Due to this,the workers keep making the same mistakes over and over again.Which of the following characteristics of a successful supervisor should Mark inculcate to become a better supervisor?

A) Loyalty
B) Ability to delegate
C) Fairness
D) Communication skills

Question 24

Evan was a supervisor in the accounting department.He noticed that in the month of July,his supplies expenditure was much greater than his budget allowed.He researched the overrun and remembered that he had approved a large purchase of supplies to take advantage of a volume discount.Which of the following management functions did Evan perform?

A) Leading
B) Organizing
C) Controlling
D) Staffing

Question 25

The characteristic of successful supervisors that involves not only making contact with employees every day but also listening to what they have to say is known as:

A) fairness.
B) communication skills.
C) loyalty.
D) delegation.

Question 26

Which of the following is the most important skill for first-level managers?

A) Conceptual skills
B) Intellectual abilities
C) Human relations skills
D) Technical skills

Question 27

The management function of planning involves setting goals for an organization,and developing an overall strategy for achieving the goals.

Question 28

Employees reporting to the supervisor are not managers.

Question 29

Henri Fayol is referred to as the "father of scientific management".

Question 30

Monitoring performance and making needed corrections is the management function of:

A) leading.
B) planning.
C) staffing.
D) controlling.

Question 31

A vision will not become a reality unless employees know and want to do their part.This aspect is included in which of the following functions of management?

A) Leading
B) Organizing
C) Staffing
D) Controlling

Question 32

Higher-level managers usually spend most of their time on which of the following management functions?

A) Staffing and controlling
B) Planning and organizing
C) Staffing and organizing
D) Organizing and controlling

Question 33

You have been promoted to a supervisory position,for the first time ever.You will start the new position in six months.You are anxious about your new job.You should:

A) hand over all tasks to subordinates.
B) prepare for the job.
C) seek a better opportunity.
D) obtain and use power and authority.

Question 34

Assigning work to employees refers to which of the following characteristics of a successful supervisor?

A) Ability to delegate
B) Ability to be fair
C) Ability to be loyal
D) Ability to be a good leader

Question 35

Supervisors focus on day-to-day problems and goals to be achieved in one year or less.

Question 36

A supervisor imposes strict punishment for his workers who do not reach work in time,but lacks punctuality himself.Which of the following characteristics does he need to inculcate to become a successful supervisor?

A) Fairness
B) Communication skills
C) Loyalty
D) Delegation

Question 37

A supervisor is a manager at the top level of management.

Question 38

A new supervisor's most reliable source of getting to know his/her new employees is probably the:

A) manager.
B) performance appraisals of employees.
C) personnel department.
D) employees themselves.

Question 39

The practice of imposing penalties for failing to adequately carry out responsibilities and giving rewards for meeting responsibilities is referred to as:

A) planning.
B) accountability.
C) subtle discrimination.
D) reliability.

Question 40

Henry was an engineer for an aerospace company.He had excellent technical skills,and he thoroughly enjoyed his job.He was not interested in making plans and inspiring others to achieve goals.Due to his superior technical ability,he was offered a promotion to supervisor.He turned out to be an unsuccessful supervisor.Which of the following characteristics of a successful supervisor did he lack?

A) Loyalty
B) Communication skills
C) Fairness
D) Desire for the job

Question 41

Evaluating individual and unit performance is an example of external monitoring.

Question 42

Book-keeping and selling are decision-making skills.

Question 43

Organizing primarily includes overseeing the various tasks that are being completed and ensuring that they are done in the expected manner.

Question 44

Assigning tasks to specific members of the organization is an important aspect of control management.

Question 45

Encouraging others to think creatively is a change-related activity.

Question 46

The purpose of planning by top managers is to assign work to achieve the organization's goals efficiently.

Question 47

Monitoring performance and making needed corrections is the management function of controlling.

Question 48

A mechanic's ability to bring an automobile engine back to life relies on decision-making skills.

Question 49

At the supervisory level,organizing usually involves scheduling projects or assigning duties to employees.

Question 50

Efforts to manage people,such as by providing support and encouragement,recognizing contributions,developing employees' skills,and empowering employees to solve problems are important task-related activities.

Question 51

A person with strong conceptual skills has the ability to inspire employees,defuse conflicts,and get along with co-workers.

Question 52

Supervisors rely more on technical skills than do higher-level managers because employees who have a problem doing their jobs go to the supervisor and expect help.

Question 53

Joe,the supervisor,was interviewing two applicants to fill a job vacancy in his department.Joe is performing the leading management function in this example.

Question 54

A supervisor's performance is usually judged on the basis of the results that the employees have achieved as individuals.

Question 55

Subtle discrimination puts women and minorities at a disadvantage.

Question 56

To reduce discrimination,supervisors can provide equal advice and coaching to diverse groups of employees,helping them get along in the organization.

Question 57

Technical skills are the specialized knowledge and expertise used to carry out particular techniques or procedures.

Question 58

Short-term planning includes checking on the progress and quality of the work,and evaluating individual and unit performance.

Question 59

Although settings and degrees of responsibility may differ,supervisors and other managers carry out the same types of functions.

Question 60

Recognizing skills of successful managers include providing coaching and advice,providing opportunities for skill development,and helping people learn how to improve their skills.

Question 61

A company can hire a recent college graduate as a supervisor if that person demonstrates leadership potential or a specialized skill that will help in the position.

Question 62

How can a supervisor not dictate solutions and yet control a situation?

Question 63

As a supervisor,you give clear instructions,and listen to what your employees have to say.You definitely have the characteristic of being a good communicator.

Question 64

Providing higher-level managers with timely and accurate information for planning is not part of a supervisor's responsibility toward top management.

Question 65

List the three work groups that supervisors have responsibilities toward and explain what these responsibilities are for each work group.

Question 66

Supervisors' responsibilities include building employee morale and carrying employee concerns to the relevant managers.

Question 67

Managers and co-workers prefer working with someone with a positive attitude.

Question 68

List or draw the five management functions and explain or show how the concept of "quality" relates to these functions.

Question 69

List and define the four skills required of all managers at all levels.

Question 70

The process of organizing comes before planning and after staffing.

Question 71

Of the four skills required of all managers,which is the most important to supervisors and why?

Question 72

Think back to a supervisor that you thought was a poor supervisor.List some of his/her characteristics.List the characteristics of a good supervisor.

Question 73

A new supervisor should make changes quickly and without consulting with any of the employees.

Question 74

Do you think you would make a good supervisor and why or why not?

Question 75

Considering all the trends surrounding the diversity of the U.S.workforce,what effects do these trends have on the supervisor? List some of them.

Question 76

All of the management functions are done in order.

Question 77

What kind of a background do you think a supervisor should have to help him/her be successful?

Question 78

Cooperating with co-workers in other departments is one of the responsibilities a supervisor has.

Question 79

How are task-related activities different from people-related activities? Give examples to explain the difference.

Question 80

People who enjoy the challenge of making plans and inspiring others to achieve goals are more likely to be poor supervisors.