Deck 8: Planning Work Activities

Question 1

Nike, Inc. is a sportswear and equipment manufacturer that serves a multitude of sports disciplines. Which one of the following statements from Nike would be the best example of a strategic goal?

A) a ten percent increase in average annual sales
B) a seven percent increase in average annual income
C) achieving a return on investment of 17 percent
D) accelerating growth through focused execution

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which aspect of planning refers to documents that outline how results are to be achieved?

A) goals
B) plans
C) objectives
D) performance guidelines

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Which one of the following is among the reasons why managers should plan?

A) When work activities are coordinated around plans, inefficiencies become obvious.
B) Uncertainty can be eliminated and the organization can be insulated from change with planning.
C) Planning eliminates the need to set goals.
D) Planning eliminates the need to measure work effort.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Goals are different from plans because ________.

A) goals identify specific steps that the organization needs to achieve, and plans identify the overall mission of the organization
B) goals describe financial objectives, and plans describe objectives related to social responsibility
C) goals are important only for small companies, and plans are important only for large companies
D) goals are desired outcomes, and plans describe how those outcomes will be accomplished

Question 5

Studies indicate that doing a good job planning and implementing those plans play a bigger part in high performance than does how much planning is done.

Question 6

When formal planning fails to lead to higher performance, which one of the following is most likely to be the reason for the failure?

A) A participative style of planning was used.
B) Managers were allowed too much autonomy.
C) The company emphasized the control function over other functions.
D) External forces constrain managers' options.

Question 7

Which one of the following is true of the impact of formal planning on organizational performance?

A) Formal planning is associated with positive financial results.
B) Organizations that formally plan invariably outperform those that don't plan.
C) The amount of planning done is more important to high performance than the quality of planning and implementation.
D) Companies can start seeing the impact of formal planning on performance about a year after starting the planning process.

Question 8

Planning helps managers eliminate uncertainty and insulates organizations from change.

Question 9

White Forest Financials is a small investment firm, operating in an extremely volatile environment. One of the company's two owners, David White, is of the opinion that it would be futile for the company to engage in formal planning as the business environment is constantly shifting. However, the co-owner, Marsha Forest, believes that planning is essential for the company's success. Whom would you support? Why?

Question 10

The presence of planning inhibits the ability of departments and individuals to work together or organizations to move.

Question 11

Planning provides direction to managers and non-managers alike.

Question 12

Most companies' goals can be classified as either ________ or ________.

A) strategic; financial
B) operational; tactical
C) social; economic
D) strategic; operational

Question 13

Discuss the impact of planning on organizational performance.

Question 14

Planning is concerned with how objectives are to be accomplished, not what is to be accomplished.

Question 15

Several research studies have conclusively proven that planning organizations always outperform non-planning organizations.

Question 16

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal planning as it is used in various organizations.

Question 17

________ involves defining the organization's goals, establishing strategies for achieving those goals, and developing plans to integrate and coordinate work activities.

A) Execution
B) Logistics
C) Planning
D) Operations

Question 18

The effect of planning on managers is that it forces them to ________.

A) generate higher profits
B) anticipate and respond to change
C) eliminate uncertainty
D) work at cross purposes

Question 19

If top management set a goal that each store in the company should have sales equal to or greater than $100 per square foot per day, this would be an example of ________.

A) a strategic plan
B) a directional plan
C) a financial goal
D) a strategic goal

Question 20

Which one of the following statements is true regarding an organization's goals?

A) All organizations share the single goal of making profits.
B) A single goal is more efficient than multiple goals for defining an organization's success.
C) Using a single goal such as profit may result in unethical behaviors by employees.
D) Long-term success is ensured if managers emphasize only one goal for an organization.

Question 21

Robert Downs, owner of a new community newspaper in his home town of Corning, New York, has set the following goal for his company: "To be a champion for free speech and for the development of the community." This goal constitutes the ________ goal of the company.

A) informal
B) operational
C) financial
D) strategic

Question 22

Organizational plans can be classified on the basis of their ________.

A) usefulness
B) frequency of use
C) suitability
D) attainability

Question 23

Which of the following is an example of a single-use plan?

A) affirmative action hiring policies of a company
B) a plan developed to install a new computer network
C) the procedure to be followed for firing low-performing employees
D) a plan developed to ensure worker safety at the company's facilities

Question 24

Short-term plans are those covering ________ or less.

A) three years
B) one year
C) six months
D) five years

Question 25

________ plans are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation.

A) Directional
B) Stated
C) Long-term
D) Specific

Question 26

Operational plans are usually ________.

A) short term, directional, and standing
B) short term, specific, and standing
C) long term, directional, and single use
D) long term, specific, and standing

Question 27

Williamson is the owner of a small company that sells corporate gifts through an online store. Business has slowed down in recent months and he realizes that the organization must move in a different direction if it is to survive. He has reset some of the company's overall goals and wants to develop a plan to achieve those goals. He is anticipating the business environment to be volatile for the next few years. Considering the above information, it can be determined that his plan must be ________, ________, and ________.

A) operational; directional; rigid
B) informal; unwritten; flexible
C) strategic; general; rigid
D) strategic; directional; flexible

Question 28

Todd Miller, CEO of Miller's Grocery, has determined that all stores should be well maintained both inside and out. This is an example of a ________.

A) directional plan
B) specific plan
C) financial goal
D) social goal

Question 29

An organization's ________ goals are official statements of what an organization says, and what it wants its stakeholders to believe its goals are.

A) stated
B) real
C) authentic
D) implicit

Question 30

Mr. Slabaugh wants to formulate a plan that lays out general guidelines for his employees and leaves room for interpretation. Which one of the following types of plans would best suit his requirement?

A) informal
B) specific
C) directional
D) standing

Question 31

________ plans apply to the entire organization and establish the organization's overall goals.

A) Departmental
B) Strategic
C) Operational
D) Long-term

Question 32

Plans that encompass only the production or the sales goals of a company are termed ________ plans.

A) operational
B) strategic
C) informal
D) financial

Question 33

Long-term plans are defined as those with a time frame beyond ________.

A) seven years
B) one year
C) five years
D) three years

Question 34

Strategic plans are usually ________.

A) short term, directional, and standing
B) short term, specific, and standing
C) long term, directional, and single use
D) long term, specific, and standing

Question 35

A standing plan is ________.

A) an ongoing plan that provides guidance for activities performed repeatedly
B) a plan that stands in place of a preferred plan in case of the failure of the latter
C) a one-time plan specifically designed to meet the needs of a unique situation
D) a flexible plan that sets out general guidelines for company strategy

Question 36

When making editorial decisions for his newspaper, the owner/editor mostly picks issues that are in line with his political beliefs and those that his advertisers approve of despite his publicly stated goal "to be a champion for free speech and for the development of the community." This indicates that ________.

A) the company's strategic goals do not leave any room for interpretation
B) the company's stated goals are not its real goals
C) the company's goals are directional in nature
D) the company's financial goals derive from its strategic goals

Question 37

An organization's mission states that it "is committed to reducing its environmental footprint"; but its facilities do not comply with statutory environmental regulations. This is an instance of how ________.

A) strategic goals help shape financial goals
B) long-term goals differ from short-term goals
C) an organizations stated goals need not be its real goals
D) a company's real goals are derived from its mission statement

Question 38

Which one of the following is the best indicator of an organization's real goals?

A) organizational members' actions
B) mission statement
C) annual reports
D) stock valuation

Question 39

What plans are preferable when uncertainty is high in the business environment?

A) standing plans
B) directional plans
C) operational plans
D) long-term plans

Question 40

Which one of the following factors has contributed to the decline in the number of years used to define short-term and long-term plans?

A) environmental uncertainty
B) economic recessions
C) flattened organizational structures
D) stagnant business conditions

Question 41

Directional plans are clearly defined and leave no room for interpretation.

Question 42

In a short essay, describe the different classifications of plans.

Question 43

A problem associated with traditional goal setting is that ________.

A) the narrowly defined goals inhibit a manager's ability to interpret them
B) the high degree of reliance on employees for developing goals is not suited to many situations
C) clarity is lost as the goals make their way down from the top of the organization to lower levels
D) it promotes the growth of a flatter organizational structure and threatens organizational efficiency

Question 44

Which one of the following is a problem associated with traditional goal setting?

A) Top level managers tend to define the organization's goals in very narrow terms.
B) Transition of strategic goals into departmental, team, and individual goals is difficult.
C) It can result in the formation of a means-ends chain.
D) Goals set are invariably easily accomplished.

Question 45

Stated goals are those that an organization actually pursues.

Question 46

The number of years used to define short-term and long-term plans has increased considerably because of the greater environmental certainty businesses have today.

Question 47

Which one of the following is an example of a standing plan?

A) a retail chain's plan to counter the entry of a new competitor
B) a plan developed to address a sudden, unanticipated surge in demand
C) a fire escape policy establishing practices to be followed in an emergency
D) a plan to cope with radical changes in the political environment

Question 48

Which one of the following is an assumption associated with traditional goal setting?

A) Employees will be more motivated to try to attain goals that they helped set.
B) Clarity and specificity are preserved as the goals filter down through organizational levels.
C) Top managers know what is best because they see the "big picture."
D) Managers and employees together develop goals.

Question 49

Short-term plans are those covering one year or less.

Question 50

In ________, goals set by top managers flow down through the organization and become subgoals for each organizational area.

A) management by objectives
B) management by observation
C) traditional goal setting
D) traditional planning

Question 51

Most businesses have only the single goal of making profits.

Question 52

Which one of the following would be a well-written goal for an online retailer operating in a volatile business environment?

A) To minimize costs, maximize profits, and maximize return on investment.
B) To accelerate our growth to the maximum possible level over the next three years.
C) To achieve a 25 percent growth in revenue, which is defined as the number of items sold multiplied by their price.
D) To invoice merchandise worth $200,000, every month, for the next three years.

Question 53

The standard procedure to be followed by the human resources department of a company when initiating disciplinary action against an employee is an example of a standing plan.

Question 54

When uncertainty is high and managers must be flexible in order to respond to unexpected changes, directional plans are preferable.

Question 55

Which one of the following statements is true of traditional goal setting?

A) Traditional goal setting assumes that employees know best and employs a bottom-up approach of setting organizational goals.
B) Evaluation of performance is carried out concurrently with the flow of goals through the organization.
C) Goals defined narrowly by top managers need to be made more directional as they flow down through the organization.
D) Managers at each level define goals and apply their own interpretations and biases as they make them more specific.

Question 56

Strategic goals focus exclusively on the financial performance of the organization.

Question 57

Long-term plans are those with a time frame beyond three years.

Question 58

Distinguish between the stated and the real goals of an organization. Illustrate the difference with an example.

Question 59

As managers plan, they develop both goals and plans.

Question 60

A ________ is an integrated network of goals in which the accomplishment of goals at one level makes possible the achievement of the goals at the next level.

A) reverse pyramid
B) means-ends chain
C) bottom-up ladder
D) process sequence

Question 61

Which one of the following reflects the way goals are used in an MBO program?

A) Goals are used to prepare financial budgets for each unit.
B) Goals are used to broadly set the direction subject to encourage interpretation by individual managers.
C) Apart from being used to ensure that employees are doing what they are supposed to be doing, goals are used as a motivating tool for employees.
D) Goals are used to compare organizational performance year over year.

Question 62

When uncertainty is high, plans should be ________ and ________.

A) specific; flexible
B) directional; standing
C) short-term; directional
D) general; informal

Question 63

Bonnie is discussing with her subordinate, Julie, the types of projects Julie would like to work on in the coming year. They are setting goals and determining what success would look like. Bonnie and Julie are engaged in ________.

A) performance planning
B) strategic planning
C) management by observation
D) management by objectives

Question 64

Which is the first step managers should follow in goal setting?

A) evaluating available resources
B) determining goals individually or with input from others
C) writing down goals and communicating them to all who need to know
D) reviewing the organization's mission

Question 65

Which one of the following is the last step in MBO?

A) Progress toward objectives is periodically reviewed, and feedback is provided.
B) The organization's overall objectives and strategies are formulated.
C) Successful achievement of objectives is reinforced by performance-based rewards.
D) Action plans are implemented.

Question 66

Top executives are mainly involved in ________ planning.

A) functional
B) operational
C) strategic
D) departmental

Question 67

________ is a process of setting mutually-agreed upon goals and using those goals to evaluate employee performance.

A) Management by objectives
B) Management by walking around
C) Management by observation
D) Management by exception

Question 68

A ________ is a broad statement of an organization's purpose that provides an overall guide to what organizational members think is important.

A) mission
B) vision
C) project
D) preamble

Question 69

In the management by objectives (MBO) process of goal setting, goals are ambiguous, giving managers and employees more flexibility to respond to changing conditions.

Question 70

Which one of the following is the first step in MBO?

A) The organization's overall objectives and strategies are formulated.
B) Unit managers collaboratively set specific objectives for their units with their managers.
C) Action plans are specified and agreed upon by managers and employees.
D) Major objectives are allocated among divisional and departmental units.

Question 71

In traditional goal setting, goals set by top managers flow down through the organization and become subgoals for each organizational area.

Question 72

Bill has been working his plan for about three months. He is now discussing his progress with Jim, his supervisor. If Bill and Jim are using the MBO planning process, this discussion is called ________.

A) performance feedback
B) redirection of goals
C) advise and adjust
D) the milestone checkpoint

Question 73

An organization is in the process of goal setting. It has finished reviewing the organization's mission. What should it do next?

A) determine the goals individually or with input from others
B) write down the goals and communicate them to all who need to know
C) evaluate available resources
D) review results and whether goals are being met

Question 74

Which one of the following is the last step in goal setting?

A) review the organization's mission or purpose
B) determine the goals individually or with input from others
C) write down the goals and communicate them to all who need to know
D) review results and whether goals are being met

Question 75

The commitment concept says that plans should ________.

A) extend far enough to meet those commitments made when the plans were developed
B) be done for as long a time period as possible
C) be done for as short a time period as possible
D) not commit to specifically meeting the goals made when the plans were developed

Question 76

When lower-level managers and employees are involved in the planning process, ________.

A) the documents they create are rarely reviewed
B) the plans take on a life of their own
C) their job satisfaction increases but productivity suffers
D) they see the plans as more than just something written down on paper

Question 77

Which one of the following is true of the traditional approach to planning?

A) Plans are developed by organizational members at the various levels.
B) This approach makes managerial planning thorough, systematic, and coordinated.
C) Plans created through this method are seldom written down.
D) Formal planning departments are rarely used in this approach.

Question 78

When is the traditional top-down approach to planning most likely to be effective?

A) when lower level employees develop plans
B) when the plans focus on developing a large number of plans and carefully documenting them
C) when the management avoids the use of a formal planning department
D) when plans are developed that can actually be used by organizational members

Question 79

Well-written goals are ________.

A) written in terms of actions rather than outcomes
B) just out of reach
C) easily achieved
D) clear as to a time frame

Question 80

________ planning dominates managers' planning efforts at lower levels of the organization.

A) Strategic
B) Organization-wide
C) Operational
D) Directional