Question 1

________ is a process that involves defining the organisation's objectives or goals, establishing strategy, and developing a hierarchy of plans.
A)Managing
B)Informal planning
C)Leading
D)MBO
E)Planning

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is that of planning, as it involves defining objectives, establishing strategy, and developing plans. The other choices (managing, informal planning, leading, MBO) do not fully encompass all of these elements.

Question 2

The ________ of the planning process contributes more to high performance than does the ________ of planning.
A)quality; implementation
B)implementation; quality
C)quality; extent
D)extent; implementation
E)implementation; extent

Accepted Answer

The quality of the planning process is more crucial for high performance than the extent of planning. This emphasizes the importance of how well the planning is done over how much planning is done.

Question 3

Formal planning involves which of the following aspects?
A)developing general objectives
B)planning for up to one year
C)writing objectives
D)distributing the plan to all managerial employees
E)carrying out the goals as each manager thinks is best

Accepted Answer

C

Question 4

Because planning cannot eliminate change and uncertainty, it is often a waste of time.

Accepted Answer

While planning may not be able to completely eliminate change or uncertainty, it still serves as an important tool for organizations to anticipate and prepare for potential obstacles or opportunities. Planning helps to establish goals, allocate resources, and identify potential risks, which can ultimately lead to more effective decision-making and better outcomes.

Question 5

Environmental issues, such as government regulations and labour unions, tend to have what kind of effect on the value of planning on organisational performance?
A)They tend to increase organisational value because they serve as screens for bad plans.
B)There is no real effect.
C)They have a positive effect on large organisations and a negative effect on small organisations.
D)They decrease the organisational value by constraining management's options.
E)They have a positive effect in public institutions and a negative effect in private organisations.

Accepted Answer

Environmental issues, such as government regulations and labour unions, can constrain management's options and limit their ability to execute their plans, which can ultimately decrease the organisational value.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a part of the definition of organisational planning?
A)defining the organisation's goals and objectives
B)evaluating the organisation's outcomes
C)developing a comprehensive hierarchy of plans to integrate and coordinate activities
D)establishing an overall strategy for achieving the organisation's goals
E)it is concerned with both ends and means

Accepted Answer

Evaluating the organization's outcomes is not a part of the definition of organizational planning. Organizational planning is concerned with defining goals and objectives, developing a hierarchy of plans, establishing an overall strategy, and executing both the ends and the means. Evaluating outcomes is a separate process that comes after planning and implementation.

Question 7

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal versus informal planning as used in various organisations.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In a short essay, define planning and...

Question 8

One purpose of planning is that it minimises ________ and ________.
A)cost; time
B)time; personnel needs
C)waste; redundancy
D)time; waste
E)mistakes; cost

Accepted Answer

The answer of One purpose of planning is that it...

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Organisational planning involves both determining what objectives are to be accomplished and how they will be achieved.

Question 10

Objectives are goals.

Accepted Answer

Objectives are specific and measurable goals that an individual or organization aims to achieve within a certain timeframe.

Question 11

Informal planning is only ever undertaken at the lowest levels in an organisation.

Accepted Answer

Informal planning can be done at any level of the organization, not just the lowest levels. However, formal planning is typically done at higher levels of the organization, such as top management or executive levels.

Question 12

Which of the following is a factor that constrains high performance in planning organisations?
A)quality
B)extent
C)implementation
D)environment
E)informality

Accepted Answer

The environment can constrain high performance in planning organizations. External factors such as economic conditions, political climate, and market changes can all have a significant impact on the ability of an organization to perform at a high level.

Question 13

Informal planning is ________.
A)performed at the lowest organisation level
B)generally lacks continuity
C)developed in informal meetings and difficult to implement
D)specific and is developed by middle managers for their departments
E)short term and likely to change before it is implemented

Accepted Answer

The answer of Informal planning is ________.
A)performed at the lowest...

Question 14

Planning establishes the goals and standards used to control the organisation.

Accepted Answer

Planning is a crucial function of management that involves establishing goals and standards that help control and direct the organization towards achieving its objectives. Therefore, the statement is true.

Question 15

Organisational planning integrates and coordinates work.

Accepted Answer

Organisational planning involves creating goals and objectives, developing strategies to achieve them, assigning tasks and responsibilities to individuals or teams, and coordinating resources and efforts to ensure that everyone is working towards the same end result. This integration and coordination of work is essential for the success of the organization.

Question 16

According to the textbook, research indicates that non-planning organisations generally outperform planning organisations.

Accepted Answer

According to the textbook, research indicates the opposite - that planning organizations generally outperform non-planning organizations.

Question 17

The effect of planning on managers is that it forces them to do which of the following?
A)react to change
B)consider the impact of change
C)respond indiscriminately
D)plan on overlapping different activities
E)develop bureaucratic response models

Accepted Answer

Planning requires managers to consider the potential impact of changes and to develop strategies to address them. This helps managers anticipate potential challenges and be proactive rather than simply reacting indiscriminately. Planning also helps managers prioritize and coordinate overlapping activities. However, planning does not necessarily involve the development of bureaucratic response models.

Question 18

What does the evidence suggest about organisations that plan compared to organisations that do not plan?
A)Planning organisations always outperform non-planning organisations.
B)Non-planning organisations always outperform planning organisations.
C)Planning organisations generally outperform non-planning organisations.
D)Non-planning organisations generally outperform planning organisations.
E)They generally perform at about the same level.

Accepted Answer

The evidence suggests that planning organizations generally outperform non-planning organizations. While there may be some exceptions, studies have consistently found that organizations that engage in strategic planning tend to be more successful in achieving their goals and objectives compared to those that do not plan. Planning allows organizations to anticipate future challenges, identify opportunities, allocate resources more effectively, and align their efforts towards a common vision. However, it is worth noting that the quality and effectiveness of planning can vary depending on factors such as the level of involvement of stakeholders, the clarity of goals and objectives, and the flexibility to adapt to changing circumstances.

Question 19

According to the textbook, organisations need at least ________ years of systematic formal planning before performance is impacted.
A)one
B)two
C)three
D)four
E)five

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the textbook, organisations need at...

Question 20

Research indicates that managers who plan always outperform managers who do not plan.

Accepted Answer

While planning can improve efficiency and provide direction, there is no guarantee that managers who plan will always outperform those who do not, as success can also depend on adaptability, decision-making under uncertainty, and other managerial skills.

Quiz 8: Foundations of Planning

________ is a process that involves defining the organisation's objectives or goals, establishing strategy, and developing a hierarchy of plans.

The of the planning process contributes more to high performance than does the of planning.

Formal planning involves which of the following aspects?

Because planning cannot eliminate change and uncertainty, it is often a waste of time.

Environmental issues, such as government regulations and labour unions, tend to have what kind of effect on the value of planning on organisational performance?

Which of the following is NOT a part of the definition of organisational planning?

In a short essay, define planning and discuss the characteristics of formal versus informal planning as used in various organisations.

One purpose of planning is that it minimises and .

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

Objectives are goals.

Informal planning is only ever undertaken at the lowest levels in an organisation.

Which of the following is a factor that constrains high performance in planning organisations?

Informal planning is ________.

Planning establishes the goals and standards used to control the organisation.

Organisational planning integrates and coordinates work.

According to the textbook, research indicates that non-planning organisations generally outperform planning organisations.

The effect of planning on managers is that it forces them to do which of the following?

What does the evidence suggest about organisations that plan compared to organisations that do not plan?

According to the textbook, organisations need at least ________ years of systematic formal planning before performance is impacted.

Research indicates that managers who plan always outperform managers who do not plan.