Question 1

When managers motivate employees, direct the activities of others, select the most effective communication channel, and resolve conflicts, they are performing which of the following processes of management?

Accepted Answer

These activities are part of the leading or directing function of management, where managers influence and oversee the behavior of their employees to achieve organizational goals. This includes motivating employees, directing activities, choosing communication channels, and resolving conflicts.

Question 2

According to Mintzberg, which management category includes the roles of figurehead, leader, and liaison?

Accepted Answer

Mintzberg's interpersonal category includes the roles of figurehead, leader, and liaison, emphasizing the manager's interactions with others.

Question 3

Application of Mintzberg's Management Roles
Suzanne was amazed. She had just spent the day with the CEO of a major manufacturing firm through a "Visit with a Manager Program" developed by the college she attends. She was exhausted and wondered how the CEO managed the hectic pace. Suzanne was amazed by the number of "hats" that the CEO was wearing throughout the day. The day had started with a general manager's meeting where, the latest news concerning the competition had been announced by the CEO. Then Suzanne and the CEO had spent an hour completing a report to be given the following day to the board of directors. Lunch, where Suzanne had hoped to have time to ask questions, was an informal meeting with a group of suppliers who were concerned about their increasing costs. As soon as they had returned to the office, the CEO received a message of a fire in one of the major warehouses. They were immediately off to the location to assess the damage. Then that evening, there was a formal dinner sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, which the CEO had invited Suzanne to attend. Suzanne had declined, because she was exhausted.
-When Gina Wright, Head of Plant Safety brought employees together to discuss the fire safety procedures at the plant after the fire, she was performing the following role:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Application of Mintzberg's Management Roles
Suzanne was amazed....

Question 4

Jose is involved with discussions among employees, management, and the union to which his employees belong. They are discussing wage issues. Management is interested in keeping the wages at minimum wage. The employees/union want $.50 plus minimum wage. Jose is performing which managerial role?

Accepted Answer

Jose is performing the role of a negotiator because he is involved in discussions and negotiations between different parties (employees, management, and the union) regarding wage issues.

Question 5

A manager who has a reputation for being open and honest and understands how to motivate employees and customers is said to have good ____________skills.

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal skills are crucial for managers to effectively communicate, motivate, and lead their teams and interact with customers. These skills include the ability to be open, honest, and understanding, which are essential for building strong relationships.

Question 6

The distinct purpose of an organization is typically expressed in terms of

Accepted Answer

A goal or set of goals is the distinct purpose of an organization.

Question 7

The managers who work most closely with the operatives are known as

Accepted Answer

First-line managers are those who work most closely with the operatives, as they are directly responsible for managing the employees who actually produce the organization's products or provide its services.

Question 8

Which of the following statements about middle managers is not true?

Accepted Answer

The number of middle managers in most organizations has been decreasing due to factors such as organizational restructuring, downsizing, and the adoption of technology that improves communication and efficiency across different levels of management.

Question 9

Application of Mintzberg's Management Roles
Suzanne was amazed. She had just spent the day with the CEO of a major manufacturing firm through a "Visit with a Manager Program" developed by the college she attends. She was exhausted and wondered how the CEO managed the hectic pace. Suzanne was amazed by the number of "hats" that the CEO was wearing throughout the day. The day had started with a general manager's meeting where, the latest news concerning the competition had been announced by the CEO. Then Suzanne and the CEO had spent an hour completing a report to be given the following day to the board of directors. Lunch, where Suzanne had hoped to have time to ask questions, was an informal meeting with a group of suppliers who were concerned about their increasing costs. As soon as they had returned to the office, the CEO received a message of a fire in one of the major warehouses. They were immediately off to the location to assess the damage. Then that evening, there was a formal dinner sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, which the CEO had invited Suzanne to attend. Suzanne had declined, because she was exhausted.
-When the General Managers meet annually to approve the business unit strategies and new acquisitions, they are performing the____________ role.

Accepted Answer

In Mintzberg's management roles, the entrepreneur role involves seeking opportunities, initiating projects, and overseeing innovation, which aligns with the activities described in the scenario of approving business unit strategies and new acquisitions.

Question 10

George is representing his company at the local Chamber of Commerce Annual Business Recognition luncheon. He is performing which managerial role?

Accepted Answer

George is performing the role of a figurehead by representing his company at a formal, ceremonial event. This role involves symbolic duties of legal or social nature.

Question 11

Application of Mintzberg's Management Roles
Suzanne was amazed. She had just spent the day with the CEO of a major manufacturing firm through a "Visit with a Manager Program" developed by the college she attends. She was exhausted and wondered how the CEO managed the hectic pace. Suzanne was amazed by the number of "hats" that the CEO was wearing throughout the day. The day had started with a general manager's meeting where, the latest news concerning the competition had been announced by the CEO. Then Suzanne and the CEO had spent an hour completing a report to be given the following day to the board of directors. Lunch, where Suzanne had hoped to have time to ask questions, was an informal meeting with a group of suppliers who were concerned about their increasing costs. As soon as they had returned to the office, the CEO received a message of a fire in one of the major warehouses. They were immediately off to the location to assess the damage. Then that evening, there was a formal dinner sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, which the CEO had invited Suzanne to attend. Suzanne had declined, because she was exhausted.
-When the CEO was speaking at the manager's meeting, which of the following roles was being performed?

Accepted Answer

When the CEO was speaking at the manager's meeting and announcing the latest news concerning the competition, they were performing the role of a disseminator. This role involves communicating potentially useful information to colleagues and the team.

Question 12

Conceptual skills relate to a manager's ability to

Accepted Answer

Conceptual skills involve the ability to view the organization as a whole, understand how different parts of the organization relate to each other, and take a strategic approach to ensure that all parts work together effectively. This includes understanding how changes in one part of the organization can affect other parts and the organization as a whole.

Question 13

According to the author, small businesses will account for____________ of new job growth in the next decade.

Accepted Answer

The author states that small businesses will account for 50% of new job growth in the next decade.

Question 14

Application of Mintzberg's Management Roles
Suzanne was amazed. She had just spent the day with the CEO of a major manufacturing firm through a "Visit with a Manager Program" developed by the college she attends. She was exhausted and wondered how the CEO managed the hectic pace. Suzanne was amazed by the number of "hats" that the CEO was wearing throughout the day. The day had started with a general manager's meeting where, the latest news concerning the competition had been announced by the CEO. Then Suzanne and the CEO had spent an hour completing a report to be given the following day to the board of directors. Lunch, where Suzanne had hoped to have time to ask questions, was an informal meeting with a group of suppliers who were concerned about their increasing costs. As soon as they had returned to the office, the CEO received a message of a fire in one of the major warehouses. They were immediately off to the location to assess the damage. Then that evening, there was a formal dinner sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce, which the CEO had invited Suzanne to attend. Suzanne had declined, because she was exhausted.
-Jack Jones was a middle manager who managed the facility where the fire occurred. He took responsibility for making sure that the fire was extinguished and communicating to the local community and others outside of the company. When he completed these activities, what roles was Jack performing?

Accepted Answer

Jack Jones managed the crisis situation by taking responsibility for extinguishing the fire and communicating with the local community and others, which aligns with the roles of a disturbance handler (managing unexpected events or crises) and a spokesperson (communicating on behalf of the organization).

Question 15

Which of the following is not true about operatives?

Accepted Answer

Operatives typically do not have employees reporting directly to them; their role is more focused on direct task execution rather than management or supervision, which makes option C incorrect as it implies a supervisory role.

Question 16

If a college cuts the cost of an education by using mostly part- time faculty and at the same time fails to adequately educate its students, it can be said to be doing the wrong things well. In other words, the college is

Accepted Answer

The college is efficient in reducing costs by hiring part-time faculty, but it is not effective because it fails to adequately educate its students. Efficiency refers to doing things in a cost-effective manner, while effectiveness refers to achieving desired outcomes, in this case, adequately educating students.

Question 17

Application of Mintzberg's Roles to Size of Organization
John is the CEO of a large manufacturing firm that produces construction equipment. George is the owner and operator of a small business that produces one of the key engine components for John's manufacturing firm. Both are managers; however, George has noticed some differences between his activities and the activities John performs. George spends much of his time in outwardly directed activities such as meeting with customers and potential investors. John seems to spend more of his time on activities that are directed internally, such as allocating resources to appropriate departments. George wonders what accounts for this difference, and he goes to a management consultant for input.
-The consultant tells George that the major difference between managers of large organizations and small business owners is which of the following?

Accepted Answer

In larger organizations, managers like John often focus more on internal activities such as resource allocation, while small business owners like George spend more time on external activities such as customer relations.

Question 18

The skill that centers on a manager's ability to work with, understand, and motivate other people is known as ____________ skill.

Accepted Answer

Interpersonal skills are crucial for managers as they involve the ability to communicate with, understand, and motivate both individuals and groups. This skill set is essential for effective leadership and team management.

Question 19

Application of Management Skills
Shawna had spent the day "tagging" her uncle. He is the CEO of a large firm that manufactures cereal and related products. Shawna was a management major at a local college, and one of her class assignments was to interview a business manager. When she approached her uncle about the assignment, he told her that he felt she would get a better feel for management if she would "shadow" him for a day. So, over fall break, she had spent the day with him. He had spent his day dealing with a variety of issues. The first agenda item for the day had been a meeting with the division manager who was having difficulties meeting his target amount due to his inability to motivate his employees. Then it had been off to the assembly line floor to inspect a new procedure for filling cereal boxes. Lunch had been with a group of local CEOs where everything from the new hiring laws to the latest economic reports had been discussed. After lunch, Shawna had sat in on a meeting where the
five- year strategic plan for the company was being evaluated. All in all, it had been a day full of information Shawna could use for her class assignment.
-The five- year meeting for setting a strategic plan requires management to have specific skills in all of the following areas except which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Technical skills are more about understanding and proficiency in a specific type of activity, particularly involving methods, processes, procedures, or techniques. In the context of a five-year strategic planning meeting, the focus is more on broader management skills like organizing, information handling, and controlling resources rather than on the specific technical skills required for day-to-day operations or specialized tasks.

Question 20

In an organization, ____________translate(s)into goal attainment.

Accepted Answer

Effectiveness in an organization refers to the degree to which goals are achieved, meaning it directly translates into goal attainment.

Quiz 1: Managers and Management