Question 1

Consultation is the decision procedure that allows the greatest amount of empowerment.

Accepted Answer

Consultation allows for input from various parties but ultimately leaves the final decision-making power with a leader or a small group, which may not equate to the greatest amount of empowerment for all involved. Empowerment is often more effectively achieved through participatory or democratic decision-making processes where power and decision-making are more evenly distributed.

Question 2

Which of the following is NOT a potential benefit of empowering leadership and empowerment programs?

Accepted Answer

Empowering leadership and empowerment programs primarily focus on enhancing employee autonomy, encouraging decision-making, and fostering a sense of ownership among employees, which can lead to improved performance, creativity, innovation, and optimism. However, these programs do not directly aim to reduce costs associated with selection and training; such cost reductions might be an indirect benefit but are not a primary goal of empowerment initiatives.

Question 3

Findings in the quantitative research provide strong and consistent results on the positive effects of participative leadership for employee satisfaction and group performance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Findings in the quantitative research provide strong...

Question 4

________ programs give employees a clear understanding of financial information, such as revenues, profits, and costs, about the company.

Accepted Answer

Open-book programs are designed to give employees a clear understanding of the financial information of a company, including revenues, profits, and costs, by sharing financial details with them.

Question 5

Involving other people in making a decision is likely to increase the quality of a decision when participants have information and knowledge lacked by the leader and are willing to cooperate in finding a good solution to a decision problem.

Accepted Answer

Involving others in decision-making can enhance the quality of the decision when these participants bring unique information and knowledge that the leader may not possess, and when they are cooperative towards finding an effective solution. This diversity of perspectives and expertise can lead to more informed and comprehensive decisions.

Question 6

The most extreme form of shared leadership, in which all important decisions are made collectively, with leadership responsibilities for daily operations distributed among the members, is LEAST likely to be found in which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Large corporations are least likely to exhibit the most extreme form of shared leadership due to their hierarchical structure and the complexity of their operations, which often necessitate centralized decision-making processes.

Question 7

Which of the following is a potential risk of empowering leadership and empowerment programs?

Accepted Answer

Empowering leadership and empowerment programs can lead to inappropriate decisions by some employees due to a lack of experience, knowledge, or oversight. This is because empowerment involves delegating decision-making authority to lower levels in the organization, which can sometimes result in decisions that are not in the best interest of the organization if employees are not properly guided or trained.

Question 8

When a decision is made by a participative process considered legitimate by most members, then the group is likely to accept the decision and encourage any reluctant members to help implement the decision.

Accepted Answer

Participative decision-making processes are generally seen as more legitimate and fair by group members, leading to higher levels of acceptance and a greater willingness among members to support and implement the decision, even if some were initially reluctant.

Question 9

When leadership responsibilities are ________, empowerment is LEAST likely to be increased.

Accepted Answer

When leadership responsibilities are concentrated in a single leader, empowerment among others is least likely to be increased because decision-making and authority are centralized, limiting opportunities for others to take initiative or make decisions.

Question 10

Which of the following is NOT a potential risk of empowering leadership and empowerment programs?

Accepted Answer

Empowering leadership and empowerment programs are designed to delegate authority and decision-making power to employees, which typically increases trust in the leader rather than decreasing it. The other options (B, C, D) are potential risks associated with empowerment programs.

Question 11

Descriptive studies of managerial activities find that much of a manager's behavior is reactive allowing little time for reflective planning.

Accepted Answer

Descriptive studies on managerial activities have consistently shown that managers often react to immediate demands and interruptions, leaving limited time for long-term, reflective planning.

Question 12

According to the normative decision model, when subordinates have incompatible objectives with the leader, consultation usually results in higher quality decisions than joint decision making.

Accepted Answer

Consultation allows subordinates to provide input and share their perspectives, leading to more comprehensive and informed decisions.

Question 13

Which of the following statements about research on the outcomes of using decision participation is true?

Accepted Answer

The research on the outcomes of using decision participation shows a lack of consistent results, indicating that findings can vary significantly depending on various factors such as the context in which participation occurs, the nature of the decisions, and the individuals involved. This inconsistency highlights the complexity of studying decision participation outcomes.

Question 14

Which of the following is a potential benefit of empowering leadership and empowerment programs?

Accepted Answer

Empowering leadership and empowerment programs can lead to stronger task commitment by giving employees more autonomy and responsibility, which can increase their engagement and dedication to their work.

Question 15

The job description research found that strategic decision making is a more important activity for top managers than for lower-level managers.

Accepted Answer

Top managers are responsible for setting the overall direction and strategy of an organization, which involves making high-level strategic decisions. Lower-level managers typically focus more on day-to-day operations and implementing the strategies set by top management.

Question 16

Most studies on the normative decision model provide support for it.

Accepted Answer

Research generally supports the normative decision model, indicating its effectiveness in improving decision-making processes and outcomes.

Question 17

Participative leadership should be used even if the manager has the necessary knowledge and is confident that the subordinates will accept the decision.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Participative leadership should be used even if...

Question 18

Research on the consequences of using delegation ________.

Accepted Answer

Delegation can be effective in appropriate situations as it allows leaders to distribute tasks, empowering team members and improving efficiency when used correctly.

Question 19

The election of leaders and use of policy-making councils or boards with elected members are ________.

Accepted Answer

Private sector business organizations typically do not elect leaders or use policy-making councils with elected members, as these practices are more common in public sector organizations and professional associations.

Question 20

In Stewart's model, demands are the duties, activities, and responsibilities defined for someone who occupies a managerial position.

Accepted Answer

Stewart's model identifies demands as the essential duties, activities, and responsibilities that are inherent to a managerial role, which must be fulfilled by the person occupying that position.

Quiz 4: Decision Making and Empowerment by Leaders