Question 1

Which of the following would be most likely to cause employees to ignore intermediate- and long-term planning?
A) Strong emphasis on short-term goals such as quarterly profits
B) Overemphasis on quantitative goals
C) Extremely challenging goals
D) Means-end inversion
E) Overemphasis on qualitative goals

Accepted Answer

Strong emphasis on short-term goals such as quarterly profits would make employees focus on achieving those goals and disregard the importance of intermediate- and long-term planning.

Question 2

While Tupperware wanted to increase its sales, its consultants were reluctant to support any change that could reduce their commissions. This is an example of which of the following barriers to goal setting and planning?
A) Overemphasis on quantitative goals
B) Rewarding people for counterproductive goals
C) Overemphasis on qualitative goals
D) Resistance to change
E) Reluctance to establish goals

Accepted Answer

The reluctance of Tupperware consultants to support any change that could reduce their commissions demonstrates a resistance to change, one of the common barriers to goal setting and planning. This resistance can make it difficult to implement new goals or strategies to achieve them.

Question 3

Decision making is the cornerstone of ____________________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Decision making is the cornerstone of ____________________....

Question 4

One problem with qualitative goals is that they
A) reward inappropriate goal setting.
B) are easily measured, so managers tend to overuse them as performance benchmarks.
C) are difficult to measure and thus are not good indicators of success or failure.
D) are usually inappropriate when viewed in the context of the organization's mission.
E) usually involve unattainable performance standards.

Accepted Answer

Qualitative goals are often vague and difficult to measure objectively, which makes them poor indicators of success or failure. Without clearly defined metrics, it becomes difficult to evaluate performance and determine if goals are being met or if action needs to be taken to improve performance. As a result, organizations should be cautious when setting qualitative goals and should focus on developing more specific and measurable objectives wherever possible.

Question 5

Which of the following is an example of a standing plan?
A) The "Do Not Litter" sign in the city park
B) The middle school plan for dealing with a student with a learning disability
C) The Dairy Queen restaurant's plan for how to make a banana split
D) The way students are selected for college admission
E) All of these choices

Accepted Answer

Standing plans are policies, rules, and procedures designed to be used repeatedly to handle frequently occurring situations. All the examples provided (A: a policy sign, B: a procedure for handling a specific need, C: a procedure for making a product, D: a selection procedure) are instances of standing plans, as they are applied consistently over time to guide actions and decisions.

Question 6

Inappropriate goals
A) focus almost entirely on qualitative factors.
B) are not tied to the organization's reward system.
C) are not consistent with the organization's mission.
D) focus almost exclusively on qualitative factors.
E) are not viewed as impossible for employees to achieve.

Accepted Answer

Inappropriate goals are not consistent with the organization's mission. A, D, and E are incorrect because they refer to either qualitative factors or the achievability of goals, which are not necessarily indicators of inappropriate goals. B could be a factor, but it is not the best option as it is only one aspect of inappropriate goals.

Question 7

Which of the following is the BEST example of a standard operating procedure?
A) The "Do Not Litter" sign in the city park
B) The high school plan for dealing with a student with a learning disability
C) The Dairy Queen restaurant's plan for how to make a banana split
D) The way students are selected for college admission
E) The plan to build an equestrian site for the 2004 Olympics

Accepted Answer

The Dairy Queen restaurant's plan for how to make a banana split is the best example of a standard operating procedure because it outlines specific steps and guidelines that must be followed to ensure consistency in the product being produced. This is a common feature of standard operating procedures, which are designed to provide a set of instructions to ensure that a process is performed consistently and effectively. The other options listed are not necessarily standard operating procedures, but rather they represent different types of policies or plans.

Question 8

Canine Companions for Independence trains service dogs. Every two months a new batch of eighteen month old dogs arrives at regional headquarters from the puppy raiser volunteers. The dogs begin six months of advanced training before they are placed with a person. Training the dogs requires ____ as the dogs practice the commands.
A) projects
B) multiple-use plans
C) standard operating procedures
D) single-use plans
E) agendas

Accepted Answer

Standard operating procedures are detailed step-by-step instructions that guide the process of completing a task or activity. In this case, the advanced training of service dogs involves a specific set of commands and behaviors that the dogs must learn and perform consistently. Standard operating procedures would provide a clear and consistent framework for trainers to follow as they work with each dog.

Question 9

A ____ was developed when Chicago made a bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
A) project
B) policy
C) standard operating procedure
D) rule
E) program

Accepted Answer

The answer of A ____ was developed when Chicago made...

Question 10

ETS runs a math, science, and technology competition each year for high school students. If plagiarism is suspected, ETS uses a ____, which specifies ETS's general response to the situation.
A) project
B) policy
C) standard operating procedure
D) rule and regulations
E) single-use plans

Accepted Answer

The answer of ETS runs a math, science, and technology...

Question 11

Vic Clark is a sales manager. Every December he requires his salespeople to set their sales goals for the following year, or they cannot attend the annual sales meeting in Jamaica. Clark's action reflects which barrier to goal setting and planning?
A) Inappropriate goals
B) Improper reward system
C) Dynamic and complex environment
D) Reluctance to establish goals
E) Resistance to change

Accepted Answer

Clark's action reflects an improper reward system because attending the annual sales meeting in Jamaica is contingent upon setting sales goals, which may not effectively motivate the desired behavior or align with the salespeople's personal or professional motivations.

Question 12

European wine producers from regions such as Chablis, Chianti, and Bordeaux set a goal of increasing sales. They soon discovered that their wine names were already registered in some countries. This scenario best exemplifies ________.
A) overemphasis on quantitative goals
B) rewarding people for counterproductive goals
C) overemphasis on qualitative goals
D) resistance to change
E) constraints

Accepted Answer

This scenario best exemplifies constraints, as the European wine producers are facing legal constraints due to their wine names being already registered in some countries. They need to find a way to work within these constraints to reach their goal of increasing sales.

Question 13

Dorothy Thompson heads the research and development laboratory at a small chemical company. Because she is not a chemist, she feels uneasy setting goals for the research chemists, so she asks them to set their own goals. Thompson's area suffers from which of the following barriers to goal setting and planning?
A) Inappropriate goals
B) Improper reward system
C) Dynamic and complex environment
D) Reluctance to establish goals
E) Reluctance to change

Accepted Answer

Dorothy Thompson's reluctance or uneasiness in setting goals for the research chemists indicates a barrier in establishing goals. This barrier comes from a lack of willingness or reluctance to establish goals, which is option D. The other options are not relevant in this scenario.

Question 14

Which of the following is NOT necessary for a Management By Objective (MBO) program to be effective?
A) Clear goals assigned to employees by management
B) Involvement by top management and subordinates
C) An implementation consistent with overall organizational goals
D) Employees understanding why MBO was adopted
E) A formal goal-setting process

Accepted Answer

Clear goals in an MBO program are typically set collaboratively by employees and management rather than being unilaterally assigned by management. This collaboration ensures that goals are realistic and aligned with organizational objectives.

Question 15

Which of the following is a technique for overcoming barriers to goal setting and planning?
A) An understanding of the purpose of goals and planning
B) Communication and participation
C) Goal and plan consistency, revision, and updating
D) An effective reward system
E) All of these choices

Accepted Answer

All of these choices can help overcome barriers to goal setting and planning. Understanding the purpose of goals and planning helps individuals stay motivated and committed to achieving their goals. Communication and participation involve involving others in the goal-setting process, increasing accountability and support. Consistency, revision, and updating of goals and plans ensure that they remain relevant and attainable. An effective reward system can provide motivation and reinforcement for achieving goals.

Question 16

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia surprised people along the East coast. The plans to evacuate buildings in DC were ____, used for multiple purposes.
A) a project
B) a standing plan
C) a standard operating procedure
D) rules and regulations
E) an agenda

Accepted Answer

A standard operating procedure is a set of instructions that outlines the steps to be followed in various routine situations, such as an emergency evacuation. The fact that plans to evacuate buildings were already in place suggests that this was a standard operating procedure.

Question 17

When a new diversity initiative was implemented by the human resources department, many managers were confused about the goals, so they continued with the original system. This is an example of
A) inappropriate goals.
B) the use of an improper reward system.
C) a dynamic and complex environment.
D) a reluctance to establish goals.
E) constraints.

Accepted Answer

The scenario describes a situation where managers did not adopt the new diversity initiative because they were confused about the goals. This suggests a reluctance to establish goals, which is option D.

Question 18

A single-use plan that has a more narrow scope than a program is called a(n)
A) project.
B) policy.
C) standard operating procedure.
D) rule.
E) agenda.

Accepted Answer

A single-use plan that has a more narrow scope than a program is called a project. A project is a temporary effort focused on achieving a specific goal or objective. It has a defined beginning and end, and is usually executed by a team of individuals with a specific set of skills and resources. Projects are commonly used in business, engineering, construction, and a variety of other fields.

Question 19

What is the essence of formal goal setting?
A) A dynamic mission statement
B) A stable internal environment
C) Collaborative planning
D) A tall organization structure
E) A wide span of management

Accepted Answer

The essence of formal goal setting is collaborative planning, where individuals and teams work together to set specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals that are aligned with the organization's overall mission and vision. This process involves a clear understanding of what needs to be achieved, why it is important, how it will be done, who is responsible for it, and when it will be accomplished. Formal goal setting helps to improve performance, enhance motivation and engagement, increase accountability and transparency, and foster continuous learning and improvement. It is an essential tool for strategic management and organizational effectiveness.

Question 20

The most likely reason for the failure of formal goal setting is
A) a too-wide span of management.
B) a dynamic external environment.
C) an ineffective reward system.
D) a lack of top management support.
E) resource shortages.

Accepted Answer

Without top management support, employees may not see the importance of setting and achieving goals. This lack of support can lead to a lack of commitment and motivation to achieve the set goals, ultimately resulting in failure.

Quiz 6: Basic Elements of Planning and Decision Making

Which of the following would be most likely to cause employees to ignore intermediate- and long-term planning?

While Tupperware wanted to increase its sales, its consultants were reluctant to support any change that could reduce their commissions. This is an example of which of the following barriers to goal setting and planning?

Decision making is the cornerstone of ____________________.

One problem with qualitative goals is that they

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

Inappropriate goals

Which of the following is the BEST example of a standard operating procedure?

A ____ was developed when Chicago made a bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

ETS runs a math, science, and technology competition each year for high school students. If plagiarism is suspected, ETS uses a ____, which specifies ETS's general response to the situation.

Vic Clark is a sales manager. Every December he requires his salespeople to set their sales goals for the following year, or they cannot attend the annual sales meeting in Jamaica. Clark's action reflects which barrier to goal setting and planning?

European wine producers from regions such as Chablis, Chianti, and Bordeaux set a goal of increasing sales. They soon discovered that their wine names were already registered in some countries. This scenario best exemplifies ________.

Which of the following is NOT necessary for a Management By Objective (MBO) program to be effective?

Which of the following is a technique for overcoming barriers to goal setting and planning?

The 5.8 magnitude earthquake centered in Virginia surprised people along the East coast. The plans to evacuate buildings in DC were ____, used for multiple purposes.

When a new diversity initiative was implemented by the human resources department, many managers were confused about the goals, so they continued with the original system. This is an example of

A single-use plan that has a more narrow scope than a program is called a(n)

What is the essence of formal goal setting?

The most likely reason for the failure of formal goal setting is