Question 1

The management philosophy which states that individuals will be held liable for how well they use their authority or perform their activities, and will be rewarded or punished for doing so is ________.

Accepted Answer

The philosophy described in the question is accountability, which holds individuals responsible for their actions and holds them liable for their performance. It is a key aspect of effective management, as it helps ensure that individuals are held responsible for their roles within an organization and are held accountable for their actions. Reinforcement, line authority, delegation, and centralization are all related concepts but do not specifically address the idea of accountability.

Question 2

A certain IT company has a legal services department which is responsible for providing timely assistance and advice on matters relating to contracts, liability, governance, and regulations. What type of authority do the legal advisors within this organization possess?

Accepted Answer

The legal advisors within this IT company's legal services department have staff authority, as they are responsible for providing advice and assistance to other departments, but do not have direct decision-making power or control over resources.

Question 3

Which of the following is a guideline for making delegation effective?

Accepted Answer

Giving employees the authority necessary to accomplish tasks is essential in effective delegation. Without authority, employees may lack the necessary resources or decision-making power needed to complete a task successfully. Allowing employees to set their own standards for performance can also be beneficial, as it can increase their motivation and sense of ownership over the task. However, avoiding giving employees the freedom to pursue tasks in their own way or delegating tasks solely on the basis of employee interests may limit their creativity and potential. Refraining from entrusting employees with whole projects or tasks may also hinder their development and growth within the company.

Question 4

Bay Industries has a small-scale shoe manufacturing plant which has experienced a high number of product defects for the past several months. The quality control team studies the problem and then recommends that the production manager change one of the company's suppliers of leather. In this scenario, the quality control team has _________ authority.

Accepted Answer

The quality control team has staff authority, which means they provide advice and recommendations to line managers but do not have the authority to make decisions or enforce changes themselves.

Question 5

The HR department of a large IT firm is responsible for recruiting and training qualified employees for all the other departments within the organization. In essence, they are the suppliers of workers, and the various organizational departments needing workers are their customers. Under the given circumstance, identify the role played by the human resource department.

Accepted Answer

The human resource department plays a service role as it is responsible for recruiting and training employees to supply to other departments within the organization, which are their customers.

Question 6

Which of the following statements regarding staff authority is true?

Accepted Answer

Staff authority is an authority that enables those responsible for improving the effectiveness of line personnel to perform their required tasks. It provides support, advice, and assistance to the personnel who possess line authority. Option B, C, D, and E do not accurately describe staff authority.

Question 7

Bay Industries has a small-scale shoe manufacturing plant which has experienced a high number of product defects for the past several months. The quality control team studies the problem and then recommends that the production manager change one of the company's suppliers of leather. Identify the role performed by the staff personnel in this situation.

Accepted Answer

The staff personnel in this situation are performing an advisory role, as they are analyzing data and providing a recommendation to the production manager on how to improve product quality.

Question 8

The three steps in the delegation process are ________.

Accepted Answer

The three steps in the delegation process are assigning specific duties or tasks, granting authority, and creating responsibility or accountability. This involves clearly defining the task or job to be done, providing the necessary resources and authority to accomplish it, and holding the employee responsible for the results. Option B best captures these steps. Option A is partially correct but does not include assigning specific duties or tasks. Option C is incorrect because creating accountability should come after assigning responsibilities. Option D is incorrect because creating responsibility comes before granting authority. Option E is incorrect because the order of the steps is not accurate.

Question 9

________ consists of the right to give orders within a segment of the organization in which this right is normally nonexistent.

Accepted Answer

Functional authority is the right to give orders within a certain functional area of the organization, even if the individual does not have line authority within that area. This type of authority is often used to coordinate activities across different departments or to ensure that certain functions (such as HR or IT) are being carried out consistently throughout the organization. Staff authority refers to the authority of support personnel (such as HR or legal) to provide advice and guidance to line managers, but does not give them the right to directly give orders. Line authority is the traditional authority of managers to directly give orders to subordinates within their own department or area of responsibility. Decentralization refers to the delegation of decision-making authority to lower levels of the organization, while informal authority refers to the influence that individuals may have over others without holding a formal position of authority.

Question 10

Which of the following is the first step in the delegation process?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the first...

Question 11

The process of assigning job activities and related authority to specific individuals in the organization is termed ________.

Accepted Answer

Delegation is the process of assigning job activities and related authority to specific individuals in the organization. Centralization refers to the concentration of decision-making authority in the hands of a few individuals or at the top of the organization. Job specification refers to the specific requirements and qualifications needed for a job position. Task identification is the process of identifying the specific tasks that need to be performed to achieve a specific goal. Task significance refers to the level of importance or impact a task has on the organization.

Question 12

The most fundamental authority in an organization, consisting of the right to make decisions and to give orders concerning the production-, sales-, or finance-related behavior of subordinates, is ________.

Accepted Answer

Line authority is the most fundamental authority in an organization, which includes the right to make decisions and give orders regarding the production, sales, or finance behavior of subordinates. It follows a vertical chain of command where each position is accountable to the one directly above it. Functional authority refers to authority over a specific function or task, staff authority supports line authority, traditional authority is based on custom or historical precedent, and informal authority arises from personal qualities or characteristics of an individual. None of the other choices describe the most fundamental authority in an organization.

Question 13

When staff personnel are viewed as suppliers and line personnel as customers, staff personnel are performing the ________ role.

Accepted Answer

When staff personnel are viewed as suppliers and line personnel as customers, staff personnel are performing the service role, as they are providing service to the line personnel.

Question 14

________ consists of the right to advise or assist those who posses line authority.

Accepted Answer

Staff authority refers to the authority to advise or assist those who hold line authority. Functional authority is the authority to make decisions and take actions within a specific functional area or process. Informal authority is based on personal relationships and influence rather than formal position or title. Lateral authority is the power to influence or control others who are at the same level in the organizational hierarchy. Rational-legal authority is the authority that comes from a formal position, such as a job title or elected office.

Question 15

In which of the following roles do staff personnel help establish a mechanism for evaluating the effectiveness of organizational plans?

Accepted Answer

In a control role, staff personnel outline procedures for monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of organizational plans, which involves establishing a mechanism for evaluating them. Advisory roles provide guidance and suggestions for decision-making, service roles offer support and assistance to employees, functional roles focus on specific areas of expertise, and counseling roles provide guidance and support to employees dealing with personal or work-related issues.

Question 16

In which of the following roles, do staff personnel act as representatives, or agents, of top management?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In which of the following roles, do...

Question 17

Functional authority ________.

Accepted Answer

Functional authority generally covers only specific task areas, such as providing advice or making decisions related to a specific function or specialty area, and is not a comprehensive type of authority that covers all aspects of an organization. It is often assigned to individuals with staff or line authority to aid in decision making and task completion.

Question 18

According to Harold Stieglitz, in which of the following roles do staff personnel use their professional expertise to solve organizational problems?

Accepted Answer

The advisory role is the role in which staff personnel use their professional expertise to solve organizational problems. They provide advice and recommendations to line managers based on their specialized knowledge and skills. The service role involves providing necessary support services to the organization, while the control role involves monitoring and regulating the organization's activities. The administrative role involves managing and coordinating the organization's operations, while the functional role involves carrying out specific tasks related to the organization's functions or activities.

Question 19

The most significant factor in determining whether an organization will have staff personnel is ________.

Accepted Answer

The size of the organization is the most significant factor in determining whether an organization will have staff personnel. Smaller organizations typically have less need for staff personnel, while larger organizations require more staff to manage and support their operations. The other factors may also play a role, but the size of the organization is the determining factor.

Question 20

Which of the following obstacles to delegation is related to the supervisor?

Accepted Answer

The obstacle related to the supervisor is the fear that subordinates will not do a job well, as it reflects the supervisor's lack of trust in their team's abilities.

Quiz 12: Responsibility, Authority, and Delegation