Question 1

Which type of leaders set objectives for their followers, but give their followers the autonomy to accomplish those goals?

Accepted Answer

Free-rein leaders set objectives for their followers but give them the independence and freedom to accomplish those goals. They provide guidance and support when needed but do not micromanage the task execution.

Question 2

The Manley Corporation is a small business. Morgan Manley is president. She has a vice president of production and a vice president of marketing. Each vice president has four employees who report to them. Because of the small size of the company, there are no specialists available to support and advise these managers. This simple organizational structure is an example of what type of organization?

Accepted Answer

The simple organizational structure described in the scenario is a line organization, as there are only a few levels of management and no specialized staff to support the managers. The other options do not fit the description of the organization in the scenario. A corporate organization typically has many levels of management and specialized staff to support operations. A line-and-staff organization has a combination of line positions and specialized staff positions. A matrix organization involves team-based structures that cross multiple departments or areas of expertise.

Question 3

What does the way a leader uses power define about that person?

Accepted Answer

The leader's use of power defines his or her leadership style. Different leaders have different approaches to using power, and this can have a major impact on the organizational culture and the effectiveness of the team. For example, a leader who uses coercion and threats to get things done may be seen as autocratic, while a leader who empowers his or her team members and encourages collaboration may be seen as democratic. The way a leader uses power can be a strong indicator of his or her management and communication skills, as well as his or her ability to build trust and inspire followership.

Question 4

Which leadership style is most effective when managing an experienced group of employees whose jobs require creativity as a top priority?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which leadership style is most effective when...

Question 5

Define management. List and define the four functional responsibilities of management.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Define management. List and define the four...

Question 6

Marcela Kerr is an engineer who works for Lockheed Martin. She frequently is part of a team that is assigned to special projects. When she participates in these projects, she finds herself reporting to both the project manager and the manager in charge of her regular department. Which type of organization does this arrangement suggest that Lockheed Martin using?

Accepted Answer

Marcela's reporting to both the project manager and the manager of her regular department suggests that Lockheed Martin is using a matrix organization, where employees report to both functional managers and project managers.

Question 7

The business division academic dean at Belle Valley College has two faculty positions to fill. She will ask other faculty members to serve on a hiring committee. This committee will be responsible for interviewing candidates and making hiring recommendations to the dean. The dean will take the committee's remarks very seriously in making the final selection. What leadership style does the dean have?

Accepted Answer

The dean's leadership style is democratic because she is involving other faculty members in the decision-making process and considering their input before making a final decision. She values the opinions and perspectives of others in the organization, which is a key characteristic of democratic leadership.

Question 8

What is the function of directing, inspiring, and motivating people to achieve organizational goals?

Accepted Answer

"Directing, inspiring, and motivating people to achieve organizational goals" is a clear description of the function of leading, making option C the correct answer. Controlling refers to monitoring and evaluating progress towards goals, planning involves setting goals and determining the steps to achieve them, and organizing involves arranging resources and tasks to achieve efficient and effective outcomes.

Question 9

Bob Knight, former coach at Indiana University and Texas Tech, was known for his outpouring of emotion during games. College players knew that if you played for Coach Knight, you followed his lead without question. What style of leadership did Coach Knight have?

Accepted Answer

Coach Knight exhibited an autocratic leadership style, where he made decisions independent of the input or opinions of others and demanded complete obedience from his players.

Question 10

Which management function monitors the performance of the firm and makes improvements when necessary?

Accepted Answer

The controlling function is responsible for monitoring the performance of the firm to ensure that it is on track to achieve its goals. When deviations from the plan occur, the controlling function takes corrective action to make improvements and get back on course. Therefore, controlling is the best answer to this question. Planning involves setting goals and objectives, organizing involves arranging resources to achieve those goals, and leading involves guiding and motivating employees to work towards those goals. While important, these functions don't directly address the monitoring and improvement aspect of the question.

Question 11

Belle Valley Community College is a large college system with four campuses. The chancellor occupies the top position in the organization, followed by four vice-chancellors. Each campus has a president, two vice-presidents, several deans, and faculty members, all of whom serve the students. The college also employs professionals who do not make decisions with respect to student curriculum; however, these individuals serve in other capacities, such as legal counsel to the administrators; human resource specialists for all employees; and technology specialists for all campuses. Which form of organization is Belle Valley using?

Accepted Answer

Belle Valley is using a line-and-staff organization, where there is a clear chain of command (line) and specialized support staff (staff) to assist decision-makers with technical or specialized advice. The chancellor, vice-chancellors, presidents, and vice-presidents make up the line while deans and faculty members serve as staff. The professionals who provide legal counsel, human resources, and technology support are also staff members.

Question 12

Which type of leaders hoard decision-making power for themselves and typically issue orders without consulting their followers?

Accepted Answer

Autocratic leaders are known for hoarding decision-making power for themselves and issuing orders without consulting their followers. Theory Y leaders (A) believe in participative decision-making and trust their followers' abilities, while free-rein leaders (B) give their followers ample room to make decisions and operate independently. Oligarchic leaders (D) are a minority group of influential individuals who make decisions on behalf of a larger organization, community, or government.

Question 13

Which type of leaders make final decisions, share power with their followers, and encourage the free exchange of ideas?

Accepted Answer

Democratic leaders share power with their followers and encourage the free exchange of ideas. They consider input from all members of the group before making a final decision. Autocratic leaders make all decisions themselves without input from their followers. Corporate leaders may have characteristics of both democratic and autocratic styles depending on the specific company and situation. Free-rein leaders provide little to no guidance or direction to their followers, leaving them to make decisions independently.

Question 14

As a firm changes its strategic plan, consideration should be given as to how it will measure the progress of the new plan. This is likely to prompt a change in which type of process?

Accepted Answer

The process of measuring progress towards achieving the goals of a new strategic plan falls under the control function of management. Control involves setting standards, measuring actual performance against those standards, and making changes as necessary to ensure that goals are achieved. The need to measure progress is likely to prompt a change in the control process.

Question 15

Special Forces is a unique division of the Canadian military. These highly trained individuals work in teams and often plan their own missions at the operational level. After the completion of the mission, each team evaluates the outcome. The goal is to measure the team performance and take corrective action (if necessary) on future missions. What function of management is the team performing?

Accepted Answer

The team is performing the controlling function of management, as they are evaluating their performance and taking corrective action for future missions.

Question 16

Kate supervises a group of highly trained and very bright research scientists at a pharmaceutical company. The scientists are working to develop a drug that will help cure a certain type of cancer. What leadership style is Kate likely to find works best in this type of environment?

Accepted Answer

In an environment with highly trained and very bright research scientists, a free-rein leadership style is likely to be most effective. This style allows experts to utilize their knowledge and skills to the fullest by giving them autonomy and freedom to innovate, which is crucial in a research and development setting like pharmaceuticals. Autocratic or centralized leadership styles could stifle creativity and slow down the process of discovery.

Question 17

Which leadership style is most effective when a quick decision is necessary?

Accepted Answer

Autocratic leadership style involves making quick decisions and providing clear directives, which makes it the most effective in situations where a quick decision is necessary. The autocratic leader is also responsible for the outcome, which makes it an appropriate style for urgent or emergency situations.

Question 18

Which process includes these three steps-establish clear performance goals, measure actual performance against standards, and take corrective action if necessary?

Accepted Answer

The process described includes the control function, as it involves measuring actual performance against established goals or standards and taking corrective action if necessary. The other functions (leading, planning, organizing) involve different steps and processes.

Question 19

Duane Wright is a manager for his firm. His responsibilities include tracking whether his firm is keeping operational costs within acceptable limits and letting individuals know when their areas are experiencing cost overruns so they can adjust their spending. In this aspect of his job, what type of function is Duane performing?

Accepted Answer

Duane is performing the controlling function of management, which involves tracking and monitoring the performance of individuals and the organization to see if they are meeting objectives and taking corrective action when necessary.

Question 20

How has the growth in the number of companies that are reducing layers of middle management affected spans of control?

Accepted Answer

The growth in the number of companies reducing layers of middle management has resulted in wider spans of control. With fewer middle managers, each manager is responsible for more direct reports, which leads to wider spans of control.

Quiz 13: Management, Motivation, and Leadership: Bringing Business to Life