Question 1

Ali,a CEO of a large IT organization,understands that many challenges are coming in his industry;therefore,he tells his upper-level management that it's helpful to look at theoretical perspectives of management to help make predictions and develop principles to guide future company strategies and actions.

Accepted Answer

The statement mentions that the CEO understands the importance of theoretical perspectives of management in facing future challenges, indicating that he believes it is helpful to use such perspectives to guide company strategy and actions.

Question 2

Right Office Equipment continually talks with customers after they purchase their products,and Right Office managers regularly visit customers to gather feedback on new products,product improvements,and how Right Office can better serve its customers.This is an example of an open system.

Accepted Answer

This is because an open system is a system that interacts with its environment and receives feedback from it. In this scenario, Right Office is interacting with its customers, gathering feedback, and using it to improve their products and services, which shows that they are open to receiving feedback and making improvements accordingly.

Question 3

When faced with a business problem,Sally,a young grocery store owner,discusses business problems with Don,the assistant manager and an employee for over 30 years.Sally believes Don "has seen it all" and knows there are few really new ideas;plus the business has done many simple things,such as offering friendly service,to create and maintain a competitive edge.Sally's management style is best described as

Accepted Answer

Sally's management style is evidence-based as she relies on Don's extensive experience and past knowledge to make informed decisions.

Question 4

Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton believed that evidence-based management is founded on the belief that facing the hard facts about what works and accepting the nonsense that passes for sound advice will help organizations perform better.

Accepted Answer

Stanford business scholars Jeffrey Pfeffer and Robert Sutton stated that evidence-based management is founded on the belief that "facing the hard facts about what works and what doesn't, understanding the dangerous half-truths that constitute so much conventional wisdom about management, and rejecting (not accepting) the total nonsense that too often passes for sound advice will help organizations perform better."

Question 5

Which three approaches to management are considered historical perspectives?

Accepted Answer

The historical perspective on management includes three distinct viewpoints: classical, behavioral, and quantitative.

Question 6

Susan,a department manager,believes that ever since the corporate office eliminated certain benefits to reduce costs,her employees have not been working as hard as in the past.This reduction in effort is known as "soldiering."

Accepted Answer

Soldiering refers to the reduction in effort by employees due to various reasons such as lack of motivation, reduced incentive or benefits, etc. Therefore, Susan's belief that her employees are not working as hard as in the past due to the elimination of certain benefits is true.

Question 7

Which of the following is a key benefit of studying theoretical perspectives on management?

Accepted Answer

Studying theoretical perspectives on management can provide guidance on how to manage effectively and can also be a source of new ideas for management approaches.

Question 8

A-Plus Manufacturing has a policy of using statistical sampling to locate errors by testing just some (rather than all)of the items in a particular production run.This strategy of minimizing errors is known as synergy.

Accepted Answer

The strategy of minimizing errors by testing just some (rather than all) of the items in a particular production run is known as statistical sampling, not synergy.

Question 9

A local furniture retailer routinely develops and acquires new knowledge,and the employees communicate what they learn to other employees,so the company is able to modify its behavior to reflect what they have learned.This organization is an example of a learning organization.

Accepted Answer

A learning organization is one that encourages and facilitates the acquisition, sharing, and use of knowledge within the organization to improve its overall performance. This description of a furniture retailer indicates that they routinely develop and share new knowledge, and modify their behavior based on what they have learned, making them an example of a learning organization.

Question 10

Joe,a plant manager,wants to institute a compensation system in which more efficient workers earn higher wages.Joe is proposing to institute a differential rate system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Joe,a plant manager,wants to institute a compensation...

Question 11

Peter Drucker was a 20th-century socialist,opposed capitalism and believed that managers were more of a hindrance than a help to most organizations.

Accepted Answer

Peter Drucker was a 20th-century management consultant and writer who believed in the value of effective management and capitalism. He emphasized the importance of innovation, entrepreneurship, and customer satisfaction in business success.

Question 12

________ holds that there are few really new ideas and that "true is better" than new.

Accepted Answer

Evidence-based management emphasizes using the best available evidence to make decisions, suggesting that "true is better" than new ideas.

Question 13

During a manager's meeting,Paula,a district manager,discussed how to handle sensitive employee issues and indicated correctly that management is really just an art.

Accepted Answer

Management is often considered both an art and a science, as it involves creative problem-solving and interpersonal skills (art) as well as systematic processes and techniques (science).

Question 14

When Mr.Jones,the owner of a local hardware store,asks one of his lawnmower suppliers about the total ability of their product to meet customer needs,he is questioning the quality of that mower.

Accepted Answer

Mr. Jones is specifically inquiring about the ability of the lawnmower to meet customer needs, which is a key aspect of product quality. Therefore, his questioning suggests an evaluation of the mower's quality.

Question 15

Within his company,Greg has set up a system with inputs,outputs,transformation processes,and feedback.He utilizes a management style that varies according to the individual and environmental situation,with a strategy for minimizing errors by managing each stage of production.Greg is utilizing a _______ perspective.

Accepted Answer

Greg's focus on inputs, outputs, transformation processes, and feedback suggests that he is utilizing a systems perspective, which is a contemporary approach to management. Additionally, his use of different management styles and strategies for minimizing errors align with the principles of contemporary management.

Question 16

The Hawthorne studies succeeded in drawing attention to the importance of "social man" and how managers using good human relations could improve worker productivity.

Accepted Answer

The Hawthorne studies were a series of experiments conducted in the 1920s and 1930s at Western Electric’s Hawthorne Works in Chicago. The studies concluded that workers’ productivity is influenced by a range of social and psychological factors. The studies also demonstrated that managers could improve productivity by providing their employees with recognition, involvement, and a sense of belonging. Thus, it is true that the Hawthorne studies drew attention to the importance of "social man" and how managers using good human relations could improve worker productivity.

Question 17

When the Americans entered World War II in 1941,they used the British model to form operations research teams to determine how to deploy troops,submarines,and equipment most effectively.These techniques have evolved into quantitative management.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. The Americans did indeed use the British model of operations research to form teams during World War II, which eventually led to the development of quantitative management techniques.

Question 18

The idea that two or more forces combined create an effect that is greater than the sum of their individual effects is called syncretism.

Accepted Answer

The idea that two or more forces combined create an effect that is greater than the sum of their individual effects is actually called synergy, not syncretism.

Question 19

Behavioral science relies on data from past sales to forecast human behavior to develop strategic plans and goals.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral science does not rely solely on data from past sales to forecast human behavior. It also considers psychological, sociological, and other factors to develop strategic plans and goals.

Question 20

Olde Manufacturing,a parts supplier to the auto industry,has been using the behavioral approach to management for over 100 years.However,since that method of management is too simplistic for practical use,Olde should begin implementing the newer and more sophisticated human relations movement approach to management,which is the most contemporary approach to management.

Accepted Answer

The statement is incorrect. The behavioral approach and human relations movement are both historical approaches to management and neither is more contemporary than the other. Additionally, it is not necessarily true that the behavioral approach is too simplistic for practical use, as it has been successfully used by many organizations for decades. Olde Manufacturing may continue to use the behavioral approach if it is working well for them, or they may choose to adopt a different approach based on their specific needs and goals.

Quiz 2: Management Theory: Essential Background for the Successful Manager