Question 1

A meeting was being held at a company, and was attended by five executives. A decision needed to be made about the following year's marketing campaign. Paul, an outspoken and aggressive person, insisted that his ideas be followed since there could not be a better alternative. No one else contributed to the discussion, and Paul's views were accepted. This group discussion suffered from

Accepted Answer

The meeting suffered from domination because Paul, a single individual, dominated the discussion and no one else contributed to the decision-making process. This did not allow for diverse perspectives and ideas to be considered.

Question 2

In an attempt to make a conflict between two employees less personal and emotional, their manager instructs them to approach the same problem from a different viewpoint. They have a structured debate and come to a conclusion that suits both employees. This is an example of using the _____ approach.

Accepted Answer

The structured debate and the approach of looking at the problem from a different viewpoint suggests the use of the dialectic approach, which involves generating a thesis and then generating an opposing antithesis in order to arrive at a synthesis of the two viewpoints. The other options don't seem to fit as well as dialectic does with the scenario described.

Question 3

An advantage in using a group for decision making is that it

Accepted Answer

Using a group for decision making leads to a higher level of commitment to the decision as it involves all members in the process and their input is considered. This helps in making decisions that are acceptable to all members and increases their level of commitment to the decision made.

Question 4

Illusion of control, discounting the future, and framing effects are examples of

Accepted Answer

Illusion of control, discounting the future, and framing effects are examples of psychological biases because they all involve a deviation from rational decision-making based on cognitive and emotional factors.

Question 5

Discounting the future refers to

Accepted Answer

Discounting the future refers to valuing short-term benefits more heavily than long-term benefits. This can lead to decisions that may have negative long-term consequences.

Question 6

When a group accepts an alternative to end a meeting, the group has reached an) _____ decision.

Accepted Answer

When a group accepts an alternative that is satisfactory, but not necessarily the best, they have made a satisficing decision. This differs from maximizing or optimizing, which involve finding the best possible solution, and from innovative or constructive decisions, which may involve creating new options.

Question 7

A company recently made changes to its organizational structure. While deciding upon the changes to be implemented, the company invited many employees to discuss the issue with the senior management. This enabled the employees to hear the relevant arguments both for the chosen alternative and against the rejected alternatives. An advantage of using employees in the group discussion was that

Accepted Answer

By having employees participate in the group discussion, they were able to understand the reasoning behind the decision that was ultimately made by senior management. This can lead to better acceptance and implementation of the new organizational structure.

Question 8

Which of the following is true of brainstorming?

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a technique in which a group of people generate as many ideas and possible solutions to a problem. In brainstorming, it is important to create a non-judgmental environment where people feel free to express any idea that comes to mind, without fear of criticism or rejection. This encourages creativity and helps to generate a wide range of ideas, some of which may not have been considered otherwise.

Question 9

In the context of making decisions in a group, when a strong leader makes his or her preferences clear, and the result is the same as it would have been if the leader had made the decision alone, it leads to a situation known as

Accepted Answer

When a strong leader makes their preferences clear and the group ultimately follows those preferences, it falls under the category of domination. This can stifle creativity and prevent other perspectives from being considered, potentially hindering the effectiveness of the decision-making process.

Question 10

Which of the following questions is related to strategic planning?

Accepted Answer

Strategic planning involves long-term decision making about the direction and goals of a company. The question about expanding into a new region in the next ten years aligns with this type of planning. The other options are more operational or tactical in nature, focused on short-term decisions and specific actions.

Question 11

In the context of the given scenario, which of the following is an opportunity for Raney Pharmaceuticals Corp.?

Accepted Answer

The increasing trend towards natural alternatives to traditional chemical pharmaceuticals provides an opportunity for Raney Pharmaceuticals Corp. to develop and market new products that align with this trend.

Question 12

In the context of the given scenario, which of the following is a strength of Raney Pharmaceuticals Corp.?

Accepted Answer

The strength of Raney Pharmaceuticals Corp. is their management team, which is better than their competitors in the industry.

Question 13

The decision regarding the number of employees to be hired for the cafeteria is part of operational planning because

Accepted Answer

The answer of The decision regarding the number of employees...

Question 14

In the context of decision making in groups, the job of a devil's advocate is to create

Accepted Answer

The job of a devil's advocate is to challenge the dominant perspective and point out flaws in the decision-making process. This can lead to constructive conflict by encouraging group members to fully consider all options and potential consequences before making a decision. A devil's advocate does not aim to create destructive conflict or process-related problems, but rather to improve the decision-making process by bringing alternative perspectives to the table. A structured debate may be a result of the devil's advocate's contributions, but it is not the primary goal. Task-related conflict may arise as a result of the discussion, but again, it is not the main focus. Therefore, the best choice is B.

Question 15

_____ is a condition that occurs when a decision-making group loses sight of its original purpose and a new, less important aim emerges.

Accepted Answer

Goal displacement occurs when a decision-making group loses sight of its original purpose and a new, less important aim emerges. This can happen when the group becomes too focused on a certain aspect of the decision-making process and overlooks the overall goals of the group.

Question 16

_____ refers) to a decision bias influenced by the way in which a problem or decision alternative is phrased or presented.

Accepted Answer

Framing effects refers to a cognitive bias that occurs when people's decisions are influenced by the way that information is presented to them. The way in which a problem or decision alternative is worded or framed can have a significant impact on how people respond to it. This bias can lead to people making different choices based solely on how the same information is presented to them.

Question 17

In an effort to combat groupthink and an overall lack of creativity, the group leader assigned Jennifer the job of criticizing ideas, for the sake of argument, throughout the meeting. Jennifer is playing the role of a

Accepted Answer

Jennifer is playing the role of a devil's advocate, which means she is purposely criticizing ideas to foster debate and alternative perspectives. This is a common technique used to prevent groupthink and promote creativity in brainstorming sessions. Option A, maximizer, refers to someone who seeks the best possible outcome, but it is not related to Jennifer's role. Option C, dialectic, refers to a method of logical argumentation, but it is not related to Jennifer's role as devil's advocate. Option D, strategic planner, is not related to Jennifer's role as devil's advocate either. Option E, dominator, refers to someone who tries to control the conversation, which is not what Jennifer is doing.

Question 18

Leaders of decision-making groups who want to encourage constructive conflict should

Accepted Answer

Encouraging multiple alternatives from a variety of perspectives can help bring diverse ideas and opinions into the discussion, resulting in constructive conflict that can lead to better decision-making outcomes.

Question 19

In brainstorming, group members generate

Accepted Answer

The purpose of brainstorming is to generate as many ideas as possible about a problem or topic. This allows for a variety of perspectives and potential solutions to be considered. Therefore, the best choice is A, as it reflects the intended outcome of the brainstorming process.

Question 20

______ is the phenomenon that occurs in decision making when group members avoid disagreement as they strive for consensus.

Accepted Answer

Groupthink is the phenomenon in which group members prioritize the desire for consensus over critical thinking and independent decision making, leading to a suppression of dissenting opinions and potentially flawed decisions. This can occur in groups with strong cohesiveness, a directive leadership style, and a lack of diversity in perspectives. Goal displacement refers to when group members shift their focus from the original goal to something else, domination occurs when one member exerts excessive control over the group, intuition refers to making decisions based on instinct or feeling rather than rational analysis, and brainstorming is a technique for generating creative ideas through free-flowing group discussion.

Quiz 5: Planning and Decision Making