Deck 12: Assigning Work and Delegating Duties

Question 1

Assigning work in a directive or explicit way should only be done occasionally and when absolutely required, such as in circumstances in which people have low levels of task readiness.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Which of the following strategies is likely to have the most significant impact in contributing to a message standing out and being remembered?

A) Sending the same email to a person five times
B) Raising your voice
C) Using a large font in emails
D) Repeating a message several times using a number of different mediums
E) Only communicating important information at the start of the day

Answer 2

D

Question 3

The first step in assigning work is to:

A) outline how performance will be measured.
B) outline the specific outcome that is desired.
C) outline the steps necessary to complete the work.
D) outline the targets or milestones to be reached at the completion of each stage of the work.
E) provide feedback.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

When a manager delegates work, they are:

A) directing workers to carry out tasks that are within the scope of their normal work roles.
B) handing over to particular workers authority over other workers.
C) giving authority to workers to carry out tasks that are normally part of the manager's role.
D) directing workers to carry out the tasks of other workers.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 5

Delegation should:

A) be used with all employees to build up their skills and knowledge.
B) only be used with employees who are willing to take on new responsibilities.
C) only be used with employees who are trained to take on new responsibilities.
D) only be used with the most talented employees who have the most skills.
E) only be used with employees who are fully trained and competent, as well as willing and confident to take on new responsibilities.

Question 6

Every task or duty that is assigned or delegated should be:

A) manageable.
B) measurable.
C) motivational.
D) manageable, measurable and motivational.
E) None of these responses are correct.

Question 7

Which of the following statements is true?

A) Ideally, employees should receive their assignments from only one person, because this will help them to avoid feeling conflicted and confused about whose directions should take priority.
B) A matrix organisation need not necessarily go against the unity of command principle, provided each manager manages clearly defined, and different, aspects of a person's job.
C) Only employees who are comfortable dealing with the uncertainty involved in reporting to more than one person should receive their assignments from more than one manager.
D) There is the potential for ambiguity and conflicting priorities where an employee reports to two or more managers.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 8

Getting workers to provide you with key information relating to their performance of a task or at particular milestones would be an appropriate method to monitor their progress when they are:

A) both skilled and motivated, with little need for supervision.
B) dependable, but slightly less skilled, experienced or willing to carry on with the task.
C) dependable, but with even less experience or willingness to carry on with the task.
D) trained, but inexperienced in the task.
E) new to a task.

Question 9

Once work has been assigned and the person assigned it has commenced doing the work, it is important for the manager who assigned the work to:

A) leave the worker alone until the work has been completed.
B) micromanage the worker to ensure that they stay on track and do not make any mistakes.
C) provide the worker with timely and specific feedback on their efforts.
D) liaise with other managers and/or staff members to find out how the worker is performing.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 10

When would be the ideal time or opportunity to assign work?

A) When an assignment arrives in the wake of an incident that has lowered the group's morale
B) When you are angry or frustrated
C) When employees are about to go to lunch
D) When employees are about to leave for the day
E) None of these responses are correct.

Question 11

Because assigning work means directing people to carry out duties and tasks that are part of their job, this must always be done by managers in an autocratic manner.

Question 12

If you needed to assign a worker the task of urgently evacuating staff due to a workplace health risk, the most appropriate method of doing so in the circumstances would be to give them:

A) a direct order.
B) an explicit assignment.
C) an implied work assignment.
D) a conditional work assignment.
E) an undirected work assignment.

Question 13

An appropriate situation in which to delegate is when:

A) you feel overworked and your followers feel overworked.
B) you feel overworked and your followers feel underworked.
C) you feel underworked and your followers feel overworked.
D) both you and your followers feel underworked.
E) neither you nor your followers feel underworked.

Question 14

Where poor performance occurs in a willing employee who has the skills and knowledge to do the task, the most likely explanation is:

A) poor selection or task assignment.
B) low motivation.
C) insufficient skills or knowledge.
D) environmental barriers or insufficient resources.
E) None of these responses are correct.

Question 15

In essence, delegation is:

A) a management role.
B) a leadership function.
C) an organisational structure.
D) a leadership style.
E) a decision-making tool.

Question 16

Rather than telling workers how to carry out tasks, effectively assigning work should involve:

A) explaining the desired outcomes of the work assigned.
B) making clear the deadlines that are applicable to the work assigned.
C) outlining any constraints that may be applicable to the work assigned.
D) outlining the resources that are available to assist the worker to carry out the work assigned.
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 17

For a non-urgent task that an employee has insufficient skills, knowledge or experience to perform, the most appropriate response is to reallocate the task to a more suitable employee.

Question 18

Which of the following methods would generally not be appropriate when assigning work to someone with a low level of task readiness?

A) Conditional work assignment
B) Laissez-faire style
C) Implied work assignment
D) Undirected work assignment
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 19

When assigning work, a manager's ultimate goal is to gain:

A) compliance.
B) continuity.
C) consistency.
D) cooperation.
E) consensus.

Question 20

An example of a good job fit might be assigning repetitive work to a worker who is creative and imaginative.

Question 21

Which one of the following is not suitable for delegation?

A) Monitoring activities
B) Matters dealing with organisational policy or security
C) Performance counselling
D) High-cost tasks
E) All of these responses are correct.

Question 22

If you were delegated an assignment, but your manager then changed the priorities relating to it, it would be advisable to confirm in writing the assignment and any changes that have been made to it.

Question 23

By explaining to a person the reason why you have chosen them, specifically, to do a task, you are:

A) gaining their support.
B) making it clear to them that they are now responsible for the task.
C) recognising their skills, knowledge and/or positive attitude.
D) cleverly sending a message to other employees that they need to improve.
E) making the relative importance of the task clear to them.

Question 24

The final step in delegation is:

A) monitoring the results.
B) informing others of the delegation.
C) selecting the delegate.
D) deciding what to delegate.
E) delegating the task.

Question 25

Which of the following would not be a suitable strategy for dealing with an 'upwards delegator?

A) Ask what they have already done and what they could do next.
B) Let them know that you have every confidence in their ability and provide them with appropriate support.
C) Tell them that you know what they are trying to do and to get back to their work.
D) Ask them what they consider to be the key issue and how they can deal with it.
E) Ask them to explain their problem or dilemma in one thorough, objective statement.

Question 26

Delegation is most likely to be effective when it is:

A) done in response to a crisis.
B) done at the last minute.
C) done on the run.
D) planned and carefully thought out.
E) done quickly according to the manager's instinct.

Question 27

Which of the following is a legitimate reason for not delegating?

A) 'I can't afford to have my staff members make a mistake for which I am responsible.'
B) 'No one knows exactly how I want this job done.'
C) 'Delegating this task to someone so new at this time could result in a workplace accident.'
D) 'This task is too important to entrust to anyone else.'
E) 'My staff members are too inexperienced to do this. I have to do it myself.'

Question 28

One reason for delegating is that it is actually good for the bottom line because jobs are completed at a less expensive level.

Question 29

If, as a manager, you are required to pass on information or an instruction to your team about a change that they are unlikely to agree with or support, you should:

A) criticise the change and get your team on side by saying that you also disagree with it.
B) verbally support the change to your team, but make it obvious through your body language that the opposite is actually true.
C) look at the situation from the strategic perspective and try to understand the overall reasons behind the change.
D) leave announcing the change until it actually needs to be implemented, so that it will be too late for any disagreement among the team.
E) threaten to resign unless there is greater consultation in relation to the change.

Question 30

Which one of the following is suitable for delegation?

A) Something that needs to be done quickly
B) Boring jobs you would prefer not to do yourself
C) Planning activities
D) Tasks that would train, develop and stretch employees
E) All of these responses are correct.