Deck 7: Decision Making

Question 1

What is not a recommended method to enhance group brainstorming sessions?

A) Allow time for individual idea generation.
B) Alternate between small groups and large groups.
C) When there is no facilitator.
D) Use activities and humor.

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following is not a characteristic of nonprogrammed decisions?

A) Found at the higher levels of the organization.
B) Have more uncertain conditions surrounding the decision.
C) Are poorly structured and occur infrequently.
D) Are repetitive and routine and have standard operating procedures.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

When a person in authority identifies an important issue and carries out a process to make a choice that produces outcomes with consequences, they are engaging in:

A) Problem solving
B) Organizational decision making
C) Decision debacles
D) Collaboration

Answer 3

B

Question 4

This occurs when a leader makes the decision alone without input based on information the leader has.

A) Autocratic I
B) Autocratic II
C) Consultative I
D) Consultative II

Question 5

Which of the following is not one of the phases of decision making?

A) Analytic phase
B) Design phase
C) Choice phase
D) Judgment phase

Question 6

This occurs when people may perceive that it is in their best interest to remain ignorant.

A) Indirect blindness
B) Motivated blindness
C) Incremental violations
D) Reward systems

Question 7

Which of the following is not an element of the focus group process?

A) Planning
B) Recruiting
C) Moderating
D) Judgment

Question 8

This occurs when a leader shares the problem with subordinates in a group meeting to obtain their ideas and suggestions, and then makes a decision that may or may not reflect their input.

A) Autocratic I
B) Autocratic II
C) Consultative I
D) Consultative II

Question 9

This occurs when a manager in an organization delegates the unethical behavior to others, not necessarily consciously:

A) Indirect blindness
B) Motivated blindness
C) Incremental violations
D) Reward systems

Question 10

Which of the following is not a criticism of the rational model?

A) The recognition that values and feelings also play an important role in decision making.
B) That habits, moral feelings, and values that have nothing to do with rationality may guide our behavior.
C) It states that individuals and groups behave logically when they make decisions.
D) The disregard of a holistic picture of human nature, which would include culture.

Question 11

Which decision-making model assumes human purposeness, both in individual behavior and in the broader scope issues found in organizations?

A) Rational model
B) Collaborative model
C) Garbage can model
D) Organizational process model

Question 12

We are likely to accept increasingly major infractions as long as each violation is only incrementally more serious than the preceding one. This is called:

A) Indirect blindness
B) Motivated blindness
C) Incremental violations
D) Reward systems

Question 13

A set of activities designed to analyze a situation systematically and generate, implement and evaluate solutions can be referred to as:

A) Problem solving
B) Decision making
C) Decision debacles
D) Collaboration

Question 14

Decisions that take place at the top of the organization typically are labeled:

A) Programmed decisions
B) Nonprogrammed decisions
C) Low-risk decisions
D) Strategic decisions

Question 15

A mode of thinking that occurs when people are deeply involved in a cohesive group and their desire for unanimity offsets their motivation to appraise alternative courses of action is known as:

A) Group problem solving *
B) Groupthink
C) Group cohesiveness
D) Group bonding

Question 16

Judgment, bargaining, and analysis are used to evaluate alternatives in what model?

A) Rational model
B) Collaborative model
C) Garbage can model
D) Organizational process model

Question 17

Which model sees the organization as composed of many loosely allied units, each with its own set of leaders?

A) Rational model
B) Collaborative model
C) Garbage can model
D) Organizational process model

Question 18

This occurs when a leader shares the problem with subordinates as a group; together they generate and evaluate alternatives and attempt to reach an agreement on a solution.

A) Group II
B) Autocratic II
C) Consultative I
D) Consultative II

Question 19

Which of the following is not a criticism of the organizational process model?

A) The recognition that values and feelings also play an important role in decision making.
B) The fact that decisions are prevented from forecasting the future and acting on the basis of a predetermined vision.
C) The fact that decision makers are forced to make incremental changes based on standard operating procedures.
D) The fact that organizations create their own institutionalized rationality.

Question 20

Which model has the following characteristics: dividing tasks among its members, establishing standard practices, transmitting objectives throughout the organization, providing channels of communication that run in all directions and training and indoctrinating members with the knowledge, skills, and values of the organization?

A) Rational model
B) Collaborative model
C) Garbage can model
D) Organizational process model

Question 21

The rational model explains the logic of the action while the organizational behavior model examines the logic of consequences.

Question 22

One criticism of the organizational process model includes the fact that decision makers are prevented from forecasting the future and acting on the basis of a predetermined vision.

Question 23

Indirect blindness occurs in organizations when the manager delegates the unethical behavior to others not necessarily consciously.

Question 24

Define groupthink, describe how it occurs and name and describe four ways to prevent groupthink.

Question 25

Distinguish between programmed and nonprogrammed decisions including explanations that discuss levels of decision making.

Question 26

Describe the assumptions and characteristics of the rational model.

Question 27

The garbage can model assumes human purposeness both in individual behavior and in broader scope issues in organizations.

Question 28

Name and discuss all the principles of successful decision making.

Question 29

Define what is meant by a focus group and name and describe the elements of the focus group process.

Question 30

Programmed decisions occur infrequently and are poorly structured.

Question 31

Judgment and configuring is an element of the focus group process.

Question 32

Motivated blindness occurs when people may perceive that it is in their best interest to remain ignorant.

Question 33

Some have criticized the rational model for its disregard of a holistic picture of human nature, which includes culture.

Question 34

Describe the assumptions and characteristics of the organizational process model.

Question 35

Low risk decisions involve less uncertainty and occasionally permit a degree of delegation.

Question 36

Describe the assumptions and characteristics of the garbage can model.