Question 1

Good managers scan the organization and its environment for signs (or symptoms)of problems in need of solution through decision-making.From a systems point of view,this is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Feedback refers to the information and signals received from the organization's environment and systems for decision making. Good managers collect these feedback signals to identify problems that need solutions. Noise refers to irrelevant or unnecessary information or data that can affect decision-making. Output refers to the end result or product of a system, input refers to the resources or data that are used to create the output, and throughput refers to the process of transforming inputs into outputs.

Question 2

Determining the rank order of prioritized alternatives based on a vote cast by members of the decision-making group is an integral part of ________.

Accepted Answer

Determining the rank order of alternatives based on a vote cast by members of the decision-making group is a key feature of nominal group training, which is a structured method for decision-making that involves generating and evaluating ideas to arrive at a prioritized list of alternatives. The brainstorming approach is a method for generating ideas, not for prioritizing them, while leader training and the Delphi technique are distinct decision-making methods that do not involve rank ordering alternatives through a group vote.

Question 3

NGT is designed to ________.

Accepted Answer

NGT (Nominal Group Technique) is a decision-making tool that is used to evaluate alternatives. Participants in the technique generate ideas individually and then share them with the group. The group evaluates and ranks these ideas to determine the best option. Therefore, option C, evaluate alternatives, is the best choice.

Question 4

With reference to collective decision-making,it is the manager's job to ________.

Accepted Answer

The manager's role in collective decision-making is to activate and give direction to the process, which involves facilitating communication, setting clear goals, and ensuring that all relevant information is taken into account. The manager should not seek to control the outcome, implement decisions they solely agree with, or reward quick-fix solutions over solid ones.

Question 5

One aspect of brainstorming that is encouraged is ________.

Accepted Answer

Piggybacking, or building on other people's ideas, is encouraged in brainstorming. Immediate evaluation of ideas can stifle creativity and limit the flow of ideas, so it is typically not encouraged. Limiting involvement or membership in meetings can also limit the diversity of ideas and perspectives being shared.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of an internal factor that affects choice?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 7

The authors of the textbook believe collective decision-making ________.

Accepted Answer

The authors of the textbook believe that collective decision-making will become a dominant factor in police work due to its practicality and effectiveness in managing complex problems and situations.

Question 8

Which of the following is an example of an external factor that affects choice?

Accepted Answer

Technological change is an external factor that affects choice as it can disrupt established processes and require organizations to adapt and make new choices based on the available technology. The other options listed are internal factors that may affect choice but are not external factors.

Question 9

In participatory management situations,the quality of a group's decisions depends (in large measure)on the social dynamic skills possessed by ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In participatory management situations,the quality of a...

Question 10

Current research indicates decision-making groups produce a greater number of quality decisions than do individuals acting as ________.

Accepted Answer

The statement in the question suggests that decision-making groups are more effective than individuals acting alone, indicating that A) single rational actors are not as efficient as groups. The other options do not address individual decision-making and are not directly related to the question.

Question 11

One drawback to the Delphi method is the ________.

Accepted Answer

The Delphi method is known for its time-consuming process, particularly during the questionnaire phase, where multiple rounds of questionnaires are sent out to experts, and their responses are collected and summarized before sending out the next round. This iterative process can take a significant amount of time.

Question 12

The pragmatic approach to decision-making which Charles Lindblom called the "science of muddling through" is better known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Satisficing is a decision-making strategy that aims for a satisfactory or adequate result, rather than the optimal solution. This approach, which Charles Lindblom referred to as the "science of muddling through," involves making decisions based on available, satisfactory options rather than exhaustive search and analysis.

Question 13

The idea generation technique encouraging consideration of any and all ideas while prohibiting criticism of those ideas is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The idea generation technique that encourages consideration of any and all ideas while prohibiting criticism of those ideas is known as brainstorming. Guided group interaction, transactional analysis, leader training, and nominal group technique are all different techniques and approaches used in group decision-making and problem-solving processes.

Question 14

Simon argues that all administrators have limitations on their ability to process information and make rational decisions.This concept is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Bounded rationality is the concept that decision-makers have limitations in processing information and making rational decisions due to factors such as time constraints, lack of information, and cognitive limitations. The other options are not applicable to this concept.

Question 15

The Delphi technique differs from NGT in that ________.

Accepted Answer

The Delphi technique involves an anonymous, written process where participants do not meet face-to-face, while the NGT involves structured face-to-face interaction.

Question 16

The inability or failure to make decisions in situations where sufficient data have been gathered and some type of decision is necessary is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The inability or failure to make decisions...

Question 17

Heuristic decisions are ________.

Accepted Answer

Heuristic decisions are gut-level choices based on intuition and personal judgment. While they may be quick and easy, they are not necessarily deeply thought out or based on extensive analysis or evidence. However, heuristic decisions can still be valuable in certain situations where time is limited or a quick decision is needed.

Question 18

From a decision-making perspective,vacillation refers to the inability to ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of From a decision-making perspective,vacillation refers to the...

Question 19

The inability or failure to make decisions in situations where sufficient data has been gathered and some type of decision is necessary is known as ________.

Accepted Answer