Question 1

The weakest link in the controlling process tends to be the setting of standards.

Accepted Answer

Setting standards can be difficult as it requires a thorough understanding of the organization's goals, resources, and external environment. If the standards are not appropriately set, it can lead to ineffective control measures and failure to achieve desired outcomes.

Question 2

Because of advancements in technology,managers now have an easier time obtaining long-term commitments from workers.

Accepted Answer

Advancements in technology have not necessarily made it easier for managers to obtain long-term commitments from workers. Factors such as job satisfaction, work-life balance, and overall company culture still play a significant role in employee retention.

Question 3

Sharon needed to solve a problem quickly,so she called together all the workers in her department and asked them to list as many possible solutions as they can come up with in a short period of time.During the process she encouraged responses and avoided censoring what her workers said.Sharon seems to be using a problem solving technique known as brainstorming.

Accepted Answer

Sharon's approach of soliciting multiple solutions in a non-judgmental manner with active encouragement is a key aspect of the brainstorming technique.

Question 4

Effective leadership includes both the ability to welcome change and to promote ethical behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Effective leaders must be able to adapt to new situations and promote ethical conduct within their organizations. Both of these qualities are important for building a successful and sustainable enterprise. Without a willingness to change, a business can become stagnant and unable to compete in a dynamic marketplace. And without a commitment to ethics, a leader risks damaging the reputation of their organization and losing the trust of employees, customers, and stakeholders. Therefore, the answer is A - effective leadership includes both the ability to welcome change and to promote ethical behaviour.

Question 5

When establishing criteria to measure the success of a business,managers should:

Accepted Answer

Managers should consider both financial and nonfinancial measures, recognizing the importance of satisfying both internal and external customers to ensure overall business success.

Question 6

Top managers make less use of ________skills than supervisory managers.

Accepted Answer

Top managers rely more on conceptual skills for strategic planning and vision, while supervisory managers need technical skills for day-to-day operations.

Question 7

PMI is a:

Accepted Answer

PMI stands for Plus, Minus, Interesting and is a problem-solving tool used to evaluate the potential outcomes of different solutions to a problem. This tool helps the decision-maker weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each possible solution, as well as recognize the potential for interesting or unexpected outcomes. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 8

At Holyfield Chemicals,department heads usually make decisions after meeting with employees and seeking their ideas and suggestions.Department heads at Holyfield Chemicals make extensive use of the________ style of leadership.

Accepted Answer

The democratic style of leadership involves involving employees in decision-making and seeking their input and ideas. This is exactly what Holyfield Chemicals department heads are doing by meeting with employees and seeking their suggestions before making decisions.

Question 9

A key to effective leadership is the ability to:

Accepted Answer

The ability to communicate a vision and rally others around that vision is a key characteristic of effective leadership. This allows leaders to inspire and motivate their team to work towards a common goal, creating a sense of unity and purpose. While it is important for leaders to have some technical knowledge, mastering all the technical details of every job performed by subordinates is unrealistic and not necessary for effective leadership. Maintaining an autocratic approach may lead to resentment and a lack of initiative among subordinates, while maintaining order, stability, and control is important, it is not the only key to effective leadership.

Question 10

In comparing the types of skills used by managers at different levels within an organization,it is generally true that:

Accepted Answer

According to the traditional view of management skills, top managers need to primarily use conceptual skills to develop strategy and make decisions, while middle managers serve as liaisons between top management and first-line managers using a mix of technical, human relations, and conceptual skills. First-line managers, in turn, use mainly technical skills to supervise and coordinate the activities of operating employees, as well as human relations skills to communicate with and motivate their subordinates. Therefore, B is the best choice as it highlights the skillset used by managers at different levels.

Question 11

SWOT analysis focuses only on the internal activities of the firm,while other analytical tools are used to review the external environment in which the firm operates.

Accepted Answer

This statement is false. SWOT analysis actually involves both an examination of the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats) that affect a company's performance. Other analytical tools such as PESTEL analysis and Porter's Five Forces are used to specifically review the external environment of the firm.

Question 12

The management function concerned with anticipating future trends and determining the best strategies to achieve an organization's goals and objectives is known as:

Accepted Answer

Planning is the management function that involves anticipating future trends and events and determining the best course of action to achieve an organization's goals and objectives. Forecasting, while a related concept, is a tool or technique used within the planning function to project future outcomes based on past data and analysis. Leadership and directing are important functions in management, but do not specifically relate to anticipating future trends and developing strategies.

Question 13

An example of a value statement is:

Accepted Answer

A value statement should express a company's moral and ethical principles. "Maintaining integrity in all our dealings with employees" is a good example of a value statement. The other options are more focused on specific goals or tasks, rather than a broader statement about the company's values.

Question 14

is the management function that involves determining whether an organization is progressing toward its goals,rewarding employees for doing a good job,and taking corrective action when they are not.

Accepted Answer

Controlling is the management function that involves monitoring progress towards goals, rewarding employees for good work and taking corrective action if goals are not being met. Officiating involves overseeing formal ceremonies and events, leading involves setting a vision and motivating employees, and organizing involves determining the structure and resources needed for tasks.

Question 15

involves setting the organization's vision,goals,and objectives.

Accepted Answer

Planning involves setting the organization's vision, goals, and objectives. Directing involves guiding and supervising employees, organizing involves coordinating resources and tasks, and controlling involves monitoring performance and making corrective actions.

Question 16

Managers in many of today's high-tech firms realize that workers often know much more about technology than they do.

Accepted Answer

This is true, as technology is constantly evolving and workers who specialize in certain areas may have more in-depth knowledge than their managers. It is important for managers to recognize and leverage the expertise of their employees.

Question 17

The traits that characterize participative leaders include flexibility,good listening skills,and empathy.

Accepted Answer

Participative leaders value input and collaboration from their team members, which requires flexibility to adapt to different ideas and opinions. Good listening skills are crucial for gathering input, and empathy is important for understanding and considering the perspectives of others.

Question 18

is the art of getting things done using organizational resources.

Accepted Answer

Management is the process of utilizing organizational resources, such as people, money, and time, to accomplish specific goals and objectives. It involves planning, organizing, leading, and controlling resources to achieve desired outcomes. Preparation (A) might be a component of management, but it is not a comprehensive definition. Socialization (B) refers to the process of learning and adapting to social norms and values, which is not directly related to organizational resource management. Justification (D) is the process of providing reasons or evidence to support a decision, but it is not a synonym for management.

Question 19

Two of the key components of the control process are setting clear performance standards and communicating results and deviations to the employees involved.

Accepted Answer

Setting clear performance standards provides employees with a clear understanding of expectations, while communicating results and deviations helps to keep them informed of their progress and areas for improvement. These are both essential components of the control process.

Question 20

Ralph Bowley is a first-line manager for the Mizzill Corporation.Although Mizzill has been a fairly traditional company in the past,its top management recently decided to make greater use of empowerment.As this new approach is implemented,Ralph is likely to find that he:

Accepted Answer

As empowerment involves giving more decision-making power and autonomy to employees, a first-line manager like Ralph will need to shift from being a strict boss who issues orders to a more supportive role as a coach, advisor, counselor, and team player. He will need to empower his subordinates by providing guidance, support, and resources to help them make decisions and solve problems. This requires a more collaborative approach that involves building trust, fostering open communication, and encouraging creativity and innovation. Option B is incorrect as empowerment should lead to more interaction and collaboration between managers and subordinates rather than isolation. Option C is incorrect as detailed instructions may restrict the subordinates' freedom to innovate and make decisions. Option D is incorrect as empowerment does not necessarily eliminate the need for managers, but rather shifts their focus to more strategic and supportive roles.

Quiz 8: Management and Leadership