Question 1

Decisions made at the first-line level are typically classified as operational decisions.

Accepted Answer

This is because operational decisions relate to daily activities and tasks within an organization and are made by those at the first-line level who are responsible for executing those activities and tasks.

Question 2

Creativity is often synonymous with innovation.

Accepted Answer

Creativity is the ability to come up with new ideas, solutions or approaches to a problem or situation. This process often leads to innovations or new creations that have not been thought of before. Therefore, creativity and innovation are closely linked and often used interchangeably.

Question 3

Brainstorming is not an effective method of idea gathering.

Accepted Answer

Brainstorming is a popular and effective method for idea generation by encouraging the free-flowing of ideas from different individuals. It helps to minimize inhibitions and promote creative thinking which leads to new and innovative ideas.

Question 4

Effective managers make sure decisions are made at the lowest level possible.

Accepted Answer

Effective managers empower their employees and delegate decision-making authority to the lowest possible level. This not only saves time and increases efficiency, but also improves employee engagement and motivation.

Question 5

Decisions made at the middle-management level are typically classified as strategic decisions.

Accepted Answer

Decisions made at the middle-management level are typically classified as tactical or operational decisions. Strategic decisions are made at the top-management level.

Question 6

When the forces are in balance, the situation is said to be in equilibrium.

Accepted Answer

This is a basic principle of physics that when forces acting on an object are balanced, the object remains in a state of rest or constant velocity. This state is known as equilibrium.

Question 7

Managers and supervisors should never make snap decisions.

Accepted Answer

While it is generally advisable for managers and supervisors to take the necessary time and effort to make informed decisions, there may be situations where quick decisions need to be made. However, these decisions should still be based on rational thinking and consideration of available information.

Question 8

To handle killer phrases, recognize them, describe to the group what is happening and then challenge the group to discuss whether the killer phrases are true. Encourage the group to remain open to all ideas.

Accepted Answer

To effectively handle killer phrases, it is important to recognize them, describe their negative impact, and challenge the group to evaluate the truthfulness of the phrase. Encouraging open discussion and consideration for all ideas can help to overcome the negative effects of killer phrases in group settings.

Question 9

During brainstorming, it is critical that convergent thinking occur before divergent thinking.

Accepted Answer

Divergent thinking encourages exploring all possible solutions and ideas before narrowing it down to the best ones through convergent thinking. Therefore, divergent thinking should come before convergent thinking during brainstorming.

Question 10

In participatory decision making, conflict is considered an asset.

Accepted Answer

In participatory decision making, conflict is embraced as an opportunity to bring diverse perspectives and ideas to the table, leading to more creative and effective solutions. Therefore, it is considered an asset.

Question 11

Decisions made at the executive level are typically classified as administrative decisions.

Accepted Answer

Executive-level decisions are typically strategic, focusing on long-term goals and overall direction, rather than administrative, which are more operational and routine.

Question 12

The nominal group technique is an objective way to achieve consensus on ideas, and is both easy and efficient.

Accepted Answer

The nominal group technique is structured to help groups achieve consensus, but it is not necessarily easy and efficient as it involves multiple steps including silent generation of ideas, round-robin sharing, clarification and discussion, and private voting, which can be time-consuming and complex.

Question 13

In participatory decision making, both upward and downward organizational communication increases, as does teamwork.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true as participatory decision making involves increased communication and collaboration among team members, including both upward and downward communication within the organization.

Question 14

Using killer phrases can stifle creativity.

Accepted Answer

Killer phrases are phrases that shut down ideas before they even have a chance to be considered or developed. Using them can discourage creative thinking and lead to a lack of innovation.

Question 15

The modified Delphi Technique makes the Delphi Technique more open-ended.

Accepted Answer

The modified Delphi Technique is designed to streamline the process by starting with a pre-selected set of items for evaluation, making it less open-ended than the traditional Delphi Technique.

Question 16

Many decisions can be effectively made and many problems effectively solved through a twelve-step process.

Accepted Answer

The twelve-step process is primarily associated with addiction recovery programs, not general decision-making or problem-solving.

Question 17

Right-brain thinking is primarily emotional.

Accepted Answer

Right-brain thinking is associated with creativity, intuition, and emotions, while left-brain thinking is associated with logic and analytical reasoning. Therefore, right-brain thinking is primarily emotional.

Question 18

Being too quick in deciding is a common thinking trap.

Accepted Answer

Being too quick in deciding, without exploring all options or gathering enough information, is a cognitive bias known as the "hasty generalization" or "jumping to conclusions" trap. This can lead to poor decisions and missed opportunities.

Question 19

One key element of brainstorming is to allow unlimited time for the generation of ideas.

Accepted Answer

One key element of brainstorming is actually to set a time limit for the generation of ideas. This is to encourage participants to think quickly and creatively without being bogged down by overanalyzing or critiquing their ideas.

Question 20

Effective problem solving and decision making may rely on both creativity and logic.

Accepted Answer

Problem solving and decision making often require both creative thinking to generate new ideas and logical thinking to evaluate and choose among those ideas. The most effective problem solvers are able to balance these two types of thinking and use them in complementary ways.

Quiz 5: Decision Making and Problem Solving