Question 1

Emma manages workflow at a magazine. She sets and implements the deadlines and encourages the writers and editors to do their work. What managerial function is Emma fulfilling?

Accepted Answer

Emma is directing when she sets and implements the deadlines and encourages the writers and editors to do their work.

Question 2

Frieda is a sales manager for a uniform supply company. Her favorite part of the day is when she gets to interact one-on-one with her employees motivating them, providing leadership, and rewarding them for doing their jobs well. Frieda enjoys the ________ function of management.

Accepted Answer

Good directing involves telling employees what to do and when to do it through the implementation of deadlines and then encouraging them to do their work. For example, as a sales manager, you would need to learn how to motivate salespersons, provide leadership, teach sales teams to be responsive to customer needs, and manage organizational issues as well as evaluate sales results. Finally, directing also involves determining and administering appropriate rewards and recognition.

Question 3

Jaclyn manages a fast food restaurant. One day, while sitting in the restaurant taking her break, she hears a group of customers complaining about how slow the service has been getting and that they may have to stop eating there. What is the most effective control action Jaclyn can take to resolve the problem?

Accepted Answer

In this scenario, Jaclyn's most effective control action would be to watch her employees work to determine the cause of the problem, and then respond appropriately. Control can take many forms such as visual inspections, testing, and statistical modeling processes. The basic idea is to ensure that operations meet requirements and are satisfactory to reach objectives.

Question 4

Kishan is a top-level manager at an accounting firm. He has many years of varied experience and he spends most of his time making strategic decisions about how to use the company's resources. On which management function does he spend most of his time?

Accepted Answer

As a top-level manager, Kishan spends most of his time planning. Top-level managers make an organization's strategic decisions, decisions that focus on an overall scheme or key idea for using resources to take advantage of opportunities.

Question 5

Isra manages a small coffee house. In fact, this business is so small that Isra is the only manager. What level manager is Isra?

Accepted Answer

In very small organizations that have only one manager, that manager assumes the responsibility of all three levels.

Question 6

What is true of top management compensation?

Accepted Answer

Compensation committees are increasingly working with boards of directors and CEOs to align CEO compensation with performance in order to benefit stockholders and key stakeholders. Stakeholders often criticize the perks and special treatment top management receives.

Question 7

Kylene is a manager at a large technology company. Since her company wants to serve consumers from fast-growing demographic groups such as Hispanics, African Americans, and Asian Americans, she wants to hire employees from those groups to help make decisions regarding issues related to consumer diversity. All of the following are rules she should follow in diversity recruiting EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

If Kylene wants to recruit diverse candidates, she should follow the five rules that make diversity recruiting work. First, she should involve employees, educating them on the tangible benefits of diversity recruiting to garner their support and enthusiasm. Second, she should communicate diversity, showing prospective employees that the company is diversity-friendly. Third, she should support diversity initiatives and activities in the community to generate word-of-mouth publicity that will lead qualified diversity candidates to the company. Fourth, she should delegate resources, spending some money to get the message out to the right places. Finally, Kylene should promote the company's diversity initiatives, encouraging employees to present prospective diversity employees with a convincing case as to why the company is a good fit for them.

Question 8

Sven manages the computer department at his company. He helps the organization implement its general guidelines by managing the specific operations related to his department. Sven is a

Accepted Answer

Sven is a middle manager. Middle managers are involved in the specific operations of the organization. In business, plant managers, division managers, and department managers make up middle management.

Question 9

Oliver is a manager at a clothing store. He spends most of his time in the store with his employees, making sure they work their scheduled hours, watching them interact with customers, and ensuring all the daily tasks are completed sufficiently. Oliver is a

Accepted Answer

Oliver is a first-line manager. First-line managers spend most of their time directing and controlling. They are responsible for implementing the plans established by middle management and directing workers' daily performance on the job.

Question 10

Roger and his team members are primarily responsible for procuring the funds needed for the successful operation of the organization and investing that money to pursue organizational goals. Thus, Roger is a

Accepted Answer

Roger is a financial manager. Financial managers focus on obtaining the money needed for the successful operation of an organization and using that money in accordance with organizational goals.

Question 11

Tracy is a manager at a law firm. Part of her role is conducting performance reviews for the paralegals in the office. By doing so, she is fulfilling the managerial role of a

Accepted Answer

When Tracy conducts performance reviews for the paralegals in the office, she is acting as a leader.

Question 12

Wayne is a manager of a large pharmaceutical firm. He often meets with consumer groups to discuss the safety of the company's new drugs. When he does this, he is acting as a

Accepted Answer

When Wayne meets with consumer groups to discuss the safety of the company's cars, he is acting as a spokesperson.

Question 13

Lloyd is the manager of the marketing department for a large firm. His department was given 3 new computer systems. Lloyd must determine which of his employees should get the new equipment. By doing so, Lloyd is acting as a

Accepted Answer

In deciding who should receive the new equipment, Lloyd is acting as a resource allocator.

Question 14

Daniel is a first-line manager at a heating and cooling company. Because Daniel has worked in the field for over 20 years, he is able to train employees, answer questions, provide guidance, and solve problems. These abilities most closely describe his

Accepted Answer

This scenario shows that Daniel has the technical expertise, or the specialized knowledge and training required to perform jobs related to his area of management. Daniel's technical expertise allows him to train employees, answer questions, provide guidance, and solve problems. Technical skills are most needed by first-line managers and are least critical to top-level managers.

Question 15

Sean is interviewing for a position at a law firm. In the interview, he is asked: "How would you resolve the issue of successfully arguing a case in which you disagree with our client's position?" Answering this question requires Sean to use

Accepted Answer

Answer this interview question requires Sean to use analytical skills. Analytical skills refer to the ability to identify relevant issues and recognize their importance, understand the relationships between them, and perceive the underlying causes of a situation. Because analytical skills are so important, questions that require analytic skills are often part of job interviews.

Question 16

Which trait would be part of a person's human relations skills?

Accepted Answer

Human relations skills are the ability to deal with people, both inside and outside the organization. Those who can relate to others, communicate well with others, understand the needs of others, and show a true appreciation for others are generally more successful than managers who lack such skills.

Question 17

Pierre is a manager at a women's clothing store. He is very particular about how things are done, right down to how the shirts are folded and the positioning of the mannequins. He uses his authority and economic rewards to get his employees to comply with his directions. What type of manager is Pierre?

Accepted Answer

Pierre is an autocratic leader. Autocratic leaders make all the decisions and then tell employees what must be done and how to do it. They generally use their authority and economic rewards to get employees to comply with their directions.

Question 18

Chippers, a new bar and restaurant, encourages its employees and managers to participate in creating specialty drinks and menu items. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of participative decision making, which involves both manager and employee input. This type of decision making supports employee empowerment within the organization.

Question 19

Sounds Deluxe, a stereo and audio electronics company, encourages its employees to work together to make decisions that reinforce the company's mission and values. Each employee brings his or her own unique insights, and by discussing these insights with other employees, they collectively develop innovative ideas or decisions that most likely would not have been reached by one or two people. This scenario explains

Accepted Answer

This scenario explains teamwork. In today's business world, decisions made by teams are becoming the norm. Although decision making in teams is collective, the most effective teams are those in which all employees are encouraged to contribute their unique ideas and recommendations. As a result, teams often develop innovative ideas or decisions that would not have been reached by only one or two people.

Question 20

Aiden is assessing the appropriateness of a proposed option to resolve his company's product safety issues. When considering the consequences of the option, he should

Accepted Answer

When assessing the appropriateness of the option, Aiden should consider whether the proposed option adequately addresses the situation. When analyzing the consequences of the option, he should consider its impact on the situation and on the organization as a whole.

Quiz 6: The Nature of Management